The National tribune., 1885-04-02
A POOR ITALIANS wINDFALL.
He Draws the Capital Prize in the Louisian:
LOTTERY.

San Francisco is acquiring quite a reputation
as fortunate locality in which TO buy lottery
tickets, the capital prize, or portions of it, in
the Louisiana State Lottery appearing to have
come oftener to this city than anywhere else.
Heretofore there has been 10 difficulty in dis
covering the lucky winners, they, as a rule not
being slow in making their good fortunes
known. But the holder Of the winning ticket,
2o,6UO, in the February drawing seems to be
an unusually reticcnt sort of person, and al
though it has been known for several weeks
that the prize was won i'll this city the identity
Of the lucky man was not disclosed. The only
fact definitely known was that he is an Italian.
Within day or two the money has been paid
through one of the banks of this city. and it
has leaked out that A. Natuone is the person
who has suddenly come into the possession Of
this fortune. lie is one of the prOprietOrs Of
the Hotel d'Italia on the corner of Pacific and
Sansome streets. He formerly kept nursery
on the Ocean House road which he sold out q
little over two years ago, and in partnership
with his brother purchased the hotel although
they were both ignorant and inexperienced in
the details of the business These facts were
obtained from person closely related to the
fortunate hotel keeper. On being questioned
further in regard to Mr.. Natuone's financial
condition that gentleman replied:
He was supposed to be doing fairly we'll
but it is well known that a day or two prior to
tile uEdNlnS HIS lulhituie WAS dtt'VHCN loi
debt"
"Was he in the habit of investing in lottery
ticketS?"
"Oh, no: believe the only ticket he pur-
chased besides this one was in the San Francisco
lottery Of 1870"
How did he come TO buy this one?"
"Wcll, he was almost forced into it."
"How's that?'
"An Italian. who deals in these tickets, had
offered to sell him portion of one a few weeks
ago, but he declined, saying he wanted a whole
one. The dealer managed 10 get one for him,
but when he returned to the hotel Yatuone re-
fused it, rs he had better and more pressing
need of his money. The man was anxious to
SELL and said he would let him have it for So,
the regular price being S6.25. Vatuone was
tempted TO try his luck, and is said to have
scraped his last dime cut of the drawer to buy,
kicking at his Stiffness the meanwhile. He
charged the money 10 his own account, saying
that he did not propose that his brother should
10 e anything on account OF his foolishncss 1t
is stated that when he told his wife Of it she
upbraided him and remarked that it would
have been wiser to have bought himself pair
of shoes. which he was in need Of"
"What kind of a man is hep"
"1ie'S little, black eyed, curly headed fell
low about ;'5 years of age and bears n very
good character. lie takes his good fortune very
quietly. He has put his money quietly away,
without having made any change yet in his
style of living. He made his brother present
of $4,000, and is going TO celebrate his good
fortune by keeping open house al day next
Sunday, dispensing free liquor and food 10 all
his calers--Sda Francisco Cali Chronicle,
March 3.