The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-11
FAvoR|TES OF FORTUNE.
Men Who Made Millions in the
Great Comstock Mines Of
Nevada.
Five Hundred Millions Divided
Among a Half Hundred OF
Lucky Men.
The Members OF the Great BONANZA Firm
--Mackay and Fair Head the
List Of PIntoorats.

r-SAssCN0y INV AAU~N u"S
List of Phntoorats.
WrNNrMuocA, New, June 10.-A speoia
correspondent of the C kicago lnter-Oceal
sends that paper the following: The $500,
0 1000 in silver and goldAextraoted from tn
bowels of the Comstottk lode since 1855
(say nothing of the $250s00O,0 900 from tn
outside districts within our states border
making a total of shout $3.50, 0o0, 000) ha
enriched the financial wo lid to that extent
and the annual flow of nsllicns from thu
same source still continues, although con
siderably diminished in volume. Many On
tsrprisinp men invested their time, labor o.
money in the development of the justly
famous lode, and many have staid with i
from the old surface groupings down to thu
$500 feet level, the lowest mining depth at
tanned on the American continent.
How many have been favored to the OK
tent of becoming millionadres through the
Comstock gate to fortune is difficult te
ascertain or state beyond those proni
nently known and recorded in public mem
DRY, bat hundreds have realized their hun
dreds of thousands, and thousands have
realized their many hundreds, yet many q
Comstock f~avorite of fortune has since died
poor, or is still struggling to regain the
smiles Of the VIGOROUSLY fckle goddess. II
is interesting now to look back and call to
mind those who really became ~milllonaires,
directly or indirectly, through judiciously
investing in and promoting the success Of
the various mines and enterprises connected
with mining. As for the many who lost,
and became financially and hopelessly
wrecked, never mind. Following will be
recognized az an approximate representa-
ton of prominent Comstock ~millionaires,
as near as can be figured or estimated at
the present TINA.
Into conspicuous prominence comes the
famous bonanza firm" Mackav, Fair.
Flood, 4 O'Brien, realizing their immense
fortunes from the sensationally rich bonan-'
"a developed and principally controlled by
them in the Consolidated Virginia and CAL
ifornia mines, on the northern section of
the Comstock.
This firm dissolved years ago. but before
they did 80 they had divided $64, coo. 600
among themselves, exclusive of what went
to hhe many hundreds of outsiders who
wsrs invested with them. Their ownership
was proportionately as follows: Aackay,
two-ffths and the Others one-ffth each,
therefore the dividends took that shape.
O'Brien and Flood were removed by death.
Fair sold out and removed permanently tC
California, n Mackay is the only one Of
the firm who staid and still stays with the
Comstoek source of their atluence.
John w. Mckay came from the Califor-
mia gold mines on the western slope of the
Sierra Nevada in 1853, and engaged in the
development of this new mining discovery.
He owned most of the location known as
the CALIFORNIA; ground at the time of the
consolidation, hence his more extensive
interest. and his actual realization there
from may be placed at $45, 900, 900. As be-
fore remarked, he still continues his inte-
rest in the old lode. He is also a principal
owner in the Mackay- Bennett Commercial
Gable company, with its telegraphic wire
ramifcation, extending throughout the
east. His family resides in England.
James G.. Fair took away S35, 600, 600 as
his share of Comstoek mining and stock
profits, and has since engaged in railroad
and heavy real estate transactions in Cali
fornia. He has been very successful, and
is probably richer than either of his former
bonanza partners to-day. He resides in
San Francisco.
J. G, Flood realized about $780, 900, 0OO
from ths Comstock before he died. in San
Francisco. He was also president of the
Nevada bank, owned and controlled by the
bonanza firm. Mackay and Fair are still
in that to a controlling extent.
w. {. O'Brien died in San Francisco be-
fore the full realization of his great bo-
nanza afhuence was upon him. His fortune
was figured at about $16,OO0,0OO.
William Sharon realized about SIG, 000, 900
from his ConlStock mining operations and
speculations. The Yellow Jacket and Bel
cher mines we're his favorites and under his
control. He and W. G. Ralston and D. O.
Mills ran the California bank and built the
Virginia d Truckee railroad. besides being
engaged in real estate and other enter
prisss. Sharon diod in the Palace hotel,
San Francisco, the largest house in the
world, built by RalstoD and himself.
w. @. Rnlston, who died in San Francisco
Aug. q, 1875, was one of the leading spir-
it's and potent influences in the early de-
velopment of the Comstock. His direct re-
Turns from actual Comstock investment
may not have amounted to more than So
100000 or Sc, 000, 600, but he was deeply en-
gagged in many outside interests in connec-
ton Herewith.
d. o. Mills also figured among the early
developers of the Comstock and got away
with S. O0. 5000 or &c. 00, 900. same as Raj
ston-perhaps more.
John =. Jones, in bonanza days, was
stated to be $1,000 600 ahead on his Gold
Hill, or southern end of the Comstock, in
the Crown Point mine. but he lost more
than that in subsequent outside specula-
tions in California and elsewhere. He wise
ly acid fast to Crown Point control, how
ever, and acquired a very remunerative
interest in the famous gold mine on
Douglass Island, Alaska. He is also en-
gagged prosperously in mines in Idaho and
elsewhere, and his Santa Monica, Cal, sea
side ranch and public resort property has
constantly increased in value. His fortune
can safely be estimated at $4,000, 900.
Alvinza Hayward, of San Francisco, was
interested with Jones in tho Crown Point
mine and elsewhere on the Comstock, real
ing $40, 900, 600.
VS.. Hobart realized very heavily from
an exceedingly lucrative ore contract, or
"lease," on the middle LEDGE of the Chol-
lar groupings and a mill which he erected
and solely owned on Six Mile Canyon for
the special purpose of reducing the afora-
said ore. He cleaned up about s $1,000, 600.
Thomas Fl. Williams and his law partne.
David Bixler, owned the ground known as
Central No. 2, adjoining the California on
the north, and with it cane into the Con
solidated Virginia consolidation before tn c
big bonanza strike. Ho was also engaged
IN other mining operations at the south
end, and realized about $4,000, NO. He
died in Oakland, Cal, ten years ago.
Adolph Sutro retired from the Comstock
with about 50, DOC, 900. 1t was not altogeth,
er from mining or speculation in the ole
lode itself, but through his famous tunnel
four miles in length, run to tap the Com.
stock nearly 1000 feet below the surface
cropping on the side of Mount Davidson.
George Hearst. of San Francisco, United
StnfGc Ha,ntrr F.r,, F1,-s- IL ~.