Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-09-11
THE BONANZA KING.
A sketch of the Richest Man on Earth
His Personality and His Fortune.

There is no absolute proof that J.W.
Mackay is not the richest man in the
world. In appearance he has slightly
changed since he was painted by Alex
ander Cabanel. His mustache has
been cropped. But" says he lit
will grow to full length in a few days"
There are some lines of age struggling
for space on his typical Irish face, but
his naive constitution is quite stub
born and resents such attempted inno-
yations. He was born with pros
pective gold nugget in his mouth. The
parturition took place on the 29th day
Of Novemb er 1881, in Dublin. where
he was educated. He arrived in the
United States during 1850, aud secured
He has never quite discarded his
brOgue, Notwithstanding his forty
years residence at home and abroad;
but his bearing represents the polish
Of the several metropolises of the world.
The gold fever which lured so many
either to dazzling fortune or lesGruc-
ton, ensnared him within two wears
after his arrival at Boston. His career
of promise dates from his appearance
at the mines near DownievilIe, in
Sierra county, CAL He was then
handsome youngster, of fine form and
apt repartee Although his early
efforts at mining were not brilliant,
his energetic advances for the heart of
beauty soon won for him the hand of
the daughter of Mr.. DanielC. Munger
ford. Few men succeed in life prior
to the ceremony at the altar. In right
union is strength. In this case union
was strength for each. Mrs. Mackay
has since acquired one of the most
enviable social and he one of the most
enviabe financial positions in the
world.
The Comstock Lode was his magnet.
He fastened to Washoe on the an
nouncement of its richness, and there
worked in the capacity of a miner
until he had saved sufficient money
for an investment. His first venture
was the Kentuck Mine at Gold Hill,
where, during several years hard
work he acquired valuable knowledge
Of lodes. 1t was during 1S69-70 that
he first attracted the attention of the
world. Combining with James G.
Fair, he contracted to develop the
Hale and Norcross Mine which had
lapsed from dividend to an assess
meut producer He and partner, edu-
Gated in the intricacies of metallurgy
and formations, believed in the prop
erty combined with Messrs. Flood
and O'Brien, and purchased it, or at
least a control for the sum of $50, 600.
1t Is well to note the point in this
sentence, that the Hale and Norcross
was an assessment mine when he took
mold of it. Popular error has credited
MN with depressing the value of this
property while foreman of it until its
owners were glad to dispose of it at
any price. On the contrary, its owners
mad practically abandoned it, refused
TO believe in its potential wealth and
had failed in part to subscribe for its
maintenance. 1t was then that the
ude of his affairs came in. He had
Ialth in the mine, based on his knowl-
edge Of lodeS. He took the tide at its
seeming ebb and was swept on to fort
ane The mines in which he has been
Interested have produced $3.50, 600, 900.
which he got the lions share.
Ills family seem to have preferred
ffars for residence since the birth of
us great wealth, and occupy palace
al Rue de Tilsitt. In London they
possess another palatial establishment
d I buckingham Gate His greatest
enterprise is the Commercial cables, in
CCnIch he is associated with Mr.. james
GORDON Bennett Next in Importance
'ue Nevada Bank. Besides these, he
s'HH one of the largest of mine-own-
81 and is heavily interested in the
'o.uIi'aern Pacific Railway.
Inc Mackays have long been noted
N. i1sr large charitable investments.
o..'s Mackay married into one of the
a's>l aud most distinguished families
" lta.H tho CoIo,,,