Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-11-07
THE BOIANZa KING.
A Sketch OF the Richest Man on Earth
His Personality aud 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. Bat" says he, lit
will grow to full length in Il few DAYS"
There are some lines of age struggling
for space on his typical Irish face, but
his native constitution is quite stub
born and rescnts such attempted limo
vations. He was born with Il pros
pective gold nugget in his mouth. The
parturition took place on the 10Th day
of November, 1881. in Dublin. where
he was educated. He arrived in the
United States during 1850. and secured
employment in commercial house.
He has never quit discarded his
brogue. Notwithstanding his forty
years residence at home and abroad;
but his bearing represents the polish
of the several metropoliscs Of the world.
The gold fever, which lured so many
either to dazzling fortune or destruc-
ton, ensnared him within two years
after his arrival at Boston. His career
or promise dates from his appearance
at the mines near Downieville, in
Sierra county, Cal. He was then q
handsome youngstcr, 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 ut the altar In right
union is strength. In this case union
was strength for each. Mrs. Mackay
has since acquired one of the most
enviabe social and he one of the most
enviab,e 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 miner
until he had saved sufficient money
for an investment. His first venture
was the Kcntuck Mine at Gold Hill.
where. during several years hard
work he acquired valuable knowledge
of lodes. 1t was during 18G9-70 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
ment producer. He and partner. cdu-
Gated in the intricacies of metallurgy
and formations. believed in the prop
erty, combined with Messrs. Flood
and OBrien. and purchased it, or at
least 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
hold of it. Popular error has credited
him 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
had 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
tide of his affairs came in. He had
faith in the mine, based on his knowl-
edge of lodes. He took the tide ut its
seeming ebb and was swept on to fort
une. The mines in which he has been
interested have produced $3.50 600, 600,
of which he got the lions share.
His family seem to have preferred
Paris for residence since the birth of
his great wealth. and occupy n palace
at Rue dc Tilsitt. In London they
possess another palatial establishment
ut Buckingham Gate. His greatest
enterprise is the Commercial cables, in
which he is associated with MIR. James
Gordon Bennett. Next in importance
is the Nevada Rank. Besides these he
is still one of the largest of mine-own-
ers. and is heavily interested in the
Southern Pacific Railway.
The Mackays have long been noted
for their large charitable investments.
Miss Mackay married into one of the
oldest and most distinguished families
of Italy, the Colonas.