Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-21
JOHN W. MACKAY IS DEAD
President Of Postal Telegraph Company
suocumbs at London HSms.
THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN IMPROVING
was stricken with Heat Several
Days Ago, but investigation
shows symptoms Of
Pneumonia.

Copyright 1902, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, July 20.-(New York World Ca
blegram - Special Telegram.) - John w.
Mackay died this afternoon at his London
residence, Charlton House Terrace. The
immediate cause Of death was heart fall
ure. The right lung was found to be con-
gested. and the symptoms indicated pneu-
monia. He was conscious most Of the time
today. Mrs Mackay is prostrated with
grief. Mr. Mackay came to Europe for
his health and apparently had benefited
by the change, but the sudden hot wave
affected him injuriously and while attend
ing to some business in the city last Tues
day he was taken with faintness and dis-
illness. A doctor was sent for Immediately
and advised that he be taken home.
The unexpected news that he was seri-
ously i'll was a great shock to Mrs. Mackay.
She instantly summoned four of the lead
ing specialists in London. On wednesday
and Thursday the patient showed signs of
holding his own, but on Friday he began
to grow worse and early this morning de-
veloped symptoms OF sinking, against which
all the resources Of science proved power
less. Hope had been abandoned on Friday
and his son, Clarence Mackay, was cabled
for. He is now on the ocean. The last
sacrament, according to the Catholic rite,
was administered on Saturday. Mrs
Mackay was most devoted in her attentions
to her husband. She, her mother, Mrs
Hungerford, and Countess Telfner, we're
by his bedside when he peacefully and
painlessly breathed his last at e:30 p. m.
Princess Colonna, Mrs. Mackay's daughter,
did not arrive until an hour later.
1t was noticed by friends on the occasion
Of Mrs. Mackay's great concert some days
ago that her husband looked Ill and
fatigued by the ordeal OF assisting to re-
ceive the guests. Princess Louise sat be-
tween Mr.. and Mrs. Mackay in the front
row that evening and entered into an ami
mated conversation with him. That was
the last entertainment he took part In.
No arrangements for the funeral have
been made yet, but II is understood that
the body will be taken to the United States
for burial
Great sympathy is felt for Mrs. Mackay
at this fresh afiliction.
Causes AshOck at Frisco.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 2o.-The news Of
the death Of John w. Mackay in London
caused quite a shock here, Notwithstanding
the public was in a measure prepared for
It,
Mr.. Mackay was the last surviving mem
ber Of the four bonanza kings, Flood,
o'Brien and Fair, the other three having
long since died. For the past eighteen
years Mr.. Mackay had not been actively
identified with the life of this city, but
had passed most of his time in the east,
making annual visits to the coast to look
after his property interests In this state
and Nevada.
nn N6n - ta oaN MI eta NN ia
city, early this summer, Mr.. Mackay COM
pleted arrangements for a landing place
for the new Pacific cable, project he
was much interested In. During a visit
in 1892 Mr. Mackay was shot and slightly
wounded by w. D. Rippey. who had a
fancied grievance against him, growing
from the stock banking days of the Com
| stock.
Mr.. Mackay came to California in 1851
via Panama. He at once entered a mine,
working with pick and shovel in the
placers OF the American river and at Down
ieville. In 1859 he went to Virginia City.
New, and began mining on the Comstock
with varying success. His first real start
toward success was made when he became
superintendent of the Kentucky mine in
Gold Hill. In 1868 Mackay formed a part
nership with Flood, O'Brien and Fair In
| 1867 this famous quartet purchased the site
OF the Bonanza territory north OF the 0phr
mine on the celebrated Comstock ledge.
They began work on a slide abandoned by
Sharon and other large operators. The en-
| terprise was a fruitful source of ridicule
in mining circles, nothing but financial dis
aster being freely predicted. Without losing
heart or patience the four men continued
expendlng half a million dollars in pros
pecting operations. The ledge was struck
and over $110, 900, 900 were added to the
worlds stock of precious metals. No ac-
curate estimate of Mr.. Mackays holdings in
this state and Nevada can be made, but Il
will run up into the millions. He was the
owner OF valuable real estate In this city
and had interests in mines throughout the
state and Nevada.