The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-29
POVERTY In FINE RAIMENT.
PECULIAR PREFERENCE DISPLAYED
FOR THE POORHOUSE BY
TWO LADIES.
A SISTER OF ONE Is THE WIFE
OF A PROMINENT CHICAGO
MILLIONAIRE.

Two women-mother and daughter
both stylishly dressed. a few days ago
appealed to the authorities of Kansas City
for admittance to the Poorhouse, accord
ing to a press dispatch from that city.
They were Mrs. Alexander Majors and her
daughter. In the dispatch it was stated
that Alexander Majors resided in Califor-
MIA and was unable to provide for them.
1t was ascertained yesterday that both
Alexander Majors and his son, Green
Majors, were living in this city, the former
endeaVoring to earn livelihood as a min
ing expert, though so years of age, and the
latter reading law in the office of T. V.
Gator, the well-known Populist leader.
The elder Majors had gone out of town
on business, but Green Majors told most
romantic story of the causes which led to
the unfortunate and peculiar situation of
the two ladies at Kansas City. Said he:
81 cannot conceive what induced my
stepmother and her daughter to take such
course, for to me there seems absolutely
no necessity for it.
'It is true that both father and myself
are unable to do anything for them. but
they are both capable of engaging in some
avocation that will return them liveli-
hood, as Mrs. Majors is but So years of age
and her daughter 36, and both are in good
health and well educated.
"But aside from these considerations
Mrs. Majors sister, who resides in Chicago,
is the wife of Augustus Bryan, we'll
known capitalist of that city, worth not
less than million of dollars, and she also
has son who publishes a paper in one of
the suburbs of Chicago.
''She probably does not care to apply to
her sister, owing to their estrangement
over family matters years ago, but l know
of no reason why her son does not do
something for her.
of JS tr1a that they were accuStOrn Cd RI
all the luxuries after my fathers marriage
to the present Mrs. Majors, who was his
second wife, but others have undergone
the same vicissitudes of fortune aud have
been forced to earn their living.
Fathers present stra1tened clrcum-
stances are not due to any fault of his own,
but are the result of his being forced out
of his business by the adoption of
improved modern methods of transporta-
ton. He was one of the pioneer and best
known freighters of the West.
Previous to the breaking.out of the war
he performed all the government transpor-
tation west of the Missouri, doing bust
ness that averaged between 100000 and
So, 600 900 year. In 1857, while member
of the firm of Russell, Majors & Waddell.
he had one contract with the government
which alone was to bring him 81 500, OOO
This was for transporting the army of
Johnson to Utah.
"The breaking out.of the war, however.
prevented him from collecting all of this,
as he was a native of the South and his
claims were opposed by reason of his being
charged with being copperhead.
"He had made money, however, verv
rapidly, and after his second MARRIAGE
| made a tour of Europe with his wife and
daughter. He parted from them in. Eu-
rope some years ago, when he found his
| means were being rapidly exhausted. and
| came to this coast TO rehabilitate his for
| tune.
His whole previous life had been de-
| voted to his vast freighting interests. and
he found himself untitled for any other
pursuit. He had acquired considerable
knowledge of mining, however, and sue
ceeded IN making several important sales
OF mines for other parties.
"But his money rapidly grew less, and
ne was hnally compelled to write his wife
that he could no longer supply her with
funds.
The result was that after they had dis
posed OF all their diamonds and most of
their costly wardrobe, they probably re-
turned to their old home in Kansas CITY
| and took the step mentioned
Rather is 80 years of age and feels this
SAD outcome most painfully, but is abso-
iuteiy without power to do anything for
them and l am also without sufficient
means TO better their situation.
When the women made their application
TO Judge Stone he told them they would
have to appear before the County Court,
but they failed to put in an appearance at
| the appointed time.
Langley's Directory has 1884 more names
than the opposition. Out Monday.