Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-30
MACKAY AND FATR.

When John ". AIackay and James
G. Fair were partners in the teaming
business in Nevada. years before they
became notorious on two or three con-
tincnts as the million-spcnding bOnan-
"a kings, they had frequent and sharp
quarrcls over their partnership ar
rangements. These qnarrcls have new
or ceased. The diplomacy which gen
orally attends tho management Of u
hundred millions of dollars never af-
fccted the relations of Mackay and
Fair. They quarreled openly and con-
stantly, until one day they agreed TO
place their quarrel on a silent basis,
and make it perpetual but immovablc,
and since then, though members of the
same firm, neither has ever spoken TO
the other. Senator Fair has tho rcpu-
tation of being q shrewd business man,
and he doubtless deserves the reputa-
ton, Of which he is nightly proud.
Up in Nevada. from which state he is
senator, the irrevcrcnt sage brushers
call him ''Smooth James no, it is
s'Smooth Jim. But in his partner,
Mackay, he met man who, If not
quite so smooth, has always been able,
when occasion demanded, to maintain
an equal advantage in their business
relations. In the early days Of the
Comstock, Mackay and Fair were
teamsters, and did q proiitable business
hauling tircwo0d from Carson City 10
Virginia City, and orc from the mines
to the mills on tho Carson river. Their
system of accounts was quite simplc
- IL.
thoir dues, paid their bills, and met TO
divide the remaining profits. These
divisions, so the legends Of the Com
stock relate. had been the advantage
of Fair for some time, when a dispute
arose one month regarding the matter.
This much belongs 10 me, John, !
said Fair, in his most persuasive tones.
'sfou are wrong, Jim,n responded
Mackay.
.Oh, no, John, am right. !.
Well, Jim, / say you arc wrong.
Mackay declared, and emphasized his
opinion by suddenly poking short
double-barreled Shotgun, such as
Wells Fargo messengers still carry,
into his partners face. Fair looked
down the barrels Of tho gun for one
short, thoughtful moment, and replied
John. think. perhaps, / am wrong. =
This is one of the score OF stories
one hears on tho Comstock about the
early partnership Of Mackay and Fair.
As the millions rolled in and one part
ner went to the United States senate,
and the other astonishcd all Europe by
the display Of wealth, their business
differences still furnish material for
much entertaining gossip, although the
shotgun element no longer figures in
the stories. When Mackay and Fair
were both in this city last summer ral-
mors were ailoat that Fair was so dis
pleased with his partners management
Of the Nevada bank that hei Expressed
a desire to sell OF buy 10 give up his
interest or control il alone. His part
ners III the bank, Maclray and Flood,
agreed 10 buy Fairs interest but Fair
refused to sell to MackaY unless Flood
sold also, rs Fair wanted to saddle tho
whole concern on Mackay or else get
Mackay out Tho negotiations were
prolonged, as tho trading between
Mackay aud Fair had 80 bc done
through = third person. but at last
Mackay agreed TO take tho entire stock
of the bank, and one fine day the trans
fer, representing many millions. was
made. Flood retired % his country
palace at 1Ieul0 park, and Fair went to
Washington. contented to have loaded
up his old partner with heavy amount
Of bank stock Just as Mackav was sfsa-
posed to be il need of ready cash for
his Atlantic cable and other BIG
schemes