The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-05-22

the lawn, or sitting
side by side smoking 49,
and chatting under ~
the trees. SLOUGH
hats and loose
fitting blue suits
which flutter lightly in the breeze characterize them
all. while a certain unchangeable sailor swing shows
that they have walked the deck of q rolling ship in
their time and that they have never quite recovered
Their land legs.
The facts concerning the founding Of this institution
make a charming story in themselves. 1t seems that the
father of Captain Robert Randall. the founder OF the
harbor. was a Scotchman. who came u America IN
1870. and settled in New Orleans. The Spanish gov
ernor and intendant Of that city. Don Bernardo de
Galyez. having declared the port open Tor the sale Of
prizes of Yankee privatcerS-i e. any such mer-
chandisc as they should capture on the high seas
during the war then raging-Mr. Randall. who WAS
much Interested in that form If gcntlemanly business.
Immediately set out to d" something in that line.
and succeeded in capturing 50 many ships and selling
50 much Of their contents at good prices in New
Orleans that he become comparatively wealthy
Moreover. he lifted the fir fame of America TO a
high place as a "sea-power. and chased the British
even to their own doors. where they were content to
take refuge and not bother th- other American vessels
which were then afioat.
At his death his son Robert inherited the estate.
The latter. accustomed Il" come north To- PISS the
summer months. on one Of his trips To- New York
made the acquaintance Of a Mr.. Fa-1uhar. who
lneSt>Etl a IsilllLAl --NtsA NNtHN'H '-h H' NN.h.A
to enjoy il. Mr. Randall. on the other hand. possessed
a fair degree OF health. hut n Manhattan cstate. md
was DESTROYS of possessing one. rs Mr.. F~.rIuh-r
believed that the climate OF Louisiana agreed with
him better than that OF Manhattan island. he decided
to exchange estates with his new acquaintance, and
after a bonus Of FIVE hundred glincas had been sent
by Mr.. Randall TO Mr.. Farguhar the exchange WAS
effected. Then Mr.. Rand-ll became a suburban
resident of what was then New York city. and the
property that he settled on was the property that
he bequcathed to Sailors Snug liarbor.
The history which attaches to this particular farm
is amazing. When Mr.. Randall took it in 1880, or
Whereabouts. it was not worth more than two thousand
dollars. 1t consisted of all the rel estate that now
lies between Fourth and Fifth avenues and
9th and 10th streets. and contained approximately
fifteen acres. 1t contained a mansion and stables
situated at about the point where the old Presbyterian
church at Fifth avenue and 10th street now stands,
and a pasture which was an objective strolling
point. at about where Wanamakers store is
now located. The entrance to the farm WAS
at what is now the corner of Broadway
and Astor place. and from that point 4
winding road led up among trees to the
doorway of the mansion.
This section of land IS unQucStion-
ably one of the most valuable in the
city. II contains among other we'll
known institutions the Wanamaker
store. Grace church. the Fifth Ave
nue. Presbyterian church, the hotel st.
Denis. the Brcvoort house. a great num-
Der of private residences and some OF
the finest business buildings in the city.
Although II has been leased and released
in sections and lots for any number OF
years varying from one to one hundred. it has
never been sold. and never can be. Although
once I'm 1900 valued at S4.24S. its present value.
outside the directors of the corporation. IS not
known Many have estimated ! at one hundred
millions. but this is not certain. l. is true, however,