The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-06

u gorgeous S'N ~ W
~ n living. Conf
WILLIAM c. RALsToS. donco was unim-
uaired and thousands of humble people
placed their little savings in that bank
because they deemed it good rs the
government.
Ralston's country house at Belmont ID
the Santa Clara valley, was n palace IN
rural paradise. Every foreigner Of dis
function and every eastern man OF note
who visited san Francisco was enter
tanned there. During the season when
such visitors were most expected MI
Eal,ton had a coach and six horses daily
nj his bank 10 drive his guests TO Bel
mont. It's decorations and grounds were
celebrated in all the journals; the hospi-
talitv dispensed there was truly described
as "kingly." Its owner was leader III
most of the great enterprises on the
coast. and was considered one Of the
,hrcwdcst and most reliable iinanciers III
The country. One August day m 1910
lnmor loatcd through san Francisco that
all the mining enterprises Of Ralsion
Sharon and others had proved failures
That the funds Of the bank had been too
heavily drawn on, and that Ralston was
.,oino ont. His friends rushed 10 him for
ON explanation. and ho said with smile
II am tired out and must breathe the
free mir awhile. Let those two wild cats
shoulder the load now"
He referred to Sharon and Mills. The
next day. Aux. -, 1915, Ral5ton drove
to the beach for his daily swim. On tine
way he greeted all the acquaintance he
met with bis usual saycty, and TO hls
servant hc said:
you must drive home quickly "heD
] come out viii be cold.
lie divcd, swan far out into the gay
turned, MANeH "i7 minus ~. l.. ~ "a 49,
friends on shore and sank 10 rise III,
more William sharon. soon 'o DE- "O'0u
as the absentee United States senator
at once assumed the riSht TO spe'h ioi
the bank, and ms statement was iA 'i'e9e
words:
"Ralsi0n has cmDezzled the chliic
capital Of the California bank. lie mas
ruined every one IN the business. Near
l. 1000 men and women VINO n"n
mourncd the death of liil,lon ana many
Of whom had followed hlm TO the grave
were next day mourning for themselves
lnmenting the loss of their an. IL wa.
40 once concluded that the banker hau
committed suicide. At ths stage ~ -
Mills iathcrn-A" oil W 'i'e''w i'''u
came forward anu ACCORDING 10 ''c pop
ular impression "t inc ti,ne' sS'Vu '''''
bank from ut''f rum, - IT," S''o'''''''''''
were saved Tor the fanny oi inc '"0
sons. William G., Jr.' chSdSeu III "''"'
ins spcculatons ana S'huei u''o''u
himself with great success to mechanical
engineering and improved metnous OF
mining.
Samuel lalston said that when ne was
a small boy his father had toid h'n 10
master mechanical chSiheeilhs' i"'
elder Ralston stated at that time 'n''
were he an engineer ne should 80 u
Siberia and open UP mining there tAa'
would astound tho civilized world. al
that time ne secured a promisefrom San
that hc would become an engineer and
do what ne could to carry out his father
idea. When Sans father was drowned
the youth took his own head and The
fame OF the great Oolli7s engine ~ ,n'
Centennial exposition had attracted hi'
attention. lie sought the noted engine
builder and carried out that part OF th'
MAN successfully.
While in the eastern cities Sam spent
moacg larishly and was a great fayorit,
with tho ladies. lie spent small fort
n,o in social destination and prosecuting
his e.hcncs. and then went to California
AID Won another competence. which hC
i,vreted in Siberia. The exact history
of nj; eighteen months there is not
Known. The first account published wa.
tina. be and his party were escorted K
the frontier by the Russian authorities
and forbidden to over return; and The
cxplanation assigned was that the LADY
LOBBYIST" OF Washington. who had &C.
cured the concession" by her influence
over Russian diplomat. had Afterwards
deserted her Muscoyite. and he had III
revenge induced the canceling Of the
government f~Gnit. Another story l.
that Sam Ralston was inveisled into
partnership with Russian nobleman