Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-29
Death of the Millionaire Phil
anthropist of Wash.
ington, D. G.
Short Sketch of the Personal
characteristics Of the
man.
Description of Some Of the
Institutions Which He
Founded.
The End of a Notable Man who
has Given Away Mill
ions Of Dollars. )

of the decease of w. W. Corcoran, the ex-
banker and millionaire philanthroplst
of the capital tity. Mr.. Corcoran was in
the Goth year of his age, and during the
past fifteen years he has had three serious
attacks of sickness in each of which his life
was despaired OF, but his naturally robust
constitution overcame them. The cause OF
his death is not stated in the press dis
patches, but it must AVE been a natural
decay of the system caused by age. De-
ceased was born in Georgetown, D.. c.,
where his father carried on the shoe bust
ness. He received a fair education, and at an
early age tired of fttingshoes and branched
out to better his condition. He served in
several mercantile houses in various
capacities, and subsequently entered the
banking house OF which ne was afterwards
the owner, and which became famous as the
banking house OF w. W. Corcoran
& Co.. and which is still continued
on a firm financial . basis under
| the firm name of Riggs & Co. The
senior Riggs, who was the partner OF Mr..
| Corcoran has been dead some years, but
| his sons carry on the business. In appear.
ance Mr.. Corcoran was a striking figure and
during the latter years Of his life he would
attract attention anywhere. He was about
six feet in heighth, broad shouldered, with
full round, smooth face, blue eyes. Roman
nose, and q decisive chin. His hair, OF
which he had a full suit, was silvery and
fine, and barring the natural febleneas that
age always brings, he was the picture OF a
we'll preserved man. He married in his
prime, and the issue OF the marriage was a
winsome. bright girl, Louise, who, when
she settled down, became the wife OF Sena-
tor Eustes, OF Louisiana. The lady ia now
dead and her two children have been the
especial pets of Mr.. Corcoran.
HOW HE MADE MONEY.
Naturally of shrewd turn of mind, hehad
gathered some money When he entered the
banking business. but the foundation of
his great fortune was laid When his firm
placed the Government o in ~, made
necessary to pay the expenses OF the Next
can war. From that time onward his Ca
reer was one Of uninterrupted success. He
invested largely in real estate, in Washing |
ton, loaned money and specialized in other
ways, but always with a judgment that
brought an intrinsic reward, n at the
beginning of the veal 1861 he was est.
mated to be worth $4,000, 900. Mr.. Cor
coran was an ardent sympathizer with
hostilities began he converted
all his United States securities
into cash, placed his Southern State
bonds in the vaults of the banks and de-
parted for Europe, where he remained in
the several capitals during the momentous
struggle. During his absence his property
was taken in charge by the Government
under the c~onfscation act, but upon his
return, after hostilities had ceased. Con-
gress, at the earnest solicitation of Presi-
lent Grant, passed a special act restoring
them to him. The feature of the Presi-
recommendation was that Mr..
had not been guilty of any overt
Corcoo1rathrf saes s9Psu nn !s his absence Mr..
bank and the firm became, as above stated,
Riggs & Co..
Mr.. Corcoran is noted the world over for
his magnificent public gifts, and while it was
his boast that he did not contribute to apy
private charity, it is generally understood
that Miss Alice Riggs, the daughter of his ,
partner and one OF the most practically !
ladies of Washington, was the
dispenser OF q portion of his money. It is l
also a positive fact that on each Christmas I
he children in. the several orphan asylums l
we're treated to a generous dinner at his ex.
'ense. 1t is possible that he did many acts
II Individual kindness, but if he did they I
oAo ~ ~ ~ Y NC l1dOc kuOHn In l.
lis business relations he was absolute " @
ust, but he always meant business. q
CORCORAN ART a
The chief public gift of Mr.. Corcoran y
the art gallery Which bears his name. It r
located at the corner of PENNSYLVANIA il
venue and Seventeenth street, immedi- tt
tely opposite the State, War and NAVY o
one OF the finest public u
aildings. 1t was began before the war. W
nd was one of the eonfscated build;nos lc
aving been used by the Government dur. o
the rebellion as a depot for clothing CT
I'd quartermaster's stores. After Con- M n
ess had forgiven him and returned his "A
it was at once completed. The IN
lifice is of press brick, with sand stone in
INNINGS, and has half a dozen inches in s'
,e outer wall, each of which is 81
lorned with a marble statue of "a
9 size by a master. The interior is a az
arvel OF wonders in painting and statu- IN
y, and includes many masterpieces in
tn arts, among which is the original Of
'wers. famous Greek Slave" as a statue. of
ID "Mercy,s Dream" as a painting. II MI
8 Tor a long time been the intention Of =.
:. Corcoran to add to the gallery school VI
Design, but his object has been frustrat- inc
by the refusal of Admiral Lee, who owns VIC
, only available Joining property, to sell or
any price. The gallery is controlled by les
'oara OF trustees, with authority to .6il ole
caucies, and the cost OF the nlant and thu
endowment fund is in the n%eighborhood arc
81, 900, 600. pei
THE LOUISE HOME. L..
his institution was founded and on. ver
'eo oy Corcoran rs a memorial of his my
lighter Louise, whose name it bears. It zen
uples one of the most beautiful sites in ext
city and with the groundA covers an " t
ire block. The building is of brick, mas the
In proportions, but modest in architec- car
e.. 1t is intended as home for ladies. and
, through the reverses OF fortune have tina
ome poor. and the rules of admission
so strict that a ~geneolipal tree has tn
Produced before one can pass the portals.
re are usually from sixteen to twenty -
aces. Each lady has q room fur u