The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-22
THE RICHEST AMERICAN.
A Search for~-Him by Writer In an
English Humorous Paper.

A Search for~-Him by Writer in an
English Humorous Paper.
We had really got quite fit of it, and
that must be our excuse for telling YOU
about it, says London Fun. 1t first took
us when tho financial panics were on in
America lately; it was then that we read
so many paragraphs about the fearful
losses and the absolute ruin suffered by the
richest men in America and we read about
these things until we had grown quite
absorbed by the subject.
We felt craving-a yearning-a gnaw-
ing-to see and touch and speak with the
richest man Ill America to stare at his
silver statues and his carpets interviewer
with threads of gold; and we took passage
for New York in the Brixtonian.
AS we landed on the quay, an excited
bystander took us by the button-hole and
drew us feverishly aside "See that homely-
looking man way along there, passin' under
the elevator, strangeran he whispered hur-
riedly, and with Unsurpassed emotion;
wall, then, you see the richest man in
America Came over twelve years since
from down Kansas way, whar he was
raised; hadn't nickel; struck in a notion
for a corner in baked beans, and raked in
SIC, 600 600 in nine weeks, and eats terrapin
tarts fried in humming- birds fat to every
mealw
We had found him theni Breathless with
excitement, we followed him along the
quay and streets, observing him attentively.
He had wooden leg and one button off the
back OF his coat, a large mole on the back
edge of his right ear, and a gray felt hat
with green lining. He entered a dining
saloon, and we eagerly took seat opposite
him; he had one well eye and one boodshot
fro, of h n,,1
yellow necktie.
Presently he engaged our attention by
excitedly kicking us under the table,
''See that stout man coasting around the
ice bucket" he asked breathessly. "Whatl
Well, you take it from me that's the richest
man in Amurriker, bar none. Started nine
years ago as assistant, odd-job hand to a
toothpick sorter down Five Points and
struck $50 900, 900, 600 in seven weeks, and
eats gold dust sauce with his trIIflled ostrich
every breakfastm
Wefound him then! We burst away from
the dining saloon and rushed after the party
indicated. He had lost both ears from frost
bite, and had one shoulder four inches
higher than the other, and green cut
away coat patched with sacking. He had
not gone three blocks when he turned sud
denly in the utmost excitement and gripped
us by the arm.
''See that fence-rail of crltter with the
respirator standin' by the fire alarmT he
asked. You bet that's just the richest
man in Amerruky, so he is, boss! Went
down Frisco way without rag on his back
six years come next independence, and
banked $50, o00, 900, 900 in five weeks. Sleeps
in bedstead cut out of single diamond,
and sends his boots ON to be heeled wrapped
in million dollar billsn
We thought we couldn't follow that man.
he had hare-lip and pants made out of old
carpet; but we abandoned him and INQUIRED
Of hotel clerk, who was the best authority
in New York on the subject of the richest
man in America. The clerk told us TO 20
to the editor of the Spread Eagle in Nine
Hundred and Seventy-ninth street, over the
Naphtha drinking saloon.
'We hear" we said, that you, sir. are
an authority in the matter Of the richest
man in America n
IN tell you about him right away.n
said the editor, IN give you the outlines
OF hun, and then you can buy file Of the
special editions Of the Spread EdgLe, which
have three columns devoted TO him daily
The richest man in America, sir, is Groul-
ter " Vanboom, who set out from Grub
squash City, Kan, with cents sewed into
the heel of his boots and cofferet $40. OO0.-
OOO,OOO in three weeks. He was the man