The San Francisco call., 1897-07-13
His Physicians Statement
That 1t Was Accidental
DiSCredited.
WAS WORRIED BY DOMESTIC
TROUBLES.
Career of the Bonanza King, Who
Took Millions From Colo
rado Mines.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, July 12.-Mill-
ionaire Nicholas c. Creede, the miner who
became famous as the discoverer of the
Colorado bonanza and whose name is i'm
mortslized by the town of Creede, which
he founded, died in this citv tonight as
the result of taking an overdose OF NOR
phine. That is what the doctors say, but
the Coroner's jury tomorrow will prob
ably call 1t suicide.
About o'clock this evening MIR. Creede
was found unconscious in an arbor in the
garden OF his mansion on Figueroa aud
Sixth streets. The servant who made the
discovery gave the alarm and doctor
was summoned, the unconscious form be-
ing in the meantime carried into the
house. a second doctor was called and
the Two made strenuous efforts to restore
consciousness, but all to no avail.
Al 10:30 o'clock Creede was declared
dead, and the Coroner was notified the
family and immediate friends having
already gathered about the bedside. The
attending physicians gave it as their
opinion that the millionaire miner had
come to his death by taking an overdose
OF morphine about o'clock, just before
his dinner hour.
Investigation ELECTED the information
from members of the household that Mr.
Creede had been accustomed to the use of
morphine one person being authority for
the statement that he had habitually
used the drug for the past fourteen years.
The millionaire miner has for the past
four years lived in a fine mansion known
as the "Northam house" on Figueroa
street, having purchased the place bout a
year after arriving IN this city TO make his
home here.
OF late the only relatives he had in the
great house were the mem bers of the
family of his brother-in-law, Mr.. Pfeiffer.
An adopted daughter two years of age is
now visiting at Elsinore Springs and his
wife has been away from him since last
December. The movements of his wife
may have a significant bearing upon the
tragedy in that garden arbor, for she re-
turned to the city few days ago and, it
is said, had already gwen great annoyance
to him.
Creede and his wife parted last Decem-
Der, he giving her $40, 900 cash as a settle
ment. the agreement being that she
should not return to him. 1t is not
these months, but she reappeared on the
scene so recently and tonight her hus-
band lies in the morgue.
There are no living witnesses to
Creede's last deed. Whether he took only
his ordinary dose of morphine, bu. IL
timed so soon before his dinner, or
whether he deliberately swallowed a
quantity of the drug TO bring permanent
surcease of sorrow, the Coroner will try
to discover.
The mem bers of the household Will not
consent to the suicide story, claiming tn at
both Creede and his wife were hatitual
users of the drug and his death must have
been accidental.
Since coming to Los Angeles from Colo
RADIO, about five years ago, Creede has
kept in comparative retirement, living in
luxury at his Figueroa-street house.
Last year he and his wife adopted an
orphan girl, then but an infant, but
domestic difficulties, the real nature of
which is not commonly known, broke up
the family, and after she had received
lump sum of money from her husband
Mrs. Creede went away ana the child was
sent to Elsinore.
Creole is supposed to have retained his
large holdings in Colorado mines, deriy-
ing therefrom a great income. So far as
known he did not make any extensive in
vestments in Los Angeles. His wealth
has been computed far up in the mil