Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-07
MIR. MACKAY'S RIVAL.
Charles W. Bonynge, Who Proposes
to Lay New Atlantic Cable.
IT'S A WAR BETWEEN WOMEN.
Millions Won in Gold Fields to be Pitted
Against Each Other.
HISTORY OF THE TWO FAMILIES

inanciers and officials of telegraph COM
panies during the last few days BY rumors
to the effect that Mr.. Charles William
Bonynge, q gentleman we'll known in Lvn-
don, but comparative stranger in New
York, has come to this country with the
avowed purpose of making arrangements
for the construction of another remarkable
cable.
Mr.. BonyDge arrived in New York by the
Teutonic on her last trip, and he is now
staying at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Wien
questioned concerning his purpose, he said
that it was absolutely out of the question for
him to give any information whatever about
his proposed new cable. He did intend, ne
said, to begin an opposition cable, but if he
were to give at this moment any particulars,
he would be simply playing into the hands
of his opponents. II cannot for nv life i'm
agine," said Mr.. Bonynge, "how even the
fact that new cable was in contemplation
has leaked out. However, to say anything
about it now would be premature and serve
no purpose"
IT'S AN ENGLISH COMPANY.
Mr.. Bonynge, nevertheless, did say that
the stockholders were all Englishmen, but
he would not give their names because, as
he said, Englishmen dislike publicity. The
head offices would, of course, be in London,
and the cables would be manufactured on
the other side. According to Mr.. Bonynge
the transatlantic cable business is only in
its infancy; another and yet another new
cable would follow. He intimates that
rate war would be inevitable, as the estab-
lished companies would naturally do all in
their power to crush a new rival.
1t is the impression among those who are
we'll informed on the subject that the object
OF the new cable company will be to defeat
the Commercial Cable Company, and that
long and bitter fight is contemplated. 1t is
we'll known that between the houses of
Mackay and Bonynge on the woman side a
bitter teud for social pre.erment has long
existed, and is stlll being carried on with
much animus. The women are inimical,
and latent war is the result. Both families
have moved in much the same lines. and it
is doubtful whether there has ever been
such parallel history as theirs.
CALIFORNIA GOLD KINGS.
Mackay and Bonynge came to this coun-
try and went to California in the good old
bonanza days. Neither had cent to speak
OF, yet both realized princely fortunes by
miningj both married women having a
sequently settled with their families in the
English metropolis where they live in regal
STYLE. the wives of both became imbued
with high social aspirations; both women,
who had emerged from everyday surround
ings, succeeded, even as their husbands had
and are now recognized in the most select
circles. One lady's daughter married
foreign prince (Prince Colonna) and the
other is ambitious that her child should do
likewise. The lady whose daughter is
welded deems the other lady a usurper and
the wealth of the husband is brought into
play. 1t is an even fight, for both men are
said to be equally rich.
Can the proposed new cable have any
bearing upon the social controversy?
The lie and adventures of John W.
Mackay, the bonanza king, are known to
almost any school boy and the vituperative
stories about Mrs. Mackay have been read
by most adults.
THE HOUSE OF BoNYNGE.
The history of Bonynge, however, on this
side of the Atlantic is but little known out
side of California. In a work entitled, "Mrs.
Jonathan Abroad" an alleged complete
history OF "The Rise of the House of
Bonynge" is given, but Mr.. Bonynge told
me that it was a malicious production hav-
ing but little truth in fact. He knew the
source, he said, from which it emanated, but
if he knew who wrote the story be would
make it uncomfortable for him. Mr..
Bonynge is we'll preserved man for his so
years. He is about feet z inches tail; car
ries himself erect, and brushes his iron gray
hair and beard carefully. He has keen gray
eyes, but not an unkind face.
His family consists of his wife, Mrs Rodie
S. Bonynge, and two daughters, Miss Vir-
0in nn iaI nd
Bonynge. Miss Virginia Daniel -Bonynge
is tall, slight young lady with "a decided
taste for social pursuits. She Is Mrs.
Bonynge's daughter by her first marriage
with miner named William Daniel. Miss
Louisa is the fruit of the union between Mr..
and Mrs. Bonynge, and is spoken of as an
amiable young lady with taste for litera-
ture and the drama.
EDUCATED FOR THE CHURCH.
The progress of Bonynge reads like a
romance. He is an Englishman by birth,
but while yet very young man he came to
this country. where, by hard toll and manly
efforts, he realized an almost fabulous for
tune. In the old country Bonynge had been
educated for the Church of England, but he
declined to accept holy orders, and his
brother, who is now the Dean OF Miltown,
Malbery, took his place. He realized that IN
California he must work, and, being no slug
gard, he soon got employment as superin-
tendeut of Woodwa-d's Gardens in San
Francisco.
Young Bonynge was very prudential, and
from his earnings he saved enough money to
buy one share OF stock, when his employer,
Mr.. Woodward, located the Gould & Curry
mine on the great Comstock lode. From this
time forth Bonynge was a made man, and it
is recorded that he never looked back, but
went straight ahead. The stock steadily ad-
vanced, and, as it did so. Bonynge hypothe-
Gated his share and bought Others Soon
afterward he threw up his position with Mr..
Woodward, and engaged in higher and more
remunerative pursuits. He went to Vir-
ginia City, the capital of the mining world,
where he carried on a mining and stock
dealing business.
THE FIRST HUSBANDS TROUBLE.
Bonynge soon grew rich and powerful as
an operator, and returning to San Francisco,
he was elected Vice President of the Stock
Exchange. 1u 1869, just ten years after his
arrival on the Pacific coast, he married Mrs.
William Daniel. Her maiden name was
Miss Rode S. Stephens, and she was born
i'll Sedalia, No.. in 1874. She belongs. how
ever to an old Virginia family, which at one
time is said to have been very wealthy.
Mr. Daniel was in prison at the time of the
marriage.
The story goes that during violent quar-
rel Daniel shot man namei Galway. in
ficting severe wound, for which he was
tried, convicted and sentenced to four years |
imprisonment in the State prison Of San
Quentin. During his incarceration his wife |
obtained divorce from him, and, becoming |
acquainted with Bonyuge they were mar.
ried on June 8, 1869. Prior to her wedding