The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-24
The Last Act Of tho Multi Million
aire Steamboat Man Was
Generous.
Grateful to His Lieutenants for
Their Share in His
Success
Tho Inventory Shows the Estate to Approx
innate BIO, 900, OOO-Proposed TrAin-
Ing School for Boys.

CHICAGO, March 23.-An inventory OF the
estate of Diamond Jo" Reynolds ia being
prepared in this city and is about compiet-
ed. Its results will surprise those who
have noticed that in different probate courts
over the west bonds to the amount of not
over $500, 900 have been filed for the admin
istrators. The inventory shows the estate
to exceed S. 0O, 600 and to reach almost to
$4,000, 900. The administrators, Eleanor
Reynolds, the widow, and +. M. Dickey. a
confidential employee of the deceased. quail
fled in this county Wednesday morning,
Offering Philip D.. Armour and John @.
Black, of the Continental National bank, as
their bondsmen. This enormous estate is
to be administered in all probability. unless
legal obstacles appear. in this state and
county, although the assets are scat
tered through a dozen different states
and territories. It is the desire OF
the widow thai it be administered
here for a variety of reasons, but especially
because some splendid charities. indicated
by Diamond 10" in his lifetime. and not
ness of his death. are contemplated. Ont
of these is a magnificent training school
for boys.
one of his mining claims in Arizona. de
was seventy-one years of age. yet as sturdy
apparently as ever. Before going west he
had indicated some points around which a
will was to be drawn. He was soilcltous
! particularly that the men whom he had
especially trusted-the half dozen men
whom he regarded as his confidential lieu
tenants-Richardson, for instance, of the
properties; Dickey, manager of finances,
and a few Others should be remembered
handsomely. Then he contemplated a
magnificent training school. When he was
overtaken with his fatal sickness in his
tent at the mines, apprehensive OF the
rapid fate which overlook him. the mes
senger hurried off for a physician who was
also instructed to bring a lawyer. Neither
doctor nor lawyer reached the old man in
time. He had been dead thirty hours when
they arrived.
rs the hours passed through that long
wait and as his strength waned he became
more impatient. Finally, feeling that he
had but little strength or time left, he de-
termined to wait no longer. He then made
an effort to draft a will. It was too late.
The strength was wanting. He directed
one of his men to write; one of the men to
whom he was most attached and whom he
wished especially remembered. The man
mond Jo' insisted. A will was then drawn
as the dying man desired. He seized the
pen to sign it. but he was too
weak. The name was nothing more
than a scrawl. Then he called
out to those around him that the document
was his last testament. The widow pro-
poses to carry out Diamond JOS" dying as
we'll as living suggestions. Mrs. Reynolds,
the widow, is a delicate'old lady, who lives
in Aurora. She is 68 years Of age,
and as unlearned in worldly ways as a child.
In stating her wishes to her advisors she
has told how her sole desire now is to carry
out the plans her husband used to discuss.
but which, overestimating his vigor, he left
uniformed. To each of the men named by
her husband she will give $4,000.
The Diamond Jo'' estate comprises real
estate, steam packets, grain elevators, the
railroad from Malvern to Hot Springs, Ark,
and some of the best mining property in the
country, distributed over Colorado, Arizona,
Iowa. Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. Al
though Diamond Jo' died miles away
from the enter of his activity, with nc
means of preparation on his part for his
end, the estate was found to owe not
single dollar.