The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-08
ftnancier. 81 took one hundred and NIFTY
millions Of dollars in bullion"
The Forrv- bonanza KfnRSs

Inc Four bonanza hInses
II was one OF the famous BONANZA
mines whose history is 50 familiar now
The discovery OF the famous Comstock
lode was due 70 the rare knowledge ard
perseverance, Of NJ Mackay. Associated
with him in the operation OF the great
bonanza" mines were James G. Fair.
affsrward senator: William OBrien ard
James G. Flood The output OF the mines
was enormous. In four years the mines
paid So. 600 cae in DIVIDENDS on their stock.
The four partners regularly drew sIse.oe
each month as their share In six years
the comstock mines yielded more than
500 90. 60 in gold and silver ore. Mr..
Mackay was the largest stakeholder in
the mines. owning two-ffths OF the entire
property. In 1872 the mines began 10
show symptoms of exhaustion. although
they were still worked with profit The
'.bananza kings" founded the Bank OF Cali
fornia with a capital OF 81. 90 with a
part of their great wealth. Later Mr.
Mackay and Mr.. Flood established the
Bank OF Nevada. which suffered an i'm
rnense loss IN the great wheat corner
Of 1851
In 1884 Mr. Mackay formed partner
ship with James Gordon Bennett and laid
two cables across the Atlantic ocean.
They are under a management known as
the Commercial Gable company, but are
really owned By the founders. The fight
between the new cable company and the
older ones was a memorable one. but sue
cess crowned the efforts OF the enterpris-
ing men He and Mr.. Bennett also own
the Postal telegraph lines. and Mr.. Mac
kay has se0.D0oo90 invested in these two
enterprises.
In 1892 Mr.. Alackay was shot by crank
I'm San Francisco who had vainly tried
TO induce Mr. Mackay 70 lend him money.
and was dangerously wounded. but
thanks TO his strong constitution and
good habits he fully recovered ard
shortly afterward underwent an opera
ton for vermiform appendix, which was
far more dangerous. He generously aided
his assailant 20 start In business.
Mr. Mackay for a score of years has
been one OF the best-known men IN the
United States. In 1885 he had the oppor-
tunty TO become United States senator
from Nevada, but he declined the honor,
as his business interests were so vast
that he could not afford 20 neglect them.
In recent years he has lived much abroad.
Mrs. Maekay, as is well known, ~ prom
inent I'm society In Paris and London, and
her entertainments are attended by the
best people In England and France Her
house in London is one OF the most mag
niflcent in the great capital
Mr. and Mrs. Mackay have one son.
John w. Mackay. Jr.. who came OF age
a few years ago. and an adopted dauen-
ter. who is now the wife or Don Ferdln-
and Colonna, Prince de Galatro, scion
of one OF the most famous houses of
Italy. The ex-Queen Isabella. of Spain.
asked for the hand OF Miss Mackay for
her favorite nephew. the Marquis de Val
Carlos Prince PHILIPPE de Berben Y Bra
ganza also made a proposal OF marriage
Both offers were rejected. as Miss Mac
kay had fallen In love with the italian
nobleman.
Mrs. Mackay's sister, Miss Ada Hunger
ford who. like Mrs. Mackay, is an ac-
complished woman. is married TO Count
Telfner. of Rome Mr.. Mackay is noted
for his generosity. and has relieved hun
dreds OF people I'm distress. The relief
has been given unostcntatiously, however,
and few persons beyond those interested
ever knew OF the kind acts.