The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-28
THEY ARE IN SHANGHAI.
Two Men who Left Butte Suddenly Are
in Business in China.

Two Men Who Left Butte Suddenly Are
in Business in China.
There are many people in Butte who
will find in the following. from the Hell
ena Independent. some things of inter
est:
THE acquaintance OF Perrin W. Irv-
inc. former city clerk of Butte. will be
interested in knowing that he is now a
resident of Shanghai. China, where he
is engaged in mercantile pursuits. Irv-
fne left Montana suddenly just before
City Treasurer Jacobs of Butte, who
was short in his accounts, committed
suicide in 1894. Mr.. Irvine did not leave
his address when he left Butte so mys-
teriously and that fact occasioned con-
siderable trouble TO the authorities Of
Silver Bow county. who were unable to
locate him. A coincidence worthy Of
note is the fact that Contractor Roach
of the firm of riddle & Roach, which
had the contract for building the state
school of mines building, is also in
Shanghai. where he appears to have a
good position. Mr.. Roach also left Butte
suddenly. and his partner. among 9TH
ers. tried in vain 10 locate him. Mr..
irvine had been sick and Sept. 3 was
recovering from an attack of malaria.
"A Helena friend Of Mr.. Irvine wrote
to him recently, inquiring about Manila
and the reply which he has just received
will be Of interest TO Mr.. 1ryine's ac-
uuaintances in Helena and elsewhere in
Montana. Mr.. Irvine has come 10 the
conclusion that there is no place in the
wide world as prosperous or so desirable
a place of residence as Montana. In
speaking of the Philippines, DIR. Irvine
said tina he was not as familiar with
the conditions there as many, but he
believed IL a good country to stay away
from.
" You viii understand he wrote,
that for many years past affairs there
have been in a most deplorable c0ndi-
ton on account of their miserable sys-
tenn Of government and the fighting
among themselves. There is no question
as 10 the richness Of the country nom
an agricultural standpoint, TO say moth
ing Of what may be discovered there
| In minerals. n with an enlightened
| nation ruling the place. IL should Ger
tainlv come out all right. The only trou-
be Is at this time we have no assurance
that America Is going 10 retain the ISL
auds. and ] would not think OF going
there should they again revert to Spain,
I for II would be just as bad as before.
" I am informed that their climate
is very hot n that snakes, crocodlles
and other reptiles are common, but mat
/ the natives rather enjoy their presence.
Now, l am a long a off from Mon
tana. but when / was there, and unless
II has changed a great deal. II was and
is the very best and most prosperous
place in the world. I am bound 10
stay in Shanghai until the end OF my
partnership agreement. some three years
hence. so there il no use Of me talking
about going anywhere just now, but
you can wager that the first place
I go to when I leave here IS America.
Then II il IS not so good as this coun-
try 7 can come back and try II again.
" Shanghai Is all right except the eli
mate. but / am sure IL ] were 10 spend
say five summers. here without getting
away TO some cool place. you would
hear Of my funeral.
" Manila Is about 1900 miles from
Shanghai and about the only business
we carry on with them is in cigars and
lottery tickets, but their exports OF
hemp rope tobacco, sugar q spices