The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-30
In Many Respects He Was a
Very Remarkable Mar.
SOME OF HIS 10 seNrR,cIriEs.
His Great Fortune built Up by His
own Indomftable VIII ana Won-
derfuI business Congratulated 40
Wear His scotch Cap mt the Thea
avery Clever Amateur Musician.

In very many respects H. w. Mcneil.
OF Colonsay, who died last Saturday night
at San Jose, was one Of the most remarka-
BILE OF the men who have acquired independ-
ent fortunes In the Pacific Northwest dur
ing the past ten or fifteen years. Formerly
well known figure ON Seattlc's streets.
the past few years OF his life Mr..
MCNEIL spent In semi-retirement at his
elegant retreat at Colonsay. Here he en-
tertained from time to time railroad mag
mates from the East and from Canada,
dignitaries and noblemen from England
and prominent bankers and business men
OF the city and generally OF the Pacific
Northwest.
Mr.. Mcneil made many lasting friend
ships during his business career i'm the
Northwest. He was Identified with so many
large enterprises that at one time he was
we'll known to the business men Of every
important city in the Northwest. These
remember his many odd characteristics. his
immense capacity for work, his unusually
vigorous faculty of speech and his quick
and Comprehensive grasp of affairs,
How Mr.. MCNEIL worked his way up
from subordinate situation as a youth
on q Western railroad 10 a position of
wealth and large interests would, II ever
told In all Its truth and details, make a
most interesting and Instructive story. For
he was not born to affluence He began
life as a telegraph operator, from winch
position ne rose by degrees to one OF more
Importance. He finally became the man.
ager OF Wisconsin railroad At that time
one OF the minor officials of the road, 1t is
said. was William G. Van Horne who
was to become later one OF the great rail-
road magnates OF the American continent
president OF the Canadian Pacific, and
knighted by the queen Of England.
President Van Horne's Friend.
1t happened that Mr. McNeIll. was in a
position over Van Horne. The two men
thus thrown together became fast friends.
Pacific, to finally attain the position Of f
head of the great system. His friendship
for MIR. Mcneil was manifested later
when, II Is said, through his influence the
MCNEIL brothers became interested in
some newly discovered coal fields near
Anthracite, Il. c.
1t is understood that /. was in this in
ever. that Mr. McNeiii. who was the
main factor In developing the mines. was
the shipment OF the product Of his mines
East and West over the Canadian Pa
cific. The output of the properties grew
in value and quantity Finally, six years
or more ago. a contract was secured with
the Canadian Pacific, which purchased
and has since obtained annually from the
McNeills a great portion of its coal.
of resident manager of the Oregon I'm
provement Company twelve years ago, he
at once took hold of the affairs of the
company in his characteristic and yigor-
GUS fashion. He personally attended to
the details of all important operations.
When Anacortes was launched he be-
of him that men stood in line for hours at
time in his office waiting for him to
sign deeds to property purchased of or
through him.
A Beautiful Home.
At Coionsay Mr. MCNEIL had home.
comfort and luxury. A splendid launch
was kept at a private boat house at Colon
say for his use and that of his guests
He was a great lover of flowers. as the
immense beds of roses and many other
plants AT Colonsay will testify. Much
money was spend in the propagation of
handsome and rare roses. He also built
private fish pond on the place. which
he stocked not only with local trout, but
with specimens from the East. Formerly
Mr.. MCNEIL was an epicure, and his din
In later life. however, his Ill health COM
PEELED a curtai.ment of his epcurean
tastes. and while he entertained with rare
and generous hospitality, his own habits
were simple.
Mr.. Mcneil. while being stickler for
detail, was not a man for small things
Big business transactions were handled
quickly and with great directness. Thus
when he determined one day that the Safe
Deposit building on First avenue would
make good Investment. he went into
the Boston National bank. where Fred
erck Karl Struve, agent of the owners
of the building was then employed as tell
er. Mr.. Mcneil asked il the property was
for sale. He was informed that ii was.
a moment he made an offer of s65,0OO spot
cash. The offer was refused. Mr.. Strive
informed him that he had no latitude in
the matter.
.'I'll not pay $4,000" Mr.. Mcneil is re-
ported to have said with great firmness
Then rejecting moment. he offered S67,-
5000 cash.
The offer was telegraphed to the German
Savings & Loan Society. Of San Francisco.
which owned the property, and in half an
hour 1t was accepted.
Mr.. Mcneil few weeks later when the
abstract of title had been approved by his
attorneys, walked into the bank with the
purchase price in gold and bills in his
hand
Fine COnversatiOnalist.
Mr.. Mcneil was a fine conversationalist.
Said q fried of the dead capitalist yester-
day: His vocabulary was peculiar In the
extreme. 1t was difficult to cope with
him in an argument, for he always had a
story or n quotation to forcefully Illus
trate his point and clinch his argument.
He was an inveterate reader. Grant was
to him one of the few great military ge-
muses. of the world. He was perfectly
campaigns and could discuss them by the
hour. Lincoln was his IDEAL and his
memory was replete with anecdotes and
hunorlsHs OF tne martyr president.
I'm addition Mr.. MCNEIL was one of
the most talented amateur musicians |
ever knew. He was an expert banjoist,
and used often to say that when worn out
with work. an hour with his favorite in
strument would clear and rest his brain
He brooked no delay in anything he
undertook, nor could the greatest obstacle
daunt him. This courage and forceful-
ness were manifested in everything he
undertook. Many will remember the UNI
slightly bluff that stood ION Webster point
grounds of Colonsay He told his con-
tractor he wanted a lawn as level as a
billiard table, with one edge tipped up. He
got 1t.