The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-03
BLYTHE'S MILLIONS.
Romantic Career of the San Fran cisco
Money King.

Romantic Career of the San Fran cisco
Money King.
The following history of the Blythe case,
which has just been decided in San Fran
cisco by the award Of Thomas H. Blythe's
estate, valued at nearly 81, 900, 900, TO Flor
ence Blythe, is told by the New York Sun.
Flore ice Blythe was one of about 200
claimants to the estate. The girls story
was apparently without flaw, and strong
evidence in the form of letters and other
documents was introduced to substautiate
it. She is a comely girl, and has through
out the trial enjoyed much of the public's
sympathy.
3ProDably no man was ever credited with
more birthplaces or had a more obscure
history than Blythe. He lived in San
Francisco for over thirty years, accumu-
lated a vast fortune, was known as widely
as any other rich man, and when he died no
one could write an authentic biography of
him. His estate was large, no one of I'M
disputable relationship to him was known,
and no will could be found. Claimants for
the property, which passed into the charge
of the public administrator, came forward
by the dozen. Each set of claimants has
traced his descent in different way from
the others. None of them, however, agreed
as to his nativity or parentage.
He arrived here on Aug. 5, 1919, and soon
after, according to the recollection of par
ties who knew him, began raising vegeta-
bes in South San Francisco. Later he
peddled fancy goods and notions on the
streets, by which he accumulated few
hundred dollars. Most of this sum he
loaned on triangular piece of property
bounded by Market, Grand avenue and
Geary street. The money was not repaid,
the mortgage was foreclosed, and Blythe
came into possession of the property.
Though it proved the foundation of his vast
wealth, he was not foresighted enough to
see its value then, and wanted the late mill
| iouaire, James Lick, who was then also
paving his way to fortune, to take the
property off his hands. The sudden growth
of the town increased the value of the land,
and now it is in the heart of the city, worth
many millions of dollars. and yielding a
monthly income of about S11 900.
In addition to this the estate includes
about so, 600 acres in Southern California,
a grant of about 800. 900 acres in Mexico, a
three-fourths interest in grant of 1,100,-
600 acres also in Mexico. property in
Oregon. and large holdings in Arizona
mines 1t is all worth $4,000, 900 or more.
Blythe was never married, though, like old
Senator Sharon, he: had a penchant for
pretty women, and this trait has brought
prominently into the foreground two of the
contestants-one, the woman with whom
he associated up to the time of his death,
| his heir.
Following the claim of the little girl was
| that of Alice Edith Dickerson, or, as she
now chooses to style herself, Mrs. Blythe.
| She first met Blythe seven or eight years
before his death. and was then poor artist.
| The millionaire befriended her, and their
| acquaintance grew till his home was hers.
He fitted up luxurious apartments In one of
| his Geary street buildings, and the two
| Ii we'd here until ha died After this Alice
| Edith continued to occupy the rooms, spent
a great deal of money, and SO gave herself
| up to liquor that she was for time con
fined in an asylum. In presenting her case
the woman brought forward several wit
nesses, who swore that she had been intro
duced to them as Mrs. Blythe. No mar
rage certificate, however, or even con-
tract, was brought to light.
The most interesting claimants we're those
who endeavored to prove that Blythe was a
! scottish gypsy, a descendant of Jean Cor
don, character made famous by Walter
Scott. According to the evidence, 1t was
| pure Romany blood that coursed through
his veins. In his heart he was proud that
he belonged to the race, but the prejudice
OF the world caused him to keep the secret
10 himself. He was born in 1922 in some
! gypsy camp ia one of the border counties OF
| scotland. Ills father was Adam Blythe,
and his mother, Elizabeth Savage, known
among among her people as Betty Savage.
Esther Faa. a second cousin Of Thomas H..
Blythe, and the last queen Of the gypsies,
was Descended from the royal Faas. cele-
brated in Scottish romance and ballads.
Tie story OF Blytle's early life concerns
camps aud rowing bands, and al that be-
longs to IDEAL gypsy life. Blythe was born
IN camp, saw his mother in a fight with a
kinswoman in Lowrie's Glen wnen be was
a child, and during BIS early manhood, after
he had gone 70 school IN a gypsy settlement.
! was himself peddler ali through Lothian