The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-18
IL ROSE
TAKES HIS
OWN LIFE
Suicide of the Well-Kown
Viticulturist and
Turfman.
HAD LOST A FORTUNE
Failing to Negotiate a Loan the
Former Millionaire Takes
Poison.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

r OS ANGELES, May 17.-Worried
by numerous debts, L. j. Rose,
IL the pioneer viticulturist of Cali
fornia and one of the best-knowu
turfmen in the United States, ende1
his life to-day. Rose swallowed q
large dose of morphine while stand
ing in the chicken yard at the rear
of his mansion at the corner Of
Fourth street and Grand avenue. In
spite of the efforts of two physicians
he died at II 80 o'clock this forenoon,
one hour after he was found.
A few days ago Mr.. Rose went 10
San Francisco to obtain loan. He
was unsuccessful and returned to Los
Angeles. Yesterday morning he went
to Ventura to borrow money. The sum
he wanted was large one and he could
not obtain it. Mr. Rose returned from
Ventura last night, apparently in his
usual health and spirits. Developments
show however that he determined last
night to destroy himself. Mr.. Rose
wrote a letter tC his wife in which he
said he was "swamped financially"
and would not be alive much longer.
You will find my remains in the
chicken yard were the concluding
words of the letter.
This letter was found by member
of Mr.. Roses household soon after 10
o'clock this morning and search was
at once instituted for Mr.. Rose, who
was found lying unconscious in the
chicken yard.
ID i 1t
and Drs. w w. Hitchcock and David
son were hurriedly summoned The
physicians worked over Mr.. Rose for
an hour, but did not succeed in reViv
ing him. Several members of the fam
lily were at his bedside when he died.
Coroner Holland who was notified of
the suicide at noon, went to the house
and viewed the remains. Mr.. Roses
relatives were anxious to have the in
quest held Immediately, and the Coro-
ner said he would hold it this evening.
Mrs. Rose is an invalid and the news
of her husands death was a severe
blow. She is prostrated by grief.
In the history of California and of
racetracks there was no better known
man than Mr.. Rose. To him is due the
credit of developing the wine industry
of Southern California. He came to
Los Angeles in 1860 and acquired the
Sunny Slope ranch near San Gabriel.
Under his management the ranch be-
came famous as vineyard and the
choicest wines were made on the place
The dead man was a great lover of
horses and he had large stable.
Mr.. Rose bred Stamboul. one of the
lived. He also bred AIcazar, The Moore
and other famous trotters. Mr.. Rose
turned his attention to running horses
and had a string which was known all
over the United States. He was well
known at Saratoga, Long Branch and
other racetracks.
Mr. Rose spent his money like a
prince and was known as a man who
would not hedge" on any proposition.
He won and lost thousands of dollars
on the racetrack, but no one erer heard
him complain when fortune turned
against him. Mr. Rose sold the Sunny
Slope ranch to an English syndicate
about ten years ago. 1t is said that the
property brought s1,000O00.
Soon after he sold the Sunny Slope
ranch Mr.. Rose built a home at the
corner of Fourth street and Grand ave-
nue. The house was then the most
costly and beautiful in Los Angeles.
Mr. Rose spared no expense to make
his home luxurious and he imported
fine woods for the floors and staircases.
He dressed the walls with rare paint
ings and bric-a-brac and poured out
his money to- make his home comfort
able and beautiful.
Mr.. Rose leaves a widow and eight
children. Five married daughters and
three sons reside in this city. The
daughters are Mrs. Nina Wachtel Mrs.
Annie Sanderson, Mrs. ]. w. Montgom-
cry. Mrs George Easton and Mrs. AL
bert Pilse. The sons are Harry Rose,
l.. ]. Rose Jr. and Guy Rose.
No arrangements for the funeral have
yet been considered.
Leonard john Rose was born in Ba-
varia. Germany, in 1927. His parents
immigrated to the United States when
he was II years of age. The family re-
sided at Waterloo, ILL.,, while Mr.. Rose
attended Shurtliff College in Alton
After leaving school he settled at
Quincy. where he engaged in the dry
GOODS
Then he removed to- Van Buren, County,
Iowa, where he continued in the same
line of business.
Mr. Rose started for California, and
after many hardships he finally reached
and settled in the old city of Santa Fe,
N. M. where he engaged in the hotel
business. During the two years that
he managed the hotel it was financially
successful and when Mr.. Rose and his
family removed to Los Angeles he was
comparatively wealthy man. He
bought the Sunny slope ranch of 1000
acres and in few years increased it's
annual output of wine from few hun
dred gallons to 100000 gallons of differ
ent kinds Of wine and 125,000 gallons of
brandy.
Mr.. Rose first served the public as
State Senator from Los Angeles County
for the term commencing In 1887,