Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-28
New York World.

The story of the life of John w. Mackay
is the story OF bonanza days Of the west,
of Atlantic cables, of great banking
schemes of great power. 1t is the story
of a man who mounted the ladder OF pros
perity dozen rounds at time, who stood
before the world as the unchallenged Bo-
nanza King. with the shadow of scepter
over every exchange and was hurled with
appalling swiftness into the slough OF
disaster only to mount again to the emil
nence wherein stand the great money
forces of the world.
He had many friends and many enc
mics, but all admired his courage.
John William Mackay was born in Dub
lin November Is, 1881. His ancestors were
of the Highland Mackay clan.
He came to New York in 1s40. Park Row
was his playground.
He went to California soon after the
Argonauts OF 1S4o, took to the primitive
methods of mining. lost and won, and
then, in 1860 drifted into Nevada.
An abstemious, self-controlled, forceful
man. he became the leader of the bold
and strenuous spirits who. were planting
seeds of future greatness. The Bonanza
discoveries came in 1872. In 1878 the Bank
of Nevada, which welded tremendous In
fiuence, was established.
The inception OF the Commercial Gable
in 1854 completes the date which marked
the important events in Mr., Mackay's life.
Crowded between those dates were
events that were like Monte Cristo ro-
mances.
The Big Bonanza.
One day Mr.. Mackay stood with friend
looking at a smoking cavity in the ground
at the mouth of which a windlass was
slowly grinding.
"out of that hole" said Mr.. Mackay,
"I took $4,000 900 in bullion"
Il ~ VIRGINIA
City, New, the first of the famous mines.
and which furnished the foundations of
the Bonanza fortunes. Mr. Mackay said
this mine was a kidney or pocket of crude
ore about as high as the steeple OF Trim
fly and as large as the New York city
han park.
Four men made enormous fortunes out
of those mines, and became known the
world over as the Bonanza Kings; their
names became household words as syn
onyms for enormous, quickly acquired
wealth James G. Fair, who became SEN
ator from Nevada, had attracted Mr..
Mackay because of his skill as mining
expert. William O'Brien and James c.
Flood had gone to California as friends
In the old Argonaut days. Flood was the
financial representative and ally of the
two young miners at work on the Bonan-
"a. O'Brien was a partner Of the firm
because Flood would have no interest he
did not share.
BILLY was my partner once" said
Flood one day. He is my partner now,
and he will be my partner forever"
O'Brien died during the Bonanza
times. Flood died a few years ago in
Germany. Fair died December Is, 1894.
Now Mackay, the greatest of the Big Bo-
nanza Four, is dead, after only recently
achieving one o fthe greatest victories
Of his career, the substituting of his tele-
graph system for that of the Western
Union on the Pennsylvania railroad.
His First Success.
Mr.. Mackay's first success was In the
gold mines of Downeville. Sierra county,
Cal. 1t wasn't remarkable success,
but he made a living and he learned
mining.
1t was in 1857 that he married the
daughter Of Col. Daniel C. Hungerford,
of New York. She was then a widow
living in California with her daughter.
who subsequently married Prince Co.
lonna.
The four men who became known as
bonanza kings first went 20 work on the
Hale & Norcross mine, which had ceased
to Pay dividends and which demanded as
sessments. They secured control of 1t
for $50, O00 The Bonanza mines which they
operated have produced more than $780,
100000.
1t was in 1871 that the Bonanza days
for the Big Four began. Just when they
began to wane they started the Nevada
bank which became one of the most
powerful in the country. 1t was that
year that O'Brien died. The three who
were left began TO branch out. Mackay
became we'll known in Wall street. His
investments were as fortunate as his
mining.
The fame of the Bonanza Kings grew
and their wealth increased. They built
great palaces in San Francisco.
The Commercial Gable.
The Commercial Cable is said to have
been the greatest achievement of Mr..