The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-02-20
ELI HAWKINS WANTED FUN
Extravaganza of Wyoming Cattleman
Who Became Rich Suddenly.

EAITdVdydDCo vi UyuHihu Sottiemoi'
Who Became Rich Suddenly.
POMONA, CAL, February lO.-Thc
| death of Mrs. Jennie Hawkins in pov.
erty in q little ramshacklc house on
the outskirts Of Pasadena the other
day recalls her experience and her
husbands in the San Gabriel Valley
| twelve years ago. Eli Hawkins was a
cattle ranchcr in Wyoming in the sew
enties, and sold out to syndicate for
several thousand dollars. He imme-
diately removed down into southern
| California-the land Of sunshine and
| tomalc-with his wife. He bought
2OO-acre tract of land, and began con-
yerting it into a suburban home, park,
| and orchards on scale that took the
breath Of the easy-going settlers there.
Money went through his hands like
| water, and the stories of his wild ex-
travagance and his queer notions will
not cease to be told in Los Angeles
| and Pomona in this generation. Haw-
| kins spent money so recklessly that
stories of his wealth we're exaggerated.
He was said by many to be worth ten
millions of dollars, and to have great
deposits in banks in every city from
Helena, Mont, to Los Angeles while
others told exaggerated stories of his
| income from his Montana herds.
Hawkins was slovenIy, rcsembled a
| tramp, and looked as if he never had
s. in his life. 1t was his delight to
pass himself as a vagaband and try his
| credit among business men, and finish
up by showing them one Of his bank
books.
There were no improvements on the
tract he bought, and he began opera
tions by fencing it. Every idle man
| in the neighborhood was hired and the
transformation began. Farmers who
had teams were employed, and the
procession Of loaded wagons from the
station to Hawkins land was sight
to behold. In a few days he had a
hundred men at work, all Of whom
were better dressed than their employ
er. The large force soon completed
the fencing, which was the most sub
stantial Of any in the valley. Then
he set them at work on his garden and
grounds. He employed high-priced
landscape gardener, erected large
conservatory, and filled it with beau
tiful plants. The grounds were
tastefully laid out with winding
drives and walks: arbors, fountains
and little grottoes. To look at the
man and then note his taste in the ar
rangemcnt of his home one could not
help marveling.
He bought an invoice Of statuary at
Los Angeles and distributed the fig
ures around his park. One day he
came home intoxicated and, as it had
been raining, he concluded that the
nude figures needed some kind Of COW
ering. He procured some paint and
put black india rubber coats on the
Cupids. Next he fixed Apollo with a
flaming red shirt and green stockings.
Mercury was enveloped in blue tights
and bright red nose. Venus was rig.
ged out with black stockings and q
yellow gown.
He built cozy cottage in his park,
and during his many escapadcs made
things interesting for his neighbors
One night he and his wife took an axe
each, chopped their furniture te
pieces, threw it out Of the window ano
burned it. The next day they went
to buy new supply. They looked az
if they had escaped from house oi
correction. They went to the princi,
pal furniture house. The cheapest
sets were shown them, and even ther
the clerk was wasting his time. But
nothing was good enough for Hawkins
The clerk gave up in disgust and left
the seedy looking pair to themselves
The man ager then came in and asked
them to go to the top floor, where he
would show them something better
| He showed them sets worth all the
way up to $3.50, when Hawkins asked
him if that was the best. A 81, 500
set was exhibited.
"I'll take that; that's my style.
Send it out to mp ranch, he said.
When the manager announced to the
crowd of clerks that he had sold a
$1,000 set Of furniture there was a
burst Of laughter, in which Hawkins
Joined Then Hawkins proceeded to
take the clerks down a peg by inviting
some one to accompany him to the
Farmers and Merchants Bank. On
reaching the bank, the clerk was as
tonished to sec the president como
around and grasp Hawkins by the
hand. Hawkins asked him if his
check was good for 81 500.
eyes said Hellman, "good fol
s2OO,O0O."
By this time the clerk was out in
the fresh air trying to get his breath.
| IT.-1,;,, lo1 q ,noni, rhnn IN the