Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-07-26

sketch or Ono or the Richest Men ON
Esrth--How He Made His Fortune.

sketch or ono or the Richest Men ON
Esrth-How Me Made His Fortune.
From the Chicago journal.
Il Is conceded that John w. Msckay IL
one of the richest men In the world. In
appearance he has slightly changed since
he was painted by Alexander Cabanel.
His musfache has been colored. But"
says he, sit will grow 10 full length In
few days" There are some lines Of age
struggling for space on his typical Irish
face, but his native constitution ~ quite
stubborn and resents such attempted inno-
vations. lie was born with prospective
gold nugget In his mouth. The parturi-
ton took place on the 10Th day of NOvem-
Der 1881, in Dublin, where no was edu-
Gated. lie arrived In the United states
during 1850, and secured employment In
commercial house. He has never quite
discarded his brogue, Dotw outstanding his
forty years residence at home and abroad,
but his bearing represents the polish Of the
several metropolis of the world.
The gold fever, which lured 40 many
either to dazzling fortune or destruction,
eusuared him within two years after his
arrival AT Boston. His career Of promise
dates from his appearance at the minss
near Downievillc, In Sl3rfa county, Cal.
He was tha.. handsome youngster, OF fino
form and apt repartee. Although his early
efforts AT mining we're not brilliant, his
energetic advances for the heart OF beauty
soon won for him the hand Of the daughter
of Mr.. Daniel G. Mungerford. 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 tho most en-
viable financial positions in the world.
The Comstock lode was his magnet. He
! hastened to Washoe on the announcement
| OF its richness, and there worked In the
| capacity Of q miner until he had saved
| sufficient money for an investment His
| first venture was the Kentucky mine at
Gold Hill, where, during several years
hard work, he acquired valuable knowl-
| edge of lodes. II was during lS80-70, that
| he first attracted the attention of the world.
| Combining with James g. Fair, he contrac-
| ted to develop the Hale and NorcrOss mine
| which had lapsed from q dividend to an as
sessnent producer. He and his partner, ed
ucated in the intricacies Of metaliurgy
and formations, believed in the property,
combined with Messrs. Flood and OBrien
| and purchased II, or at least control, for
| the sum of SS0,000. IL IL well to note the
| point In this sentence, that the Hale and
| Norcross was an assessment mine when Inc
took hold of IL. Popular error has credited
him with depressing the value of this
| property while foreman of II until its own
ers were glad to dispose of II at any price.
| ON tho contrary, its owners had practically Y
abandoned II, refused to believe in its po-
tential wealth and had failed in part to
subscribe for its maintenance. twas then
that the tide of his affairs came in. He had
faith in the mine, based on his knowledge
of lodes. He took the tide at its seeming
ebb and was swept on to fortune. The
mines i'm which he has been interested
have produced Sl50,000,0O0, of which he
got the lions share.
His family seem to have preferred Paris
for residence since the birth of his grea
wealth, and occupy palace at . Rue de
Tilsitt. In London they possess another
palatial establishment at Buckingham
Gate. His greatest enterprise is the Com
mercial cables, In which he is associated
with Mr.. James Gordon Bennett. Next IL
importance is the Nevada bank. Besides
these, he is still one of the largest of mine
owners, and is heavily interested in thu
Southern Pacific railroad. The MackayI
have long been noted for their large chari
| table Investments.