The San Francisco call., 1897-07-19
From. photograph by Iaber, March, 1897.

cifc; w. E. Brown and w. Frank Pierce,
the lasr-named q representative OF the
Masonic fraternity; F. S. Douty of the
Pacific Improvement Company and
Charles Green, secretary of the Crocker
Estate Company, residing in San Mateo.
Nathaniel Gray, the undertaken, and
Otto Dobertin. the well-known sculptor,
went to San Mateo yesterday to take the
death-mask OF the late millionaire. They
returned to the City in the afternoon.
Among tie many messages of SYM
pathy sent to Mrs. Easton was one from
C. P. Huntington. president of the South
ern Pacific. 1t was telegraphed to H. E.
Huntington in San Francisco and sent by
telephone from the City to Uplands.
The Will of c. F. Crocker, which was
drawn some months ago, is supposed to
be in San Francisco. The impression pre-.
vsils that the estate is bequeathed to the
three children, although there may be
some public bequests, but nothing of
great magnit ude is mentioned.
No changes in the management of the
Southern Pacific are expected by reason
of the vice. presidents demise. The hold
ings of c. F. Crocker in the corporation
pany and the death of the colonel will n lot
cause a segregation of interests.
1t has come to light that those who
intim ately associated with the dead mil
honaire have known for some time that
he had no hope of living. Nothing in the
life of any man calls for more admiration
than the fortitude with which he received
the news that he must die. He told the
story OF his doom 10 all the directors of
the Southern Pacific, to Irving NJ. Scott
and to other intimate personal friends,
and all agree that he was calmly resigned
to his fate and that he knew his term of
life must be very short.
Speaking of the matter last night W. Il.
Mills, who was the colonePs lifelong
friend, said: The unfortunate man came
10 me two weeks ago and told me that DR..
Chismore had made thorough diagnosis
OF his case and had given him no hope
he believed the doctor was right and he
said: AT best / can never hope to see nv
forty fifth birthday, and my only chance
to live is to give up all business and 90 to
some OF the South Sea countries, living
quietly near the equator
HE intended 10 go on the 9th and to
take with him DR.. Ainsworth of Los An
geles, one OF the company's physicians.
he told me all this sadly. firmly ana
without tremor in the voice or any
moisture o. tue eye. he SAID he diSliked
to leave his beloved children and to quit
life so young, but he believed he had no
chance OF recovery. He was positive his
condition was hopeless, for he said he had
Brlghts disease in an advanced and agera-
waited form. His utmost hope was of
temporary relief, but he was inclined
to think there was nothing which could
prolong lie for more than a few
months. He was going where he could
rn q VI mr. mir tod x,,,+
made up his mind to give up business
forever. He said he regretted to leave his
family and two beautiful homes as we'll
as many warm personal friends, but he
realized that he was about to fight des.
perate battle, for a few years of life at
best"
Mr. Mills was full of "reminiscences last
night, and there was deep sorrow in his
tones as he paid a tribute to his dead
friend. He said, among other things:
las 1 sit here and recall my gentle and
dignited friend, must say that the pre-
eminent characteristic of the man was his
high sense of justice. He was like the
better side of his father in this, that he
always asked of any cause, is 1t just? Is
it right2' He never pulled the statute OF
limitations on just cause, never refused
TO give up the stakes, so to speak, on his
bets. On the other hand, he would not
tolerate an injustice, but he always fought
manfuily for The right.
Next to his high sense of honor Colonel
Crocker was known and loved for the con-
sideration he showed his subordinates.
He never issued his orders in an offensive
or dictatorial manner, and always re-
Trained from appearing to assert even the
authority he had. if | am to judge by
the way he treated me and others with
whom I saw him come in contact, he was
one OF the most delicately considerate Of