Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-29
CROKER CUTS A SHINE.
TuE NaBoB FnoM THE SLOPE
TpvfNG TO DAZZLE GOTHAM.

.T,Itton In Her Own Name and Unlim
80 pin Money-Little Things whtel
Aotors DO made the Rage-Too Muel
49,, Iuterferes with 3 Plumbers Dt
gestiOu.
NEW YORK. March 26.-Charles Crock
er. one of Gothan's millionaire accesslon'
from the Golden Gate, IS already begin
ming 10 attract attention here. CROKER
counts his wealth 70 the amount OF Sl4O'
DOC. 600 and should therefore be able te
Keen m his end in spectacular society
circles. Crocker never attempted mdcn
iu a social way while in California De-
cause he was too busy raking IA gold
He went 20 Europe, however, Win the
express purpose OF hob-nObbing Win the
mobility. Though be spent several years
in the Old World in attempting 10 accom-
plish his object, be was "oIully unsuc-
cessful. 1t is believed that ambition 10
shine socially is what brings him to New
York. In this be has already made good
start on the road TO success by spending
fortune for paintings, etchings, vases
and books at the Morgan sale. He attended
avery sale and attracted the attention OF
ali present dis bids were made in a
tone which showed that he believed him
self, on the strength Of his money, mon
arch OF all be surveyed. His pure 4ases
will help to adOrn magnificent residence
uptown for which he Is said TO have paid
S250. 900. A daughter with two million 10
her own name and an unlimited allow
ance for wardrobe and pin money, Will be
the presiding fairy in the nome which ner
father is preparing for her.
SuitOrs by the score nave Wooed and
tailed to win her. Her eligibility and
plethoric purse will make her shining
mark for the male fOrtune-hunters OF
Gotham and EurOpe,a and CT0cker's palace
Is. therefore. bound 10 attract more than
ordinary attention. Miss Croker also
spent several thousand dollars at the
Morgan sale, and aspiles to repu-
tation as an art critic. Croker
has been big nabOD on the
Pacific coast for years. He came into
prominence about the time that Z. 4.
Huntington, Senator stanford and Marx
Hopkins popped up. He had little
money, and, at the suggestion OF stan
ford and others, he joined the rail-
road syndicate when money was
a necessity, and it doubled add trebled,
and finally made him rich mau. One
lucky speculation followed another, and
money rolled IN rapidly. Croker aWoke
one day and found himself famous as
money king. He built fine house on
the crest Of Mob Hill, IN San Francisco.
and occasionally gave a dinner party
which was the talk of the town for
month. Men fiOcKed to his luxurious
house and stretched their legs under his
mahogany dining table, because Croker
was a ricn man, and, as such, was very
influential man. But be was not liked.
His money was the charm that drew men
70 him. He was the least popular OF ali
the rich men in Frisco. He acts as though
he was the only person iu the world, and
he never forgets that his money is more
powerful than even a magician's wand.
FAMOUS HOTEL.
French's hotel is to be Teopened soon,
and this, indeed, is the most profitable
use TO which the property can be put.
New York evidently needs more hotels,
at least for travellers, and all such houses
IRE at present making money. The AstOr
sOuse Is said to be more profitable than
ever, simply because IL now has the cream
OF the downtown trade. This hotel has
b. en- in operation a half century. 1t COS
500, 600. and during this interval it has
yielded its owners an aggregate rent Of
81. OO0, COO, and the property is nov worth
an equal sum. 1t was, IN fact. one OF the
best mis- old John Jacob Astor ever made,
aud its semi-centenuial, which will take
place on May 81, will be appropriately
celebrated. A record OF the AstOr's dis
tinguished guests during all THESE years
would contain some points OF interest.
Daniel Webster made II his New
York home, and John Quincy Adams
name has frequently been on the register.
Lincoln went from the AstOr TO make
that famous speech which insured his
nomination TO the Presidency. Kossuth
was among the AstOr's guests, and for "A
long time A. T. Stewart boarded there,
and many wondered how be could afford
il. as be was then only in the retail u ade.
but. in TACT, be mad made money rapidly,
and this was tue tiTsL way in which he
let people know IL. The question was a
very natural one at the time the AstOr
house was built why man who already
owned frst-ciass Broadway hotel should
erect another. AstOr owned the City no
tel, which mad long been considered the
best house In the country. The time came,
however, when IT was threatened by RI
val In Hollis hotel, built By stephen Holt.
who made bis money in 6-penny eating
house. OF course il was per-
fectly natural that Astor's pride
should be touched, so he set
about 10 build a hotel that would COM
pletely outshine Hollis, with the difference
that Holt ruined himself in his efforts 10
keep up with Ast0r while the latter made
a splendid hit. Hollis hotel was after
wards called she United States and still
stands monument 10 the folly Of its
founder. These houses were in progress
at the same time but AstOr got his done
first, and il took precedence, not only in
date but IN every other point OF excel
lence. The City hotel was afterwards
demolished and its site is now occupied
by tue celebrated Boreel building
Holt never recovered from his hotel fail.
ure. de opened another eating-hOuse bul
did not succeed and is now a broken down
old man.
THE EFFECT OF TOO SUDDEN WEALTH.
The most astonishing instance of the
nnaccOuntable effect OF prosperity that
has ever been seen in this CITY. is that OF
New come, the heir to the great Morgan
estate. For many years be was hard
working, robust and vigorous plumber
who kept the mouths OF large family of
VOraciOus children filled by hammering
away ten or twelve hours day. He
woke up one morning greatly worried
about a grOcer's Dill, of several dollars,
and discovered that be had just come into
possession OF Sl,0O0,00O. The effect OF this
fortune upon the industrious little plumb
or has been disastrous In the extreme. lie
has settled down Into a condition OF pal
lid melancholy which nothing can lift
His rudy color is gone and be Is as pale
as a ghost, and exhibits nervous
haste IN his movements which
is almost piuful. Along with
the vast fortune he Inherited all OF Mrs
MOrgan's family coaches, and, being 4
very conscientious man, be drives resO.
Iufelv In Them every Afternoon rain al