The Florence tribune., 1897-08-28
A RACE WITH DEATH.
The Strange Case in San Fran
 cisco Court
How Wealthy Californian Beat the Grim Messenger by small Margin and Won
 His Suit.

When Thomas M. Quackenbush proved that he had not married a sec end time his life work was ended, and his vitality was exhausted.
 But for this unusual litigation that came to harass him after he had passed D years of age. Mr. Quackenbush would have been but little known in the com munity. He was quiet aecumulator of money from rents and interest. A man usually gains attention more from money he spends than from money he boards, and as spending was little to Quaclienbush's taste, he was almost a recluse in his roomy house at g11 Web ster street.
 He had the genius for finance. He used to tell with gusto of his first earn ings in California. He arrived in San Francisco in 1s49. and left the vessel about nine o'clock in the evening with cut one cent to pay for food or bed. But he had a package containing 250 copies of the New York Herald of the date of his departure. He cried the papers on the street. and before he sought place to sleep he had sold every paper for one dollar a copy. This s250 was the beginning of his capital.
 He was . good carpenter, and had abundant enterprise and suggestive ness. Mechanical skill was readily sal able in San Francisco in 1879, and ouackenbush soon was taking con tracts for building houses. for pumping water from cellars, for excavations and for filling. All his contrac-s were profitable, and in two or three ears he was in such financial condition <at he returned to Schenectady, Y. Y, for his wife and baby daughter. While he was there his wife was killed by a fall from horse. The widower brought his child to San Francisco and resumed his busi- ness, occasionally making investments in lots, but never making q purchase that brought loss to him. As money grew he leaned it on the best security. Twen- ty years ago he bought the property at the northeast corner of McAllister and Polk streets. Among other enter prises by which he gained money in early days was providing benches for the circuses that came hither, and for many years he continued to be pur- Veyor Of seats for tent shows.
 His possessions reached some s3o0,- COG. Practically all of his property was conveyed 10 his daughter several months ago. This transfer was not the result of the litigation with Mrs. Alb bolt, so his attorney, [. J. Pringle, says. For a long time it was Mir. Quacken- bush's purpose to transfer his posses i sions to his daughter while he yet lived, and the deeds that were filed in Novem- Der last were drawn even so long ago as l January, 1896. This daughter, Mrs. Swortiguer, and her two children are the only surviving relatives on this coast.
 It was in September or October last that Mir. Quackenbush, 76 years Of age, and breaking down in health, learned that Mrs. Nancy 4. Abbott, woman who had conducted boarding house at which he had lived, was declaring her self his wife. He determined to prevent any of his property reaching her, and immediately he brought suit to adjudge that she was not his wife. She re- torted with 6 suit for maintenance. The attorneys for Quaekenbush hastenod the suit to trial, that judgment might be obtained before he should die. Here was the Etrangest race eyer run with death
 In each of the two suits judgment was given in his favor. That last paper was filed one Saturday. The next morn ing about one o'clock death came. Quaekenbush had won by day.-San Francisco Chronicle.