The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-26
GEORGE CROKER
NOW ON A VISIT
TO NORTHWEST.
ern Pacific Expected 10 Arrive
In Seattle Before Many Days
Won q Fortune by Reforming.

One Of the most Interesting figures II
San Francisco financial circles Is George
Cracker. second vice president OF Gse
Southern Pacific, who is TOW visiting the
Pacific Northwest, and who VIII probably
include Seattle IN his round before his re-
rnFn 20 San Francisco.
Mr.. Crockers early life was somewhat
unpromsslng. OF course his father was
able TO give him every educational advar-
fage. He and hts brother Fred were BOTH
sent TO the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute
Fred stood .rst Ia his class, but was COM
pslleG 10 Withdraw from college Just oefofe
graduation On account Of trouble with his
eyes. George Croker also did fairy well
bH siI9 not complete his course in the IL
stitute
On bis return 70 San Francisco he
pFanged into the varied forms OF dissipa-
ton tnat are included under tha. euphe-
rnt<tsc fshyase "a fast life He was given
positions 81 minor Importance In the great
railway System witn which his father was
so prominently Identified. but he deiied all
laws OF business ana wou!4 AZ times absent
himself for Il week from his office. aud
none of the employees knew waere ne vas
10 be found.
At length he gave up business for a
time and associated himself with roman
tic friend By the name OF Taylor, and the
two went TO live together on ranSn,
where they lived. hunted and herded In
genuine cowboy fashion.
When George cr0cker'g father died he
left, ali the world knows. an immense
and valuable estate lie had Kept track OF
Georges yagrant and adventurous proeiiV-
tiles. and they had not met with MS ap-
prevail Yet no did not cut the boy OF
with shilling. On the contrary ne LETT
him a generous allowance, running Wei
W into the millions. THIS inh9ritance.
however, was left on conditions. In other
words, the rosiicksng. registering young
blade who had divided his time between
the roles OF cowboy and fashionable Eoue,
was placed on probation, and the executors
Of the Croker will we're given diseE .nina-
ton as to his conduct. Whenever ne sat
lsffed them as TO his sseadiness and good
faith, convinced them that he had really
reformed and EettieQ down, they were 10
pay over 10 him his fortune. and not til
then
The. hint was a broad one. Whether from
necessity or from choice, George Croker
TOOK il. and settled down to business so
steadily that the fortune left him condi-
tionaly by his father vas placed IN MS
hands. at the death IF his brother Fred.
George succeeded to a very active part IN
the management of the estate. and is now
second vice president Of the Southern Pa
csf1c. With every prospect OF stu further
advancement
II reports are true. the coal mines OF the
Northwest are not the only things that Mr.
Croker has his eye on during his present
visit % this part OF the country. The tact
mat no I~ accompanied Dy tse!teid4 hssi-
sger kruttschultt OF the Southern Pacific.
gives color 10 the rumor that he is also
locking after possible railway construction.
II L. true that Mr. Huntington recently
gave out for publication the statement
that he was done with railway construction
in the Northwest and that the Southern
Pacific would never extend this side OF
Portland
The two magnates went ont the other
day ostensihiy 10 look over the Carbon
TIiii coal mines Weli-posted railway men
think that at the same time they are keep
ing an eye on the most available means OF
reaching tide water III the most available
point on Puget sound. II & now no secret
that the extension from Portland 10 As
torsa generally locked upon as in the in
serest of the q. Il. & y. traffic, is dorln-
atod by Southern Pacific influence, IL not
actually owned by Huntington. who fur
nished the rails. Astoria. however. is open
10 commerce only when the weather is ia
vorabie. and IL is believed. Notwithstanding
aorials that the Southern Pacific is about
to take a hand. along with the o. u. & n,
Union Pacific and Burlington in establish
ing terminals on the Sound.