The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-24
THE LATEST PORTRAIT OF COLONEL NORTH
From Harper's Weekly.l

He began life as an apprentice with a
firm Of wheelwrights and engineers in
Leeds, England. Here he remained from
the age of fifteen until he was twenty
three. At this time he married Jane
Moodhead, the daughter of the town coun-
cilor and conservative chairman Of the
citv. Not satisfied with his outlook in
England, North decided to seek his for
tune in South America. His search was
not at first very successful. In the Chill
ian city of Tocopilla he was obliged to go
to work at his trade as machinist and con-
tent himself with the neager income Of
three dollars day. Two or three years
ago, when he had become very rich, he Wis
tied the very place where he had thus
worked. He pointed out to party of dis
tinguished tourists who accompanied him
the very bench that he stood at all day
long for many a month of adversely.
But young North, had heard of the won
derful nitrate deposits in southern Peru,
and thinking that he might find better
opening there, he left Tocopilla. His an
ticipations were more than realized. With
the little money that he was able to ac-
cumulate as an engineer for railroad, be
speculated in nitrates. His ventures were
successful He bought great tracts of nj
trate property; he built extensive works to
reduce the nitrate; be constructed rail-
roads to transport supplies; he established
steamship lines to extend his business to
all parts of the world. In few years he
was one of the richest men in South Amer
lea.
Just before the war between Chill, Peru
and Bolivia, which ended in the transfer
of the territory he owned to Chifan juris-
diction, he returned to England. The
fame of his wealth had preceded him. He
became one OF the lions of the hour
Everybody sought his acquaintance with
the hope that it would bring them for
tune. Even the Prince of Wales did not
disdain to take advantage OF the oppOr
tunities for making money that Colonel
North was pleased to throw in his way.
One of the first things that North did on
his return TO England was TO build splen
did country residence st Eltham, in the
beautiful county of Kent. 1t is called
Arery Hill park. The house itself is one
of those miracles that money alone can per
form. The stables are palatial and contain
some of the finest ana fastest horses IN
England. The hahitations for the dogs are
likewise on the same expensive scale In
both his horses and dogs Colonel North
takes the hveliest interest and backs them
In all contests with his enthusiasm and
money. Two or three years ago he created
great social sensation By giving In one OF
the largest hotels ia London the most
splendid and expensive ball ever seen ID
the city 1t is said 70 have cost $4,000
Personally, Colonel North is jovial,
good natured man He is exceedingly hos
pitable, and to those to whom be is person
ally attached he IS very generous. Phys
icaily be Is not large man He is > feet
10 inches in height and somewhat stout.
He has the rudy face of good liver. The
top of his head has lost much OF its hair,
which was originally reddish brown
= His beard, worn in the English style, has
not yielded to the same extent TO the dis
coloring effect OF time Although some
what gray, II still retains much Of the
bright hue of early years.