The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-06


mediately after the colonel tainted. but
their efforts were useless. There will be
a postmorte n examination of the remains.
Ofiiciais Of the Nitrate Company were re-
luctant to admit that the colonel was dead.
The death caused great excitement in
financial circles and in the lobby Of the
house OF commons Among those in the
his son. Capt. North. in whose arms the
money king expired.
John Thomas North was born in Leeds,
England. about 60 years ago. His father
was a mechanic. and the son had the adj
vantages of the ordinary schools until he
was Is when he was apprentIced 10 a firm
of wheeiwr.ghts and engineers Later he
was In the employ of the great steam
pillow builders. the Fowlers. OF Leeds, and
there he became a kind OF sub-foreman.
When he had married a girl In a higher
social station than his own. and his faith
cr had died. the young man sought his
fortune In South America. This was in
1856. When he arrived in Chile he found
employment as \ railroad engineer For
eighteen months he retained this position
and then want 10 Peru. where the nitrate
beds had already begun TO attract atfen-
ton. From small beginnings and pur-
chases before the boom set In, North, in
the course OF few years, became the
mos; considerable owner OF nitrate prom
critics In the territory OF TaraFaca. He
Was a masferfui and resourcefrl man
and each success led 10 another SO after
awhile he had controlling interest in
pretty nearly all that was valuable in
tho territory In which his special interests
were. He owned the africa Water Cornsny
he owned the railways into the nitrate
beds. and he had such favorable contracts
with the steamship companies that tho
49,
was a monopoly IN his hands Having
firmly fixed his hold on these rich South
american properties. he went back to
England. II was not long before he Sc
cured tho popular title OF Nitrate King
and not long after that he was made the
honorary colonel Of the Tower HamIs.
regiment Of volunteers. Now he wanted
social distinction Of a METROPOLITAN char
acter- tsaf Il, he wished 20 be hidden
70 choice fcasts in the West End 81 Iar-
don. Those In the city he got for the ask
irr-yfoney counts there a. " does no.
where else in the world But 81 the West
End the drawtnE-rccEn doors do rot Omen
50 easily, though to hin, who hath the
secret OF putting the golden key sn thu
lock. doubtless the hinges nnswinr vt.h
prompt aiacrfty. ana they unswunx 20 tho
Nitrate king. He came out as q sports
mana yachtsnAn. and racing man with
hSta dogs and horses Meantime BE- BE-
gan the building OF a place at Ethan. in
the county Of Kent This Kind OF activity
attracted ths aftsatioa OF no less per
son that the Prince 90 Wales ard they
soon became friends and thus he secured
. certain Mind OF social vaEue- In the
.lectiaH 81 last year ne was A Conservative
candidate f1r The commons. spent money
Ike prsrce, AMI Sas over~ Aeluninssy d.
feased In perS1n Gel North was % me-
dunn AssSht and o7iy moderately stout.
not Weighing rcrhape more than 80
pounds. his hair was q ysilowtsh rcd
while hts uhskserS and raus;ach~ were
somewhat Hehser ard ssrsak~sa with graz.
his cam WAS shaver as - the Easlsxh
fsshinn Hrs complexion was r7lsdy. as
became a Yorsshirrrran. ard hy-;he-wav
though - toax accustomed 70 SPEAK the
soft Spanish tongue. when he delivered
sirnssis IA Enxsish TIRE burr q the North
~ FneiS-a Vas most eocsP4cuoGA