Evening star., 1901-02-01
FORTUNESFROMFLOGGINGS
INDIVIDUALS WHO MADE MONEY
THROUGH BEING WHIPPED.
Jno. Magee Got $4,000 for Every Lash
He Received-Patrick O'Brien's
Lucky Strike In China.
From the New York Press.

From the New York IreSo
Nothing is more interesting than the his
tory of the genesis of great fortunes, and
Of all the ways in which the foundations
of fortunes have been laid, the most curious
is probably the receiving of sound fog
ging by the founder. There recently died
in San Francisco John Magee, one of the
wealthiest residents of that city of mil
lionaires John Magees immense fortune
came originally as a result OF fogg1ne
which he received in San Jose, Guatemala
in 1874. In that year Magee was British
consular agent in San Jose. He fell out
with the military commander there, one
Col Gonzales. Gonzales threatened and
stormed but Magee defied him. Thereupon
the colonel took Magee from his consulate
ignoring the protection of the British nag
and ordered him to be fogged for his con-
tumacy. He got sixty lashes on his bare
back and then was thrown into prison
A British man-of-War came Steam1ng Into
the harbor Of San Jose, and Wrathfu
man was her commander. He demanded
that Magee be delivered over to him imme-
diatey, under penalty of blowing the town
sky high. Magee was given up, but that
did not close the incident. Unless an apol-
ogy for the insult to the British flag was
made Immediately by the government OF
Guatemala, the flag saluted and an indem-
nifty paid to Magee the British government
threatened direful things Guatemala ap.
pealed to the United States. but this coun-
try replied that the Monroe doctrine did
rot protect little Central American repub-
lies in committing such outrages as that
perpetrated by Col. Gonzales, and Guate-
mala was advised to comply with the just
British demands. Thereupon the govern
ment< of Guatemala offered to pay to Ma
gee 100000, 5000 for every lash he had
received. The apology and the salute OF
the British flag were also forthcoming.
Accepted Concessions.
Now, this amount cannot be found every
day in the treasury of a Central American
republic, and while the government Of
Guatemala might agree to pay the amount,
the collecting Of 1t would probably be de-
layed and attended with trouble and oom-
plications Magee was wise in his genera
ton He knew the people among whom he
lived, and he knew also the value OF GER
tain concessions upon which ne mad long
had his eye. So he said to the Guatemalan
government that he really could not dis
tress 1t financially by accepting such a
large amount of money, but would be con-
tent to call 1t square for certain conces-
sions which would cost 1t nothing Ma
gee got his concessions at once, and they
included the right to establish bank In
San Jose and the building of wharves In
that port. The government was SO CRATE
full to him because he had not insisted on
cash ohat he was protected In his monopo-
lies in every possible way. and thus he laid
the foundation of his enormous fortune.
Another California family. now possessed
of great wealth, can trace the beginning of
its fortune to an almost similar occur
renee In the time of the Taeping rebellion
Patrick O.Brien was a missionary in China.
He was arrested by the governor OF Yeh
on trumped-up charge of corresponding
with the rebels, and publicly hogged with
bamboo rods Inen he was put in cage
and exposed to the jeers an insults of the
popuiace Finally he was allowed to es-
cane to the coast. He thereupon came to
this country and laid his case before the
authorities In Washington. This govern
ment demanded from China that to the
reverend gentleman be paid an Indemnity
OF $4,000 After considerable delay and
much haggling the Chinese government
paid the amount, and thus another fortune
was started.
A Captain In Dimculty.
Early in the nineteenth century Robert
Je6srson was q sailor on board British