The Irish standard., 1905-11-18

his career as a coal magnate was be
gun. He went to Topeka at this tim
at the age of AZ years.
AT the time of the 1897 coal strik,
Devlin's influence was felt. He Away.
had been popular with the men, ant
after he failed there was movement
among the miners in Southwestern
Kansas to take up collection of $40 {
man to tide him over. During thi:
strike he went to the miners and talked
to them and induced them to sign 6
contract with him.
While the Kansas and Texas com.
pany and the Gould mining companies
were bringing negroes from Alabama
and the strikers were shooting at them
the Devlin miners were working bus
lily, and Devlin made money fast. After
this he spread out, purchasing other
mines and buying up banks. After
the settlement of the strike, however
he suffered in the cut price war that
followed.
| When Devlin collapsed last summer
papers were being drawn up at Kansas
City to form a corporation to manage
the vast enterprises he had started.
1t was to be known as the Devlin
Mining, Mercantile and Manufacturing
company.
The First National bank of Topeka,
| which was the first to feel the crash,
was controlled by Devlin, and held his
paper to the amount of 100000. He
had bought this bank from Levi 2,
Letter. The arrangements We're COM
pleted in twelve hours, and the price
was near s250,O0O.
The bank was regarded as one of the
strongest institutions in the state. 1t
held deposits of s1,5OO,OOO. Devlin
turned over 100000 in Illinois and
Kansas real estate, and 100000 in life
insurance on July 8. j. T. Bradley,
national bank examiner, was appointed
receiver.
The news of this failure precipitated
a run on the Central National bank, of
which Devlin owned fifteen twenty
eighths of the stock, and 100000 was
withdrawn.
Other runs We're started on some of
the other Topeka banks, but no others
failed. One phase of the situation was
the announcement of State Treasurer
Kelly of Kansas that Devlin was one
of his bondsmen, and the First Ma
tional held $4,000 on the state funds.
The city of Topeka was also interested
to the extent of $4,000.
The Southwestern Fuel company Of
Topeka was involved to the extent Of
$13S,0Q0, and the Fourth National bank
Of ST. Louis for 100000. Banks in
Spring Valley and Toluca and two in
New York were also affected
Then came trouble for the twenty
six companies which Devlin controlled.
Some of these were the Mount Carmel
coal mines, the Marquette Third Vein
mines, and the Devlin- Miller Coal COM
pany. On July 6 Devlin filed a petit
ton in bankruptcy in Topeka, receiv-
ers were appointed, and he sailed to
Europe, broken down man.
Before he left this country he in
duced his old friend and adviser,
Father Powers of Spring Valley, to
go with him. His mind was weak, and
he was not able to keep up a CONVEX
sation on business matters. Added to
this he was subject to attacks of mel
ancholy but during the last month he
had become stronger and his discus
sion of his affairs clearer. The one
idea of getting back to work and
Clearing things up had taken pos
session of him.
To his friends it is a peculiar salts
faction that his last days were spent
in the hospital he had befriended. III
many ways, such as sending coal and
flour, and giving money for urgent
needs, he showed his philanthropy. AS
he possessed a flour mill in Kansas,
the Little Sisters of the Poor and st.
l1lizabeth's received every year a car
load of flour from him.