Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-11

Nm. ago to California
and made himself
there noted as San Francisco lawyer and
newspaper editor He was at one time
owner of the Examiner, and shortly after
he sold this he was appointed consul gen.
eral to Yokohama. He took the position in
order to have a vacation in Japan, and
left it 10 go to Corea During his stay in
California he was closely associated with
the greatest of the mining millionaires
there. He had heard wonderful tales of
the gold mines of Corea and 1 imagine
that the real reason for his acceptance of
his present position at the Corean court
was that he might in some way learn
about these gold Mines and get a conces-
sion for them. 1 know General Great
house very well, but 1 have no authority
from him for the above statement. He is
a shrewd far-seeing man, however, and
it will not be surprising if he one day
comes back to the United States a mil
llonaire. At present he is living in the
city OF Seoul. where he has a magnificent
establishment and lives in right royal
style. The king has honored him in every
possible way. He has the rank of noble
and he rides about the city in a chair car
ried by four servants in livery and accom-
panied by soldiers. He puts on a great
deal of dignity in his Intercourse with the
Corean officials, but at home he is the same
he was only common citizen in the
United States. General Greenhouse is one
of the best story tellers among our public
men, and his mind is packed with gossip
and tales about the California millionaires
with whom he has been closely asso-
ciated. 1t was one night last summer,
when We were sitting together on the
Vefanda of his palace, with a couple of
Corean servants near by to light our pipes
and fill our glasses. that we began to talk
of old days in California.
How IL Millionaire Died for 3 Cents.
The conversation turned to the misery
economies of rich men, and Gen. Greenhouse
asked me If l had ever heard how one of
the greatest millionaires in California was
killed by trying to save three cents. l re-
piled had not and he went on:
1T was the famous Michael Reese, whose
estate PANIED out s14.Oo0,OOO. You have
certainly heard of Michael Reese. He was
Ell ormously wealthy, and they used to sing
song in the dance saloons of San Fran
cisco, every verse of which ended some
thirg like this:
"'When Michael Reese
Gives me piece,
Then I'll forget my love-
We'll, Michael Reese was German Jew,
who had originally been a peddler in Vir-
gnia. He came out TIC California and in
vested in all sorts of things. He bought a
great deal of real estate at low prices. 1t
rose in value and made him very wealthy.
stay there, and he told me his estate had
amounted to $l40O0,0O0, and that Reese had
left the most of it to his relatives in Chi
cago. He said that he had left 81, 100000 to
one charity in that city, and he told me
that he himself was one of the beneficiaries
under the will. Reese had been a very
economical man all his life. With all his
millions he could not bear to spend money
He grew sick in his old age. and it almost
broke his heart when the doctors ordered
him oft to Carlsbad to drink the waters
He went there, however, and tried to skimp
on his living. He lived at the cheapest of
the restaurants, and frequented the free
lunch counters, where you pay so much
for your coffee and eat all the bread you
want with. it. Now, there was park near
Carlsbad which Michael Reese liked to
visit He had lived near this place in his
boyhood, and, l think, there were some old
associations connected with it which led him
to want to go there frequently. 1t was
private park. however, and the gatekeeper
had a charge amounting to about three
American cents for admission. Michael
Reese, SO the story goes. could not bear to
spend this money, and he slipped around to
the back of the park and climbed over the
wall. He was seen doing this. and when he
came again a policeman was on hand to
arrest him. He saw the policeman and
ran, but he was caught and brought before
the authorities. The exertion of running
and the modification of being arrested for
such mean act are said to have caused his
death. Fourteen millions of dollars ought
to have given him an income, at five per
cent, of nearly $1,000 a day, but he died for
three cents"
One Hundred Dollars for Al Kiss.
Michael Reese was queer character
General Greathouse went on. He was full
of nerve and he would not be imposed
upon. 1 remember one case in which a
woman tried to blackmail him. He had
had some association with her, and she
brought suit against him for breach of
J,rnr ha MI har dol dc of hnr
sands of dollars. Michael Reese defended
the suit. He denied that he had ever
promised to marry her, and refused to give
her a cent. When the trial came, accord
ing to the laws of California, either party
to the suit had the right to call the other
party to the stand as a witness Reese
was called by the counsel of the woman.
He again denied having given any prom
Use of marriage. He admitted that he had
known the woman, however, and upon be-
ing asked if he had ever kissed her, he
showed his remarkable memory in the re-
ply that he had, and that his lips and hers
had come together just thirty-fve times
He was too honest to commit perjury, and
the judge assessed the damages at just
$1,000 or 500 for each kiss. Reese thought
this was very high. He had great deal
of business with different clients, as he
had large number of houses to rent. At
ter this case he never saw a woman alone
in his office, and the moment one entered
the room. a clerk had directions to come
in, and remain as witness during her stay.
He was man of good sense, and was true
to his friends. Though he hated to lose
small sums, he could lose large amounts
and not be affected. When the Bank of
California failed and Ralston committed
suicide Reese lost 100000 He never made
a complaint. He simply said that Mr..
Ralston was a good man, and that he could
afford to lose the money.
How Senator Jones Refused a Fee.
From Michael Reese the conversation
turned to Senator Jones. Gen. Greenhouse
says that Jones is one of the brightest men
who ever came to California, and that he
is as plain as an old shoe, notwithstanding
his enormous wealth. Jones is worth His
tens of millions. He came to the west
poor, and had number of ups aid downs
before he got into the Comstock lode, which
made his first fortune. He had been min
ing for some time before this. but had
specialized and was practically bankrupt.
He gradually amassed some money and
then got into the Crown Point mine of the
Comstock Just before the second bonanza
was discovered. The Comstock lode all told |
turned out about 100000 worth Of ore
and the Crown Point made Jones a million
are. Having said this much by way of in
PRODUCTION, Gen Greathouse told the follow
ing:
1T was at this time that some Boston
CO CAPITALISTS paid their first visit to the west