The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-01
M%ILLIONAIRES' HOMES.
EXTERIOR VIEW OF FAMOUS NOS
HILL. IN SAN FRANCISCO.
The Snowy Hopkins House-The Croker
Mansion-Story Of the High Board
Fence-How All Undertaken Overreached
Himsclf-Th Chinese Laundryman.

Entering san FRANCISCO through poiuen
Gate, the stranger sees II succession OF
hills. rising one behind the other west
ward from the water front. Passing Fort
Point, the green shores Of Marin county
stretch out TO the southwark on the left
until they are merged into the glistening
church spires and house tops of Berkeley
and Oakland. 40 the rightli lies San Fran
cisco, and as the eye chances over the well
kept walks, gardens and barrack houses
of the military reservation they rest upon
n group Of handsome residences perched
on the top of the highest hills. In the
distance they look not unlike palaces seen
on the banks of continental waters. The
structures are half n dozen or more in
number, and THREE Of them are the homes
OF the California railroad ~millionaires-
Stanford, Croker and Hopkins. The most
snowy Of the trio is the Hopkins house. 1t
Is built after the style Of an English castle,
with turrets rising skyward from all cor
ners, and n center tower from which n
magnificent view of the surrounding u
try is obtained.
As one rides up California street the
first house passed Is that of United States
SENATOR JPIdHfl s-AdiliOib, Hh'7i''hN VI ''N
great Southern Pacific railroad system.
Exteriorly it is an unpretentious bulld
ing. at the same time having an air OF
solid refinement about il. In other words,
it looks the home Of n gentleman.
Adjoining it on the west and perched
on the top Of the hill is the hopkins
structure, mention Of which has been
made. Unlike the Stanford residence,
however, the Hopkins house is pretentous
to a fault, and in the gingerbread and
flagree work the term "%shoddy' Is plainly
marked. An immense colored granite
wall surrounds it.
A block distant brings one to the
Croker mansion, on the corner Of Cali
fornia and Taylor streets. The first thing
that attracts attention in looking at the
CrOcker house is a high board fence that
rear itself TO the air on the Sacramento
street side. II il not altogether an I'M
slightly object, as the skillful hands Of q
gardner haze trained vines and climbing
flowers about it; but even these do not
climb high enough Il hide the painted
boards. The main interest In al exterior
view Of the Croker mansion rests in that
fence. 1t il a famous fence and, liz con-
sequence, has a history. Any bright sun
shiny day you climb the hill you will find
from three to n dozen persons standing
around gazing at the fence and listening
10 its history. 1t is the biggest part OF q
San Francisco guides stock in trade and
he never tires Of telling It. THAT fence you
see," narrates the guide, was put up
there coz the man as owns the lot wouldn't
cell out 50 a. Croker could have the hull
lot"
Relieved Of its yerbiage the story of the
fence is that something like ten years ago,
when Croker built his home on the hill,
he owned all but n lot 25xlOO feet in size,
with q frontage on Sacramento street.
This little strip Of ground was the prop
erty Of one Yung, an undertaken, who
owned and occupied n small dwelling
which was located on it. Prior to build
ing an agent of the millionaire negotiated
for the property in n quiet manner and
got u price Of 5000 on it. He did not
close the bargain, preferring first to see
his PRINCIPAL. Pending this, Iung in
some manner became aware that the
property was 10 be bought for Croker,
and when the agent returned to close the
UtlZlll lH AtiN1iiit ~ BiiA' " f'fFN"s
This neccssitated the agents making Il
second trip TO his principal, and after
some discussion Croker, who wanted the
whole block. decided To pay the price
rather than S. oil the appearance of his
property, and told his agent to purchase
at $1,000. Witt. n check for that amount
the agent sought Yung, only TO find that
property on Sacramento street had again
advanced, and That Iung's 2jXlOO foot
lot and a worthless building were quoted
at 50, 600, or just about $1,000 more than
they were worth. Again was Croker con-
suited, and again did lie tell his agent TO
accedc TO the undertak RS demands. The
latter, however, had not reached the top
price yet, and when a check for $4,000
was offered hin for the property he coolly
informed the miliiOnaire's representative
tina. he must have $40 for the prop
erty or he would not sell.
This was too much ever for Crocker.
e was not so much the money he cared
for as ii was the outrageous demands Of
the undertaken. The millionaire lost all
desire 90 own &c lot and went on build
ing his palace and deyising means TO
teach Yung u lesson. At last he hit upon
n plan. He would fence his place in so
high and tight that no ray of sunshine
could reach the house. The undertaken
and his family watched the building Of
the palace from their back windows and
argued that the millionaire would have
to come to time. They decided that the
next time the agent came around tie
price would be $1,000. The agent never
came, and one fine morning a group Of
carpenters put in an appearance. Post
holes Of great depth and large caliber
were sunk in the ground. Soon great
poles that would put TO blush the tallcst
telephone sticks were planted, and then IL
dawned upon the Iungs that they were to
be fenced in. They protestedan pleadedin
vain. They offered the property at $1,000,
then $4,000, and then finally offered II
give it TO Croker for the OLD original
$1,000. But the millionaire would have
none Of il. He wanted TO fence in his
yard, and as the structure grew under
the hammer his attachment for il grew,
and today the millionaire is said 10 adj
mirc it more than any portion Of his
handsome place.
The ~disgruntled body embalmer, after
finding lie had overreached himself, de-