The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-18
A GLIMPSE OF BOSS SHEPHERD.
Making Money Hand Over Fist and Out
of Politics to Stay.

A16Al1k VAOH0y Lulu ONSI lSI anu Oob
of Politics to Stay.
NEW York, June 16-"Money is better
than politics for a steady diet" said Boss
Shepherd the other day to friend as they
stood in a Broadway cafe and carefully ex-
amined some fine cut glassware. Then the
pair went out into the bright June sunlight
and mingled with the gay promenaders on
New York's Rotten Row.
doubt if one person knew him. Not a
soul recognized him, and yet a dozen years
ago he was the worst talked about man in
Washington. He was classed as a second
Boss Tweed and marvellous stories were
told of his reckless expenditure of public
moneys. He came into prominence during
the halcYon days when Gen. Grant was
president. He began life as plumber, and
made and saved a little money. He was in
one or two skirnIishes in the late unpleas-
antness, and was a Woodworking, 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 harness as well as
Early Rose and Aldine, Vanderbilt's IA
nous horses.
At that time the District of Columbia was
in about as bad condition as it well could
be, and Gen. Grant was anxious to appoint
a commission to clean its Streets lay out its
parks and repair its sewerage system and
highways. In casting about for men to
make up the commission Shepherd was hit
upon. He was nominated and confirmed,
but not without a squabble in the senate
He found himself at the head Of the COM
mission for the expenditure of vast sums
He set to work to make Washington bloom
like a rose. 1t was most magnificent sys-
TEN that he inaugurated. Streets were
opened cutters cleaned, small parks laid
out and new buildings erected. Money flowed
freely. If Shepherd had owned the mines
of Golconda he could not have been more
profuse in dispensing money. Dollars
were as plentiful as the leaves in Vallam-
brosia. Hundreds of men were put to work
and the city grew as if by magic For few
months things went on swimmingly. Then
his enemies began to attack HIM. He was
given the sobriquet Of ''the boss" He was
arrogant, and refused to listen to sugges-
lions or advice. He had his own plans for
the work and would hear from no one
Stories of corrupt deals were started, and
in a year Boss Shepherds name became
SYNONYMOUS for all that was bad. Mothers
rocked their truant children to sleep singing
improvised snatches Of songs telling the ter
rible things that Boss S epherd had done
The property ownersof Washington rose up
in their might and tried to hurl him from
power, but so strongly was the boss in
trenched that they could not bulge him
until fully half million dollars were spent.
1t was an enormous sum, and terrified the
old fellows who believed in Jeffersonian
simplicity. Still Shepard was ali-powerful.
No man could obtain a place in the district
government without his Endorsement, and his
nod or wink was as powerful as amagician's
wand. But public opinion was growing
stronger every hour, and in the very hey
day of. his power and glory he was de-
throned. Washington breathed easier, and
visitors to the capital came away with sto-
ries of the city's regeneration. Washington
was decked like beauty on her wedding
morn.
Shepherd retired TO private life and took
up the business of plumbing that he had
neglected while he sat on his gilded thron5
and spent Uncle Sans money. His affairs
were hopelessy 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 q school-boy off for an
outing. He pitched his tent at chihuahua
and began to explore the almost inaccessi-
bic mines of Batopilas. This Is a mining
district discovered by the Spaniards in 100,
reported TO contain silver in fabulous qual-
titles 1t was a task that would have dis
mayed q score Of giants, but Boss Shepherd
went to work with a vim and dash. The
country is wild and desolate; indeed, a vast
wilderness. But tue mountains, 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 highway to wealth
was cleared at leap, and the dethroned
monarch soon found himself famous and
wealthy.
1t would be tlresome to tie reader to tell
Of the dangers and difficulties encou tired
AMI overcome. hut they have no Iual since
thedays when "Ths Pathfinder setout On his