The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-29

Although He Died In Poverty at One Time
He Was Worth Half Million Dollars
Known To His Friends as The squarest
Man"-Friendless aud Homeless Of Late
Years and Many Timns ont the Verge OF
Starvation.
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veteran sporting man.one of the best
known New Yorkers of his time. and
well known throughout the country.
died at his home i'm Corona, l.. l.. at 8
O'Clock Thursday evening The cause
OF his death is attributed to drinking
impure water from the water supply at
Corona. He was rs years of age and
had been i'll less than two weeks. Har-
ry Hill had a reputation, of which he
was proud of being the squarest man
that ever owned a sporting resort in
New York. A decade and a half ago
his resort at Houston and Crosby
streets was known all over the country.
and no rural individual of any sport
Ing proclivties at all considered a vis-
1t TO New York complete unless 1t in
cluded visit to Harry Hills. The
proprietor was genial and hearty, and
IT was his boast-truthful so far as
Is known-that no person was ever
robbed in his place. Many New York
ers who have memories, and not un-
pleasant ones. OF Harry Hill occupy
places high in politics and in the bus
mess world of today
He Died In Poverty.
II was their custom to open wine"
with the thick-set. popular Englishman
who conducted ii. and who owed his
success to his honesty and good fell
lowship. Hill. who was at one time
reputed to be worth 100000. died in
poverty, and II is a fact worthy of
note that of all the men who have
achieved success and were under OBJ
legations to him not one went to his
assistance in the days of his advers-
ity. He came TO America in 1850 and
worked as a stableman. In less than
three years he opened a livery stable
in Third avenue. and In 1854 bought
out a grocery store at Houston and
Crosby streets. and obtained a grocers
license to sell liquors. II was from
that beginning his famous resort
sprang. The Grocery" soon became
headquarters for the sportsmen
of the neighborhood. The Grocery"
presently ceased to exist as a grocery
and became simply a resort for con-
vivially disposed customers Gradual
ly IL spread out. and took In the stores
on either side. AS fast as leases ex-
pired about him Harry Hill extended
his holdings. He fixed up a stage and
gave boxing matches to increase at
tendance. Every Thursday night he
gave an exhibition and concert for
charity. thus playing upon both sides
OF human nature.
His Reputation for Honesty.
His reputation for honesty was such
that the drunken men were glad to
place their money and valuables in his
hands for safe keeping. No one was
ever known to have lost a cent there
by. The honesty of the man made him
a favorite stakeholder among betting
men. He was one of those who
backed Billy Edwards i'm his fight with
Sam Colyer at Cone River. Va. and
he was stakeholder when, in 1870 Jem
Mace signed articles fora fight with Joe
Coburn. Fully $4,000 i'm stakes was de-
posted with him when Sullivan de-
feated Ryan at Mississippi City In
the height OF his prosperity the police
drove Harry Hill out of his place, and
his financial downfall began at that
time He lost heavily in real estate
speculations and on a hotel and fer
ry. He started saloon at Harlem
Bridge. but the police pursued him and
he had to close. He was preparing to
starve, too proud to beg. two years ago,
when Richard X. Fox and II. C. Miner
heard of the old mans plight and ar
ranged a benefit for him. Since then
he has run a small saloon at Maspeth
l.. l.. but did not made II pay. A friend
suggests for his epitaph: Here lies a
man who never refused to indorse a
.ota for fr;and