The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-23
Only Child Of Colorado MIL
liQnaire is Dissatisfied.
he HAS CONSULTED LAWYERS
Bulk Of The Immense Estate Left 10 Found
a Hem, for Poor People al
Colorado Springs.

i
ry Stratton. the only Offspring OF the late
winifred Scott Stratton. who ranked sec
ond among the multi -millionaires of Colo
| rado. Is here for a consultation with two
leading lawyers relating to contest of
his fathers will by which nearly 10000. =
| 900 will go 10 charity after s460 900 is dis
tributed among relatives and friends. The
will was filed for probate here yesterday
| and is dated August 5. 1902,
| Young Stratton. who is poor. was left
| $50 900. but by the provisions OF the viii
he will be cut off without a cent in case
| of contest. He is 2S years old and has
| earned his livelihood as a clerk in a Pasa-
| dona, CAL bank.
Numerous relatives, who are dissatisfied
with their share In the estate or who
| ceived no share whatever. may join in the
| contest Concerted action, il is believed,
may have the force OF breaking the will.
Isaac stratton never lived with his IA
ther. Immediately after the birth OF the
boy Stratton was divorced from his wife.
Young Stratton has made a good impres-
sion since his arrival here He is grad
uate of the Illinois State university and
also OF a business college. He will duly
consider the probability OF success before
attempting to break his fathers will.
HOME FOR THE POOR.
There were two ways to reach STRAIT
tons millions when he was alNe-one
through his sympathies, which were in
tense, and the other through his business
judgment, which was sound
He was influenced by the former when
he drew up his Will, for he directed that
his millions should be devoted to founding
I'm Colorado Springs the Myron Stratton
home for the poor. Not more than
81. 600 900 was set side for the purchase of
a site. The home il named for his fa-
ther. Tyson S. Dimes. Moses t. Hallett
and DIR. II. Ii. Rice are named as trus-
tees.
Among the benefciaries under the will
are Carl Stratton Chamberlain. of No. 315
East Sixteenth street. Brooklyn, a nep
hew, and his sister, Elma Pearl Cham
berlain. who receives $4,000. Mr.. Cham
berlain gets his uncle's household furni-
ture, jewelry, herlooms, all articles OF
personal apparel. ornaments, books, paint
ings and also SOC. 600.
Mrs. Jennie S. Cobb of San Jose, Cal,
sister; Earl and Harry r. Hamlin of JEFF
fersonville, Ind: Mrs. Mary Cobb Smith of
ST. Louis Lillian s. Cobb and Clair Marie
Balback OF Colorado Springs. each receive
$50, 900, and Byron c. Logan of Indianapo-
lis, Ind. 10000
General surprise was caused by the an
nouncement of the contents of Mr.. STRAIT
toms will II used TO delight him 10 dis
pense largess. and his relatives expected
generous bequests. After he had divorced
his wife he sent her $50, ,000 although she
had remarked.
Servants at hotels hailed his coming
with delight His tips were prodigai. To
a boy who returned a $5 gold piece the
millionaire had given him, Stratton gave
a 500 bank note take that II you don't |
like gold" Stratton said.
COULD NOT BE WORKED"
The individual who thought he could
work Stratton, however. soon learned he |
had tackled the wrong man. He had none |
OF the characteristics of the get-rich- |
quick, confning his open -handedness to |
making glad the hearts of the poor.
He had n level head for business and in |
vested his money shrewdly. He had been |
poor himself most of his life and the fact |
that between sunrise and sunset of July |
L. 1891, he became a millionaire did not |
made him lose his equilibrium.
The finding of the famous Independent |
mine at Cripple Creek wasn't more OF a |
lucky strike than the result OF a fixed |
purpose. Stratton had been a diligent
student of geology, and after careful ex-
animation or the ground in the vicinity OF |
Pixies Peak. he was convinced that rich |
mineral deposits were there.
While he worked with chisel and plane
at his trade Of carpenter he put In the |
leisure hours in making a careful study |
OF works on mining. Once before he had |
lost $4,000, the savings of years. in an un-
successful mining venture, and this had
taught him caution.
On the eve of his great discovery he be-
came discouraged by reason Of the failure
OF man who had agreed TO grub stake"
4. H.. IL
hearted when he went to bed on the night
OF July 81. 1891 The following morning
he went TO the south side OF Battle Hill
staked n claim. which he called Indepen-
dence. In honor Of the day, and other
claims I'm the immediate vicinity.
The story Is told that one day. shortly
after this. he met Senator Wolcott I'm the
camp and approaching him said:
Senator my name is Stratton. I've
got good prospect over on the hill hut
1 am not a strong man physically. and |
have no money. But IL had 5000 7 be-
lieve I could develop a good mine on my
property. II YOU will go and see II. and
will give me $500. will deed you an ur
divided one-half interest I'm Il. and agree
TO spend the money in developing the
mine"
woLCoTT HAD NO FAITH.
Your prospect is over there on Battle
IIill, is it2 NV dear man. there Is no
gold on that Hill. | would not give you
three cents for all you have over there"
Senator Welcott said and walked away. +
short time later the best "ore chute"
found In the history of mining on this
continent was developed on the claim. lie
sold the Independence and rs adjacent
claims In 1899 for $40 100000 cash to a
London corporation.
The long struggle which Stratton had
with poverty made his compassion for the
poor unlimited. lie was the only son in
n family of nine children. and lived at
Jeffersonvile Ind. where he was born on
July 81. ls4s. until he was 20 years old,
He had lived the poor mans life until
he was AZ and that he should give his mil
lions Co benefit the poor l. less a surprise
TO his intimate friends than tribulation
20 his relatives