The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-06-20


New York, June 17-Says the Herald:
The spite house. at the corner Of
Eighty-Second street and Lexington ave-
nue, is the most eccentric building n
New York Il is the most obvious, but
after all only one OF the many eccen-
tricities of Joseph Richardson, who died
there last Tuesday. He has left be-
mind him fortune Of s20, ,o90, ,000 When
he came here he was absolutely penni-
less. That was sixty years ago. He
sailed from his native England in the
very year of Queen V,ctoria's corona
ton. For days after his arrival in New
York he walked the streets, hungry and
weary in the vain search OF work.
Al home Mr.. Richardson had learned
the trade OF plasterer and bricklayer.
He was fond ot telling in after years
how he got his first job here. A di-
iapiiated chimney on a building e. the
corner of Broad street and Exchange
place attracted his attention. He went
into the house and proposed 70 the owner,
the late John Taylor Johnston. that he
should repair II. He offered 10 do the
JOB for fifty dollars. Now, il happened
that that very day some bricks from The
chimney had crumbled off and fallen into
the street Mr. Johnston had been
rudely awakened 10 the necessity Of re-
pairs.
I'll give you twenty-five dollars for
the JOB" said he.
Done" said young Richardson, and
he SET 10 work at once
He completed MS task so quickly and
satisfactorily that Mr.. Johnston took a
fancy 10 him. He threw other work
into his hands This tided him over his
difficulties d Not only that, but. all un-
known 10 himself, Richardson's face was
now set toward fame and fortune. Had
the broken chimney been in any other
portion OF New York Joseph Richardson
might never have become a multi-miI-
ii0nsire. Thrift, shrewdness and intel
iigecne would doubtless have enabled
him 10 conquer modest competence in
his chosen trade.
But through MS new patron a. Broad
street and Exchange alley ne got an in
sight during his most impressionable
years into the methods Of the Stock Ex-
change.
What money ne made he invested in
stocks Again and again he was sue
cessful The money came pouring in
With money came opportunities for
wider acquaintanceships. Jay Gould,
the Vanderbilts. the Astors and other
magnates Of the financial world became
his associates. BY 1851 he had accum-
ulated mis- first million. Il had not all
been made in mere specula ton. 4 large
part of il was the result Of his invest
ment in the waterworks a Bridgeport.
Conn. which he had built himself This
successful coup was followed by others
in tae same line. He became Interested
in the waterworks of Houston, Texas,
and other western cities. He also rad
large holdings in the Manhattan Ele-
vatad, in the New York Central ani al
most every great railway system in the
United States.
He became a multi-millionaire. vet
never did he lay aside his simple meth
DDS Of living. II is estimated that even
when he had a small family TO look
after. MS household expenses rarely ex-
ceeded 81. 900 a year He wore the plain
est clothes. and he wore them until they
became well nigh threadbare. The
long. gaunt figure in its trampiike
clothes was a frequent source % wore-
der 20 strangers who saw him lolling In
the offices OF railroad presidents and
Wall street mllionaires.
After his first marriage he went 70 I've
a. No. TO East Houston street. a four
story ediics OF 50 forbidding an exterior
chac it is known generally as the Prison
Here son and daughter were born 10
him Here his wife died. and here he
brought a second wife to live
T6en occurred the incident which re-
sGlted in the building OF TIE Spite House.
His new wife owned a small strip OF
property. barely seven feet In width, a.
the corner Of Eighty-Sacond street and
Lexington avenue. Her neighbor. pro-
posing 70 build on the adjoining prop
erty. offered 1000 for the strip. This
NJ. Richardson made MS wife refuse
He asked 5000. A compromise could
not be effected. The neighbor. pro-
cesded to put up a block of houses |
Doubtless he thought be had destroyed |
the usefulness Of Mrs. richardson's |
property.
He reckonei wrongly. Mr.. Richard !
son "a once proceeded % put up house
on the narrow Ht;le strip. With a curl
Gus sarcasm, as Z emphasizing the fact
thar there was really an OpulenCe Of
space. he did no, make the entire house
occupy the full seven feet which were
available. The frontage on Eighty
Second street is just FIVE feet. There = |
a miniature Cyou might call II a earl
caJurel yard st the corner. and then a
bay window covers the splendid addition
a space TO Lexington avenue. conse- |
quSu'ly some q the rooms in The house
axe nearly seven zee, wide ard ten feet |
long. The dining room i JUS this size. |
bGt even then K only gives room for |
table fourteen inches wide. Two per- /
sons entering the house together are
very liable % be tanglei up in the hail |
wsy. bu; 4 careful regard for H,sie |
corner wil enable Them 70 move about
vsch some degree OF comfort.
There are no fine paintings: ;hs-e is /
10 fine furniture; everything is simple |
20 absolute n!ainness There is even |
10 gas and m w8:er To the end Of |
Hi> -i-S ~ f.SaIt- lA-''tA u>cu . rsilS II
ths water t1v me family use in pals. \; |
night time he burned only lamps.
Wien Mr.. and Mrs Richardson moved |
iuto This odd LYLE structure they lett |
behind them 81 The Prison house three
members n ,heir former household |
a daughter % Mr.. Richardson BY his |
frst Hife. a niece and friend named |
Mss Eliza 5e1h Richardson. Who is ne |
rela;ive. hut mas lived with the family /