Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-09
FLOOD AND HIS FRIENDS.
How He Helped Them to Riches that
They Afterward Lost.

New York Letter TO Philadelphia Press.
James C. Flood, the millionaire mine-owner
who died in Heidelberg on Thursday, was even
tongued, cool, calculating, patient, and cour-
ageous. Like most men Of his temperament
he made but few friends. II was hard to gain
his confidence. But he never permitted an
opportunity to go by to help the few who were
his friends.
While Flood was still dispensing liquor over
the bar of his saloon in San Francisco he was q
member of volunteer hook and ladder COM
pany. When he became a power in the stock
market he did. not forget the associates who
had been members of the fire company or
patrons of his saloon. One by one they dropped
the reins of the horse car, gave up their hods
yielded to whatever might be called the badge
of honest toll and began to frequent the pave
ments about the stock exchange. They were at
acquired one good habit from Flood, the silent,
golden Irishman-they did not talk too much.
They never missed chance to talk of Floods
virtues, but had nothing to say about his bust
ness
When in 1873 the Big Bonanza was uncovered
In the Comstock lode, and Flood and his part
ner began the manipulation which made
them so rich and then so poor, Flood and his
associates still remember their old friends and
their fortunes went sailing skyward too. To
help. them along Flood did far more than
his share. He lent money to some, carried
stocks for others and made all richer than they
had ever dreamed of being. But their riches,
easily got, easily went, and to-day but few of
them have anything left. ]. NJ. Walker was
one OF the men who profited most by the Big
Bonanza deal. Now his mansion in Oakland is
hospital, while his daughter, once such
belle. now the divorced wife of a clerk, was
two years ago playing minor parts in a small
theater. Dennis Mccarthy was once city edi-
tor Of the San Francisco Chronicle, and he was
let into the secret to the extent of winning
100000. He is dead, and left only small es-
tate. Joseph Goodman published the Virginia
City Enterprise, and his friendship for the Bo-
nanza firm got him information which re-
suited in the accumulation of at least $3.50, 000
He felt that he must have at least an even
million, and he went into stock speculation
after the collapse OF the Big Bonanza deal
When last heard from he was raising raisins on
little ranch near Fresno, and would probably
be satisfied with any fortune that could be rep
resented by five figures. Pat Crowley was chief
of Police of San Francisco. He profited by his
intercourse with Flood to the extent of $780,
that OF Mr.. Goodman, as he wanted only $780,
600. He followed in the footsteps of the editor
and is again policeman.
Flood had fancy for fast trotting horses and
Pete Finnegan was his driver. Pete got his
horse in first once in such clever manner that
several brokers "went broke" betting against
it. Mr.. Finnegan had Tip" on the Big Be-
nanza which sent Consolidated Virginia up to
an unheard-of figure. He also had sense He
kept his money and built one of the finest
houses on Mob Hill, and became the chief
patron of the turf on the Pacific coast.
Mr.. Floods fortune, though greatly reduced,
is still large enough for an ordinary individual
to look after, and will be divided between
James L. Flood, his son, and Jennie Flood, his
daughter. She was once engaged to Ulysses
Grant, jr., who afterward married the daugh-
ter of Jerome b. Chaffee, Of Colorado She has
already IS, 600, 900 in her own right.