The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-10
Biggest SaIa " in New York.

/
salary double that of the president Of the
United States. These anecdotes show the
| causes OF his success and why his salary
| is so large.
Few persons in New York know the
! features Of Henry b. Hyde, president Of
the Equitable Life Assurance society.
Everybody has heard of him. and the I'M
portance OF his personality Is well known
! ii the business world.
but ms portrait has seldom appeared in
pubic He is ayerse to publicity for him
self and has been known TO say: Il can
start from my house uptown In the morn
ing, go 70 the elevated station, take the
| train 10 Rector street, pass through the
arcade TO Broadway. and up that street
20 my office. and not be recognized by
! single person
Mr.. Hyde is always busy planning new
methods for his company, and probably
would not see persons who knew him
| even though they might see and recog-
ME him. Outside his own circle he is
sphinx.
As a boy In the Catskills, Henry B.
HYDE was already leoder. and his talent
was freely recognized by his compan-
ions. II there was any daring enterprise
on foot he was always in the van, his en-
ergy. tact and hustling qualities securing
for him immediate predominance.
The characteristics which have tended
70 make him such a pronounced success
IN the business world began TO show them
selves when he was quite young and he
mad no other training except In the insur-
ance business.
While he was stin quite young his IA
Their was the leading insurance man or
New England and son became thoroughly
versed in the business through his IA
theirs instruction.
insurance man
really begon with his connection with the
Mutual Life of New York, OF which COM
pany he was for several years cashier.
II was while occupying this position
that he conceived the idea of the Equit-
able society, which owes its inception,
growth and prominence in the insurance
world to the vast energy and resources of
mind Of its founder.
He confided his plan to President Wins
ton of the Mutual and wanted him to as
sist in forming a new company on the
Equitable plan. But Winston simply siad
that no man connected with the Mutual
could be interested in any other life in
surance company.
Very WELL" sold Hyde. GLOW long
will 1t take to put through my resigna-
tion?'
Not long" Winston replied 'Pll have
your cash examined tomorrow"
The cash was all right, and Hyde was
soon a work laying the foundation for
what proved the most successful life in
Surance company IN the world.
Rush, push, push was always the motto
of Henry B. Hyde. He is always look
ing for men who can place policies. He
makes it a point of honor to have each
years new business show an increase
over that Of the preceding year.
In this line of work he has been more
crn FrNT hnr 4%A- L., r.
business, and it is for this reason that the
company thinks salary of 100000 a
moderate one for him.
He believes thoroughly in life insurance, |
and carries heavy policies on his life |
amounting to something like 100000 Like
most business men, he has made some |
bad ventures. He was heavily interested |
in the Columbia Fire insurance company, |
which failed in February, 1874.
One of the greatest strokes ever made |
by President Hyde was the payment of |
q $4,000 policy fin a case which was dis
puted by all other companies having risks
on the some man.
1t was the famous contest OF the heirs
of Colonel alton B. Dwight, who lived up
the state and held policies on his life
amounting to s256,OO0 in the various COM
panies.
Most fanciful and ridiculous excuses
were made by most of the companies for
not paying the policy. but Mr.. Hyde sent
one of his best men to investigate and
report on the facts. He found that the
Dwight claim was perfectly legitimate
and recommended that the Equitable pay
its policy without delay.
Mr.. Hyde ordered a check drawn for the
10000 policy held by Colonel Dwight in
the Equitable, ond as the case had at
tracted wide discussion, the news of this
check was heralded through the world
and proved a great advertisement.
Naturally Mr.. Hyde is ultra conserva-
tive in his views and habits When the
question wos up regarding rapid transit
for this city he stood in with Messrs,
Gould Sage and others proposed public
Improvements; but always, befltting his
eXtrem emodesty, he has done most Of his
work secretly.
Probably the most unpleasant exper-
ence he ever had was developed from the
Of his summer house near
Babylon, l.. l., few years ago. A large
quantity of fine silverware was stolen
and Mr. Hyde offered reward Of 81 900
for the capture and conviction of The
thieves.
The result was that all the telegraph
operators on Long Island. the farmers.
abroad men, teamsters, telephone girls
and everybody else turned detective In n
hope of winning that $1,000. Their many
'epOrts of having the thieves in custody
ed Mr.. Hyde a terrible chase. It il not !
safe to mention the matter in his presence
% this day.
A good specimen of the value Of Mr..
Hyde as an executive officer is to re found
n the history OF the Lawyers club. which
occupies o large part Of one of the floors
Il the Equitable building at No. 120 Bros d.
way.
The agent Of the building reported 10
he president that II was not possible 10
ret more than 5000 a year for the space
low occupied by the Lawyers club, but
Ir. Hyde was not satisfied with the re-
,ort- The ideo of a LAWYERS club then C
urred 10 him and the project was promu /
ly carried out.