St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-22
WHISPERS.

ling news whispered to him this last
week by well known gentleman, who
arrived home from New York day or
two ago, regarding a late st. Paulite,
WILLIAM f. SMITH, recently solicitor
for the Manitoba road and previous to
that assistant treasurer or the United
States. This gentleman. who was
warm personal friend of Mr.. SMITH, in
forms me that he is now lying at the
point of death at his fathers home in
Plattsburg, n. Y. There is no reason
to doubt the rumOr, although it is but a
few days since that Vice President
OAKEs, of the Northern Pacific, told
the WhiSperer that he had seen Mr..
SMITH but couple of weeks ago
in the Hoffman house, New York. and
that he was then the picture of health.
The malady from which Mr.. SMITH is
suffering is brain affection, and it is
said that his physicians have no hope
whatever of his recovery, although his
magnificent constitution is i'm his favor.
1t will be remembered that when Mr..
SMITH left the service Of the Manitoba
last spring, the reason assigned being
that he had some brain trouble which
necessitated rest, there were not want
ing those who asserted that his alleged
illness was simply an excuse Of blr.
Hills for letting go of a man who
could no longer aid him. The meian-
chOly confirmation of last springs ru-
NOR will doubtless prove disturbing to
these WiSeacreS.
A sad ending to a brilliant career, I
think you'll agree.
ApropOs of Mr.. HILL, he is now East,
in New York, and a little bird whispers
me that his visit is not entirely one of
pleasure, although he accompanied his
two bright sons, whom he idOliZes, back
to school at Exeter, n. III. 1t is said
that he goes to consult with the New
York representative of European cap
italists with view to floating another
large issue, running up into the mill
ions, of Manitoba bonds. The money is
needed to carry out the policy OF the
road to reach the Pacific coast as soon
as possible, and if it is secured it is as
serted that next summer will see
another phenomenal example of
railway building. The European CAPT
talists, l learn. have every conf
dence in Mr.. Hill and he is very likely
to secure the money almost on his own
terms. Mr.. HILL, who was accompanied
by his family, went East in very lux
uriOus way, using his private car all the
way to New York, and was consequently
independent of either billiards or
dining cars. 1t is comfortable mode
of travelling, especially when a man is
worth the necessary millions.
But won't there be lively times be-
tween the Northern Pacific and the
Manitoba when the latter reaches the
coast?
1 hear that Col. "JACK" HAvERLY
has about given up the idea of getting
control of the Warder opera house in
Kansas City. The colonel, whose fame
as a manager is of course national,
wanted to be rOundly compensated for
his services or else be given lease of
the building at figure low enough to
make it worth his while. The directors
demurred, and rather than haggle any
longer HAVERLY. who wasn't very
much prepoSSeSSed with the town any
how, threw the whole thing up. He
will make one more attempt to
induce local and outside capitalists
to build him theater On the site OppO-
site the Ryan, and if that fails Will take
his departure for other fields, which
promise richer rewards for such indie
fatigable energy as his.
1t would be worth small fortune to
live in Kansas City, especially while the
town is in possession of fOotpads.
a friend of eX-Gov. HAUsER's was
telling me the other day about pecu-
liar annoyance from which the MOIi-
tana statesman suffers. You must know
that Gov. HAUsER is rich-yery rich,
indeed-his wealth being estimated by
millions and his income being 500 a
day. The fame of his great riches has
gone abroad in the land, and thence
comes the annoyance spoken of. While
he was in New York recently an after
noon paper printed sketch of his pros
OarOuC carpRT and accumulation nf fOr-
tune. The next day over hundred let
tiers came to his hotel. My friend, who
is an intimate of the ex-governor was
permitted to glance over some of
them. They were from artists
who had pictures to sell. dealers
in almost every conceivable commodity,
from men who wanted to publish his
biography and pOrtrait-Of course, for
cash; from unfortunate and vicious fe-
males asking loans and calls; from
deadbeatS of both sexes; from men with
great schemes for money-making; from
Wall street brokers soliciting orders,
and from variety of others who wanted
to possess themselves of some of the
governors surplus cash. Though
HAUSER is not an uncharitable man,
these letters were all evidently from
people who wanted to ''wOrk" him, and
of course went unanswered into the
waste basket.
Wealth has its penalties as well as
poverty.
There are good many people in st.
Paul who remember Gen. MEYERS, for
merly stationed here, and now on the
retired list of the army. Gen. MEYERS
left a record behind him here which is
not likely to be forgotten soon. He is
now living in splendid style in the East,
,r,f NE III, ut fnGh
able hotels in New York city, where st.
Paul people have seen him frequently
of late, and have wondered how he
could live i'll such lavish manner upon
the not too generous pay of a retired
army officer. The mystery is no longer
one after you have heard the
solution of it. Nearly thirty
years ago, while MEYERS was
lieutenant stationed at Dakota fort
Lincoln, believe-he invested a couple
of hundred dollars in wild lands, not
knowing nor caring much just where
they were located, but intending to let
them lie and some day look them up.
| He had almost forgotten about the pur-
chase when Dakota began TO boom and
he began to receive letters asking what
| he would take for his land. He wasn't
in any hurry to sell. So he took trip
| out to see the land. He found a railroad
heading his way and town established
in the near vicinity. With the business
sense developed by his long residence
in the West it didn't take him very long
to see that he had fortune in his
grasp. Part of the land was plated and
sold, the rest turned into a ranch, and
from the two Gen. MEYERS has become
very rich and is enabled to 1--we i'll any
style he chooses.
So it will be seen that the West offers
business chances even to army officers.
THE WHISPERER.
BURNED THIS MORNING.