The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-27
TO DAZZLE NEW YORK
SCHEME OF YERIxEs, CHICAGO Mag
NATE AND MILLIONAIRE.
Has Put Up "a Million Dollar Palace In
Gotham, and VIII Attempt to Enter
the Charmed Society Circle.
New York Press.

Millionaire Charles r. Yerkes is about
to begin the most audacious campaign
of his entire career. a career. by the
way, during which he has been obliged
more than once to display enough
audacity and nerve to supply hundred
ordinary men. Mr.. Yerkes and his
beautiful wife are about to seek en-
trance to that interesting circle known
as New York society. Years ago they
tried to enter Chicago society, but
failed miserably. In coming to New
York they have adopted course some
what like that taken by the Goulds.
who. when they failed after a genera
ton of waiting here, went over to Eng
land. where, apparently, they won
s'hands down" There is this difference,
however, between the efforts Of the
Goulds and those Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Yerkes for social recognition, the Goulds
would undoubtedly have won easily iE
New York had they expended as much
money and tried as hard as they did in
England whereas Mr.. and Mrs. Yerkes
might have spent millions in Chicago
and devoted years to the battle with
out winning. Whether they will sue
coed here or not Is a question that time
only can answer definitely. That Mr..
Yerkes believes success will come to
him there is no doubt whatever, for he
is far too shrewd a business man to
lay out a large sum of money in any
enterprise without being reasonably
sure of the outcome. He has already
expended more than a million-perhaps
two--in this social speculation in New
York, and this is but a mere beginning,
IL all the stories as to his intentions are
true.
Most Of the money so far laid out in
anticipation Of the coming social cam
paign has been devoted to the erection
of the beautiful palace at the corner
of Sixty-eight street and Fifth avenue.
just how much this house has cost no
one but Mr.. Yerkes himself knows, of
course, and it is doubtful if even he
has yet a very definite idea of the
figures The real estate alone is said
to have cost 100000 and the building
about $500, 900, while the furnishings are
expected to cost 100000 more. All this,
in addition to the Yerkes pictures,
valued at a million and a half They
are still in Chicago, and are said to
have been selected with such rare taste
and judgment as to form, in fact. one
of the two or three most valuable pri-
waite collections In America.
The lot upon which the Yerkes resi-
dence stands fronts 165 feet on Sixty
eighth street and sixty-one feet on
Fifth avenue. 1t is at the crest of the
hill that slopes toward Fffty-ninth
street to the south and Harlem to the
north. Some of the finest mansions in
the world are in the neighborhood.
Just across the street stands the resi-
dence of Mrs. Joseph L. Stewart, widow
of the millionaire sugar refiner, who
made his money before the formation
of the Sugar Trust. At Sixty-sixth
street lives III. Q. Havemyer, the sugar
king, who made his money out of the
trust. AT Sixty-fifth street stands the
great new palace into which John
Jacob Aston will move this spring. At
sixty-seventh street is the mansion
which George j. Gould has abandoned
because of the high taxes levied upon
him In New York. On Madison avenue,
not far away, stands the famous Tiff
fanny house. Certainly Mr.. Yerkes will
have good neighbors If the possession
of money carries with it those qualities
that make for neighborliness
A FEW DETAILS.
The architect of Mr. Yerkes's house is
Robert H. Robertson, and it took him
more than six months to prepare the
plans. The main entrance is on Fifth
avenue. A high, wide stoop leads to
the massive doors. Each step is COM
e.
There are twelve in all, and their ag-
gregate cost is said to be $4,000. From
the upper step arise four carved pillars
supporting a cut stone balcony.
The picture gallery, which will be
built u-,n an IL" extending back of
the Immediately adjacent houses. is
lolx25 feet. one story high. and is said
to be the largest in the United States.
Upon occasion 1t will be used as ball
room. The remainder of the house is
four stories in height and the outside
walls are richly carved to the third
story.
The main doors are of bronze adorned
with a Greek design, and the frames
are deliberately carved. The doors open
into a large entrance hall two stories
In height, with a balustrade or gallery
around the second story. This central
hall connects two genuinely grand
drawing rooms, one of which fronts
on Fifth avenue and the other on Six
ty-eight street. Behind the southern
drawing room Is the dining room; next
to 1t is the music room. and through
the length of the house. from the hall
to the art gallery, runs a vestibule or
corridor. separating the rooms fronting
on Sixty-eighth street from the con-
servatory-an immense apartment fifty
feet long by thirty feet wide. In the
center of this. when completed, foun-
tain will play constantly.
The library, the breakfast room and
the sleeping rooms are upon the second
floor, and they. as well as the apart
ments on the ground floor. are finished
In the most luxurious fashion 1t is
said that from $4,000 to $4,000 has
been. or will be. expended upon the
bsth room alone. The exterior of the
house appears to be entirely finished
but the men are still employed upor
the interior. and it will be some time
apparently before the place is ready fol
occupancy.
CAREER OF YERKES.
Just how much money Mr. Yerxes is
worth is unknown to the present writer
1t must be a vast sum. for no one blu,
n veritable Count of Monte Cristo could
afford TO build a palace such as has
been family described above. He begar
life in Philadelphia and it is stated tina
his first business operation was in SOAP
Here is the story. though its truth i:
not vouchod for When he was but
mere lad he left his fathers house on,
morning and strolled down among tn,
docks. Here he ran across a sheriff
sale. the auctioneer of which was sell
ing out the petty stock of a small soaI
maker who had become insolvent. Their
were few bidders and the highest sun