Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-17

and ordered an extra optic. He sail
that he wanted 10 be prepared for an,
emergency. But / guess the creates
emergency was meeting his wife ate
being out all night"
A GLIMPSE or BOSS SHEPHERD.
"Money is better than politics for
steady diet" said Boss Shepherd tn,
other day to friend as they stood in {
Broadway cafe and carefully examined
some fine cut glassware. Then the pail
went out into the bright June sunlight
and mingled with the gay promenaderl
on New York's Rotten Row.
/ doubt if one person knew him. No
a soul recognized him, and yet a doZer
years ago he was tho worst talked-about
man in Washington. He WAS classed as
o second Boss Tweed, and marvellous
stories were told of his reckless expendi'
turo of public moneys. BE came into
prominence during the halcyon days
when General Grant was President. He
began life as q plumber, and made and
saved a little money. He was in one or
two skirmishes in the late unpleasant
ness, and was a hard working, indus
trious fellow when Grant picked him up
and made him Governor. How he and
Grant became friends is not known, but
they did, and the President and the
plumber pulled together in double har-
ness as well az Early Rose and hldlne,
Yanderbilt's famous horses.
HOW HE IMPROVED WASHINGTON.
At that time the District of Columbia
was in about as bad condition as it well
could be, and General Grant was anxious
to appoint a commission to clean its
streets, lay out it's parks, and repair its
sewage system and highways. In cast
ing about for men to make up the COM
mission Shepherd was hit upon. He was
nominated and confirmed, but not with
ont squabble in the Senate. He found
himself at the head Of the commission
for the expenditure of vast sums. He set
to work to make Washington bloom
like a rose. 1t was most mag
ni6cent system that he inaugurated.
Streets were opened, cutters clean
cd, small parks laid out, and new
buildings erected. Money flowed freely.
If Shepherd had owned the mines Of Col
goths he could not have been more pro-
fuse in dispensing money. Dollars were
n plentiful rs the leaves in Vallsmbrosa.
Hundreds Of men were put to work, and
the city grew as if by magic. For few
months things went on swimmiDgly.
Then bis enemies began to attack HIM.
he was given the sOit6riquet of "Ths
Boss" He was arrogant, and refused to
listen to suggestions or advice. He had
his own plans for the work and would
hear from no one. Stories of corrupt
deals were started, and in year Boss
Shepherds name became synonymous
for all that was bad. Mothers rocked
their truant children TO sleep singing
improyised snstches of songs telling
the terrible things that Boss Shep-
herd had done. The property-Owners
OF Washington rose up In their might
end tried to hurl him from power, but so
strongly was the Boss intrenched that
they could not bulge him until fully
half a hundred million dollars were
spent. 1t was an enormous sum, and
terrified the old fellows who believed in
Jeflersonian simplicity. Still Shepherd
was all-poweriul No man could obtain
q place in the District government with
out his Enforcement, and his nod or
wink was as powerful as magician's
wand. Butpublic opinion was growing
stronger every hour, and in the very
heyday of his power and glory he was
dethroned. Washington breathed easier,
and visitors to the capital came away
with stories of the city's regeneration.
Washington was decked like beauty on
her wedding morning.
MONEY HAND OVER FIST.
Shepherd retired TO private life and
took up the business Of plumbing
that he had neglected while he sat on
his gilded throne and spent Uncle Sans
money. His affairs were hopelessly
tangled. He went into bankruptcy, but
his creditors, believing in him, gave
him the management of his property.
He took off his coat and went to work
and paid off every dollar he owed. Then
he turned with longing eyes to Mexico.
Reports of vast wealth stored in mother
earth reached him, and he took himself
there as blithe as a school-boy off for an
outing. He pitched his tent at Chihuahua
and began to explore the almost in
access BILE mines of Batopilas. This is q
mining district discovered by the Span
isrds in 1900, reported to contain silver
in fabulous quantities. 1t vas a task
that would have dismayed score of
giants, but Boss Shepherd went to work
with vim and dash. The country is
wild aud desolste, indeed, vast wilder
ness. But the mountains, the rocks, and
the ravines had no terror for him, and
for many months he had men and mules
at work, and one day the richest of
silver ores was discovered. The high
way 10 wealth was cleared at leap. and
the dethroned monarch soon found him
self famous and wealthy.
II would be tiresome to the reader to
tell of the dangers and difficulties en-
countered and overcome, but they have
no equal since the days when "The
Pathfinder sat out on his perilous
journey. 1t would require volume to
do justice to that portion OF the story
and it would read like page from a
new "Arabian Nights"
The main point is that Shepherd has
made vast fortune. How large it is
not even he himself knows His check |
for 1000, 900 would be honored to-day |
10y any banking house in the city where
he once ruled and which he lett in such
haste and with such an odorous name.
The ex-Boss is often seen in Washing
ton these days, and he runs over to New
York frequently on business errands
Public opinion in the national capital has
somewhat, and instead Of snubs
md jeers he is now greeted with warm
and smirks and bows. His
I'D enemies are willing to kneel in the
lust to the money king. A man worth
3, 600, 900 and with $50, 900, 600 more in
light is an object of much interest even
n the shoddy capital of the nation.
Past records count for little il one has u
Dulging bank account
He ought TO be Called Upon TO Re
spond 30 the Toast WomaH."