The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-01
ANACONDA NEWS.
HEIR TO LARGE FORTUNE.
Oscar Petersen Is Well Known
in Anaconda and Missoula.
FROM POVERTY TO RICHES
He Worked Here at the Lower Works.
His Father Dies in Germany and
Leaves Him a Fortune of
More Than $4,000.

There are many residents of Ana
conda and Missoula who are well ac-
quainted with Oscar Petersen of San
Francisco, who has just fallen heir by
the death of his father to a fortune of
s15O,OO0
Petersen formerly resided in Mssoula
and in this city. In the former place
he remained for two months, but dur
ing his stay there he was unable to find
employment He arrived in Anaconda
in September, 1897, and was employed
for more than six months at the lower
works and resided at the Flood board
ing house at Carroll. When he had ac-
cumulated enough money, he left for
San Francisco, where he found en-
ployment as clerk in cigar store
The San Francisco Bulletin prints
the following in regard to Petersen's
good luck:
1T comes in the life of but few to
wake up in the morning poor, COM
PEELED to rush to work by a certain
time, and at night go home heir to
fortune. This happened yesterday to
oscar Petersen, clerk in the employ
bacco dealers at the corner of Bush
and kearney streets. He was notified
by firm of solicitors in Hamburg,
Germany, that his father died on April
80 last, and that under the terms of
his last testament he would share
equally with two brothers and three sis
tiers the immense estate left by him.
His portion will amount to $150000 or
more. The figures do not sound big,
but $150,O00 is neat little sum to have
at ones command. The solicitors let
ter also stated that the papers neces-
sary to obtain the inheritance would be
forwarded Immediately to the German
consul in this city for Petersen to sign.
There is a story connected with Pc
tersen's presence in this city that reads
like the chapter out of a novel. Just
the kind of plot Ouida would delight
in writing, but she has never crowded
more into the life of any of her painted
heroes than Petersen has put into his
Sc years. He has gone through more in
his time than the majority of men ever
do.
From the position of pampered son,
of millionaire and the enjoyment of
the pleasures that go with goodly
supply of money to that of a waiter and
dishWasher. is quite descent. When
1t occurs within the short space of three
years, the sensation to the individual
experiencing it must be rather start
ling. Petersen made it, nr
oscar PeterSen'S father ranked
among the wealthest men of Hamburg
He owned property on all the principal
thoroughfares of the city, and besides
derived an immense income from the
enterprises in which he was interested
As result, Petersen was sought after
and had an entree to the best society.
lie was sent to university, and did
we'll. Besides contracting debts he
made friendships that would have been
better left uniformed. The story of the
years he spent It college is much the
same as that of any young German stu
dent. Beer, brawls, fights with the fac
ulty, duel or two and hard studies
When Petersen graduated he had al
ready entered in on a life of the most
reckless abandon.
His, father tried to stop his wild
course, and finally Succeeded in having
him enter the army. He wore the kais-
er's uniform just one year, but instead
of it proving a check to his pace. it
seemed to accelerate the speed at which
he Travelled to reach the end. Little
heed was paid to the threats made by
the old millionaire to disinherit him
from any share in his wealth.
The son kept on choosing only the
most notorious roisterers for his com
panlons and burning up money as if
it were SO much chaff. But the end
came at last and the thread which Pc
tersen had been stretching so long snap
ped under the strain. 1t was a wild
' night. Bottles of champagne were used
for bowling pins and when the Young
officer aWoke to count the cost he
found he was poorer by 1000 marks.
His fathers patience was worn out
and he told his son that he must leave
home. He must go to another country
and try to lead a better life. Sufficient
money was given him for his needs and
Petersen went to South Africa to mend
his ways. 1t was a pretty hard school
to go to, but he faced it bravely He
procured employment as a bookkeeper
for a large exporting firm and succeeded
quite well.
But the old restless spirit finally re-
turned and he came to San Francisco.
Then his trials began. He was penni-
less and forced to do the meanest work
to earn enough to eat He became a
waiter and then dishwasher. Many
a night he went without a bed. He
wrote to his father appealing for help.
but none ever came. His letters were
ignored. An opportunity to obtain
respectable position presented itself
finally and Petersen entered the employ
of Michalitschke Bros, where he has
been ever since
Petersen takes his good fortune in
quiet way. He intends to go to his
fathers home Immediately and begin
life anew. Take it up where he left off,
before the things of night dazzled him
and live as his father would want him
TO were he alive
Eyes tested free. Cassidy, Montana