The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-07-06
SHE PASSED
THEM BY
Men Who Let Fortune
Slip.
OPPORTUNITIES THEY LOST
A Trio Who Might Have Been
MiIIionaires Had They Known
When TO Invest.

NEW YORK, June 15.-News was re-.
ceived in this cay yesterday that Mckee
Rankin is going to return here and try
to make new start in life. 1t is sat
he hopes TO get backing to secure SOM
small thcater and will put on stock
company in standard drama
This has set the gosslps of the ALLEY
talking. and much concerning Mr.. Ran.
kin both OF truth and fiction, has been
told; but perhaps the most interesting Of
all Is how he lost a fortune when it was
offered to him practically for nothing.
| 1t was back in 1871. and Mckee Rankin
was then in the zenith of his success He
was n star of powerful drawing force
and he was supposed to be worth for
tune. In lact, he did have considerabl,
money slowed away. but he was high
liver and got through more than the av-
erage millionaire would dream OF doing
His apartments at the Fifth Avenue Ho.
tel cost him $50 a day, and he openeu
wine for all who would drink it with him
lie gave away and squandered big sums
and 1t was estimated by his friends that
his personal expenses ran close to $l,Uo
a week.
This was when he was starring in "Tht
Danites," and his check in those days
would have been accepted anywhere fol
100000.
Ot course his popularity and earning
capacity did not continue, but his prod,
santy did. He was not a business man
lac pr.ded himself on not being one, anG
knew almost nothing about investments
hA tNrna rs Ia, 81.
ali ended in financial stringency, and then
Mckee Rankin was sorry he had not pu,
$1,000 GU where it would have made HIN
a millionaire whether he wanted to OF
not.
1t was when Westinghouse, the invent
or, was almost unknown. he had pat
cnts of engines, motors, airbrakes ano
many other things. He had started t,
manufacture in tittsburg, ana combi-
nation had been formed against nm. He
was at The end of his resources, was al
most to the wall, and da not know wha
to do. He needed ready money badly,
and at last came to New York to look
for II.
He knew Mr.. Rankin we'll and after he
had vainly tried Wall street he met Mr..
Rankin in the cafe of the Fifth Avenue
Hotel.
The actor purchased wine for the in
ventor and listened to his plant of woe
wen iAiIhNhSi anu az last A. w tStiIlfs
house said;
you've got money. l need it. I'll tell
you what I'll do. You put up $1,000 and
IN give you half interest in all my in
ventons present and future. l can 90
on and push them as l cannot do now.
What do you say?"
NO" was the reply. Il don't think
much of the airbrakes or other invcn
tions. The stage is enough for me. ]
don't want to get into business of any
sort. I'm sorry, my hoy. ! guess l won't
do it. Let's have another bottle and stop
talking shop"
Westinghouse went ahead and male
millions. Mckee Rankin spent what 10
had. He is today a very poor man.
This recalls another man who throw
away an enormous fortune which he
might have had for the taking, 1t was
Tom Mcclure, the theatrical manager OF
San Francisco, and 1t happened about the
same time as the refusal of Mr.. Rankin,
Mr. Mcclure was worth hundreds OF
thousands of dollars. He spent money
more lavishly than any prince. He also
gambled largely and he often won or losl
as high as $4,000 or $4,000 on a nights
play. One day certain men came TO him,
among them Leland Stanford, and offer
ed him one-fourth interest in n new
railroad they were working on. 1t vas
the Central Pacific. Mcguire would or
dinarily have lent them the money, even
If he did not himself care to invest the
SO 600 they asked for. lie was not feeling
well that day, so he CURLY refused the
offer.
That night he went out to Il gambling
resort and lost $4,000 in four hours play.
His share of the railroad. which would
have cost him 5000 less than his nights
pleasure, would have made him wealthy
for life, but he let the chance so by.
sim another case of this sort, which
was told yesterday, was concerning an
other theatrical manager of the coast
and who was often mistaken for the other
Maguire-John Mcguire. 1t also happen
ed about the same time. He was living
In Butte, Mont lie had friend WI
liam Parker. who was interested in many
mines In that section. He also drank at
times, and one of them was on sun
day when he called on Mcguire. He was
distinctly the worse for liquor and was
eager for more. He also wanted to go
visiting at places he knew. lie was
"hroke" and needed money right away
When he met Mcguire he said:
John, give me 500 right away. I'll
give you quarter interest In the Gazon
mine If you Will"
II can't do It, Billy" was the answer;
ITS Sunday, and don't want to do bus
mess. You don't need money and you
don't need any more to drink. Go home
and sleep and come around tomorrow.
and you can have whatever you want"
Parker did not go around on Monday.
Soon after there was a tremendous find
In the Gazon mine. and II has paid mil
lions mp to the present day.
Thus these three men let fortune call
upon them and walk away again without
welcome. and thus they were unwit-
tinEly refusing the money and ease for
which all three were striving.
Locket Nav Bring Death.