The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-21
The late John W. Mackay.

Mrs. Mackay. her mother and Coun-
tess Telfener were present when Mr.
Mackay died, and Princess Galatro Co
lonna arrived from Paris half hour
after her stepfather's death.
San Francisco, July N.-The news OF
the death of John w Mackay in Lon
don caused quite shock here, notwiin-
standing the public were In measure
Srepared for 1t by the previous an
rlouncement of his illness. Mr.. Mackay
was the last surviving member or the
four bonanza kings. Flood, O'Brien ana
Fair, the other three members OF the
quartette, have long since died. For the
past Is 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 inter-
ests in this state and Nevada. On the
occasion of his last visit to this city,
early this summer, Mr.. Mackay compile
ted arrangements for landing piace
for the new Pacific cable, a project that
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
dating from the stock broking days OF
the COmstock.
Mr. Mackay was born in Dublin In
1881 He came to America when boy
and for some years was employed IN
the Office of William H. Webb. the ia
NOUS shipbuilder of New York Shortly
after the outbreak of the California gold
fever Mackay was in Louisville, where
he had made some money, ana wnen
the immigration to the Pacific coast
began he was one of the first to be-
come interested. He made up party
of about 25 to go. Among his friends at
this time were James T. flood ana VII ~
tied in San Francisco in the saloon
business, while Mackay went on to
the mines. Within 10 years he had al
ready made and lost a small fortune.
and then, in 1860. he left California for
Nevada where his fortune began to inn
prove again until the discovery, IN lStz.
of the Bonanza mines changed the Wnoie
face of his life. These mines are on a
ledge of rock in the Sierra Nevadas.
under what is now Virginia City. Their
deposits OF silver and gold have proved
so vast that the discovery is considered
the most remarkable incident in the
history of mining. Mr.. Mackay had al
ready taken into partnership with him
his friends, Flood and O'Brien, in 1854.
and in 1868 James G. Fair Joined the
firm. The first important success which
they made was during their control OF
the celebrated Hale and Norcross mine,
which was early in 1866-67. Obtaining
through this increased capital, tney
worked the Comstock lode and at last
opened the Consolidated Virginia and
California mines.
In 1871 this famous mining quartette
purchased the site of the Bonanza terri
tory north of the Ophir mine, on the
celebrated Comstock lode. They began
work on a lode abandoned by Sharon
and other large operators. The enter
prise was fruitful source of ridicu1e
| in mining circles, nothing but financial
| disaster being predicted. Without los
! ing heart or patience, the four men
| continued expending half a million dol
| lars in prospecting operations.
OF the Bonanza mines Mr.. Macl<ay
| owned two-fifths, being double that of
any of his partners. In 1873 the great
| silver vein was opened, and from one
| mine alone, Mr.. Mackay and Mr.. Fair.
! who were the practical mining menu
bers of the fifm,. took out $50 900 600 in
/ silver and gold. During the active yield
! of these mines Mr.. Mackay personally
| superintended them. working in their
! lower levels as an ordinary miner. In
| the meantime Mr.. Mackay married the
/ widow of DIR. Bryant, whom he met
in California and who had one child.
| who in 1885 became Princess Of Co
| lonna Galatro whose husband, Don Fer
| nando di Colonna, prince of Galatro.
| made the acquaintance of the young
lady while Mrs. Mackay was residing
| in Paris. which has been her usual
habit.
In 1873, with Mr.. Flood and Mr.. Fair.
Mr.. Mackay founded the Bank Of Me-
vada, with its headquarters in San
Francisco In 1884. in partnership with
James Gordon Bennett, Mr.. Mackay laid
| two cables across the Atlantic from the
United States to England and France.
These cables came under q system