Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-29
DEATH OF "BONANZA" FAIR
Ex-United States Senator From Nevada
Passes Away.
His Estate Worth Forty Millions mt 8,
Moderate Estimate-Only His
Son mt the Bedside.

SAN FRANCISCO, December 20.-Ex-Sen-
ator James G. Fair died suddenly at the
Lick House, at 30 this morning. Senator
Fair has been in poor health for some
time, suffering from asthma. A few days
ago he caught cold while going out In a
rain storm to view some of his property
improvements at North Beach. The cold
did not appear to affect his lungs, but set
tied in his kidneys. Last evening he was
feeling better than for the past few days,
and his death was entirely unexpected.
He passed away at his apartments, the
hotel being part Of his vast possessions.
He had been in bed since Monday. For
several hours before the end came he was
unconscious. The doctors said that death
was due to diabetes and Bright's disease.
Charles Fair, his son, was at the bedside
when the old gentleman breathed his last.
When 1t was obvious that life could not
last long, frequent bulletins were sent to
Mrs Herman Oelrich and Miss Virginia
Fair, the daughters, who are In New
York, by Charles Fair This son was the
only relative of the Senator present.
DIR. Livingston, his physician, who was
the Senator's near friend as well as his
physician, says the ex-senator left no spe-
cial message for his family or other per-
sons Before the fatal attack came on ne
made a will, in which he revoked the ac-
ton he had taken to disinherit his son
Charlie AS to the value OF the estate, the
doctor says that two years ago. when the
ex-senator was complaining of his physi-
cal sufferings, he remarked: L would hot
pass another such night for every cent OF
my $3S,O0O,o 900. .
The doctor added that Fair knew almost
exactly what he was worth at that time
The estate would aggregate ABOUT Sto'ooV'-
600 at a moderate estimate.
Senator Fair was bern in Ireland and was
limited States Senator from Nevada. He
made his fortune in the Ccmstock Lode
and was a member of the famous 'Donan-
za'' firm of Flood, Mackay, Fair 4 U Brien.
He largely increased his wealth by invest,
ments i'm San Francisco and California real
estate
In the early seventies Fair was poor
man. He had no prospects In his mines
and no one had the hardwood 10 preoict
fortune for him. He went In the STOCK
market with Flood, Mackay and others
The great manipulators won fabulous
wealth.
Fair never gave up his mining interests
but ne abandoned the speculative feature
of them and turned to other feids. he De,
gan to invest in local real estate and owned
acres of 1t before he died. he owned tne
Lick House, but it was simply an item IN q
long inventory. He possessed some or the
best business and residence property IN
San Francisco. His rent roll each month
was a fortune for an ordinary man. He
was one of the heaviest taxpayers in the
city. He owned forty blocks Of land IN
the northwestern part of the city. Fol
months he has employed hundreds or men
improving 1t and establishing a desirable
water front South Of Market street Fall
owned several manufactures, some OF
which he was directly interested In to the
extent of hundreds of thousands OF dollars
Most of his wealth, however, was In his
mines. He had exclusive ownership OF
many, not only in this state, but In Nevada
He owned them at the time Of his divorce
from his wife.
Then they were considered of little value
In the last few years a boom gave them
value. Nine years ago Senator Fair was
worth no more than nine million dollars
The disposition of the estate Is a matter OF
exceptional interest. 1t is believed that he
left very little, IL anything at all, to char
ity. They believe that he divided his i'm
mense fortune among his children, share
and share alike. These children are Mrs
Herman Oelrich, Miss Virginia Fair and
Cherries l.. Fair.
The doctors viii make an autopsy TO-DAY
to satisfy themselves as to the internal
condition of the Senator's remains.