The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-02
THE CITY OF CLAIMS
Dead Mems Estates and City Property
Badly Wanted.
PEOPLE ALWAYS AFTER THEN
When a Rich Man Dies In Califor-
MIA a Crop OF Widows and
Orphans Spring Up
At Once.
san Fuaudsco Correspondents, OF the Phil
sedtTphia Times.

San FragsoLsco Correspondents OF the Phil
sddIphia Times.
San Francisco, Sept. 2e.
"As soon as we are put in possession
we will hoist the American flag over
the building and then go TO England
was the unpatriotfc expression OF Flor
ence HInck1ey. one of the claimants of
the Blythe estate. valued at about
100000 And thus 1t Is. this country
is not good enough for the descendants
Of those who accumulated fortunes
here. Those who do not go to Europe
pack up at once and leave for New
York But uhe great majority of them
go to Europe. 1t may be said that
they go for two reasons. to escape the
importunings and the remembrance of
their former companions in poverty
and to begin life anew. As is well
known, California was settled by the
refuse of civilization mainly and a
great many of them left THE states
under a cloud. Many of them accumu-
lated fortunes and became "eminently
respectable cbtlzens"-that Is. for this
country. 1t was a repetition of the so
cial History of the wealthy rcket-ot-
leave men of Australia.
But the hate MIR. Blythe had no dis
honorable past. He was bachelor
and came from Wales TO this country
had any relatives until after his death.
Then a troop of claimants appeared
and the estate has been in litigation
for a decade.
San Francisco has been noted for
years for the number of wealthy men
who died leaving no heirs or two sets
OF heirs, no widows and several wild
ows No matter how fiimsy the pre-
tent OF the claimant. DIT was generaLy
entertained and a slice OF the properly
obtained Several years ago French
man died leaving an estate OF $3,OOO.OOO
to his two nephews In France. MIS-.
Sallie Hinckley, who had been an ac-
tress on the Bowery In New YORK IN
the Cos, set up a claim that sne was
his widow. There was not scratch OK
a pen TO show that they had been mar
rfed. The heirs gave her $4,000 as
soothing balm. sold the estate and I'M
medlately returned to la Belle Paris
to enjoy the fortune.
About 20 years ago a mining speou-
lator whose fortune was estimated az
IS 900 600 was found in his bath tub
with a bullet hole through his head.
Two women appeared upon the scene.
each claiming to be the widow. The
opposing lawyers got the greater part
of the estate and the remainder was
divided between the cast-of women.
This city Is and ever has been gol-
den field for adventuresses. 1t is not
safe for a rich man to die. No matter
how exemplary his life may have been.
there will spning up female pahan
TO blaclVen his name. Lawyers are cas-
lily found. who. for a portion OF what
they may obtain. Will prosecute any
claim, and assist in the manufacture
Of testimony.
II would seem That by the process OF
evolution we should have a better sys-
| tenn of morals and more fair dealing
| than prevailed among those of the past
generation. whose records would not
| bear searolling. But. from the uumer-
| Gus crimes committed OF late. Il ap-
| pears that tho present race has in
| hertted at least uhe bad qualities OF
their ancestors who fed from justice.
| Periodically suits are brought for
| large slices of san Franclsco property.
AT one time about all Of the olty was
| claimed, together with some of the ISL
| ands in the bay. The suits were
4 brought under wlSaF is known as Span
! ish grants" whose boundaries are gen
/ orally undefined.
No rhe late Ex-Governor Pho Pico, the
last Mexican governor OF California. is
! attributed much Of this trouble and 1T
! igatiOn.
II is stated In history that during the
| armistlce between the armies during
! our war against Mexico. Governor PicO.
/
| out even a passport from his own
| country. II is presumed that the SUI
! preme government had regulated him
after mis- flight from California.
He established his headquarters al
San Bernandino mission. about 20 miles
| from Los Angeles. issued a bombastlc
| adil IS to his SUBJECTS" and sent
| word 10 the American cOmmandant al
Los Angeles that ne had returned 20
resume his functions as governor
| The commando sent him a verbal
message ullst II he issued any more
such infiamnna tory prOclamdtiOns ne
would put him In the guard house. This
| silenced PicO and 81 Is charged that ne
at once began issuing land grant war
rants 10 all mis- relatives. friends. pOli.-
| ical favorites, etc His clerical force
was put 20 work hurrledly 10 make out
warrants for the best lands before the
| final surrender 10 the American forces
| which took place a few days later al
Los Angeles. Many OF these grants
were. OF course. located" after the
| American occupation. and are, there
fore. worthless. II is known that sew
eral large tracts OF hand are 50 held
in the san Juan Capistrone valley. ths
| Mexican occupants even refusing u
| present their grants 10 the COMPRESSION.
al committee for examination.
Some OF these grants were antedated
| 4 IS charged. as the records in hts va.
! Gated palace" showed.
one OF the most celebrated claimants
was Jose Y Limantour. a gunsmi-h u
| the Clty OF Mexico. who claimed not
only san Francisco and "au lands ad
| Joining" but also SIX square leagues
q land near Los Angeles. including tht
| Cahuenga valley. the famous MeNicar
bartlefield. whore Pico led a revolution
agaIns. the Mexican governor. and AZ
ter two hard days bombardment killel
a mule belonging 10 the opposing
| forces.
The history Of the Lirhantour claim
shows that the adventurer came 20 ThA
| city with a batch = grants signed N
blank He followed the occupation o
| coast trader until he found what n,
| r.-.rral Ha fhan rIalrnad All The Ian