The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27
Gloom Cast Over City and Flags
on Offices, Banks, Stores and
Factories at Halfmast
Cold Contracted on Journey
From Washington Leads to
Short, Fatal Illness
Attendance at Capital Due to
Call for Testimony at
Hearing on Tariff
Rudolph Spreckels Appointed
Temporary Administrator,
Pending Probate of VIII

@LAUS SPRECKELS, last Of the
sturdy pioneers under whose
~ hands the foundations OF an
empire of the west were built,
passed to his final rest at 4:30 O'Clock
yesterday morning, few hours after
news of his critical illness became
publicly known in San Francisco.
In the temporary home at 2027 How
ard street, where Claus Spreckels has
resided since his magnificent mansion
in Van Ness avenue was sacrificed TO
stay the advance of the flames at the
time Of the catastrophe in 1906. there
we're gathered at the time Of his
Ieath all the members Of his family
who are now in the city. So unex-
pected was the end that there was not
sufficient time to summon all his chill
dren, and only two OF the sons, John
D. Spreckels and Rudolph Spreckels.
we're present.
Gloom Is Cast Over City
News of the death of the mnltimil-
lionaire, whose name for many dec
AIDES has been linked with nearly every
great event in the progress of Califor-
MAS Industrial development, cast
gloom of sorrow over the entire city.
From every side messages OF sympathy
and coincidence poured in upon the
family yesterday. and many of the.
largest Office. bank, store and factory
buildings in the city displayed flags
at half mast in token of sorrow al
the passing of the sugar king.
So brief was the last illness of Claus
Spreckels that many of his most inti-
mate friends and business associates
were unaware of his sickness until
news of mis- critical condition was
read in the morning papers yestcr-
day, after his death had occurred.
Cold Contracted on Trip
Three weeks ago SpTeckels appeared
in Washington before the ways and
means committee of the house OF rep
resentatives and testified at length at
the tariff hearing then in progress.
paying particular attention to the sub
ject of the tariff relating to sugar. On
the return trip he contracted severe
cold. which eliminated last Tuesday
night in an attack of pneumonia.
Before the fire in 1906, Spreckels
was in poor health. and it was not be-
lieved at that time he could recover
His magnificent constitution carried
him through the crisis, however, and
during the last two years he was able
to give active attention TO his busi
ness despite his so years. The former
illness left it's mark. though, and when
attacked by pneumonia i've days ago
spreckels failed rapidly. DR.. Herbert
c. Moffitt and DR.. C. NJ. Richter were
in almost constant attendance from
Tuesday until the time of his death.
but their efforts to save the life Of their
aged patient were without avail
Two Sons Watch at Deathbed
John ID. Spreckels was in San Fran
cisco at the time his fathers III
ness began and Rudolph Spreckels ar
rived Friday afternoon from Honolulu
and reached the home several hours be-
fore the end Both were present with
their families when death came. as was
also Mrs. Spreckels. the widow. Adolph
3. Spreckels. C. Augustus Spreckels and
Mrs Emma Ferris. the other children,
are all either in the east or travelling
abroad. but they have been sent for
and are expected to reach San Fran
cisco within a few days
Detailed arrangements for the funeral
have not been completed. but probably
it viii occur Monday from the home In
Howard street. and will be strictly
private. The interment will be in the
family lot in Cypress Lawn cemetery.
Claus Spreckels has for years been
a towering figure not only in his re-
lation to the commerce and industry Of
the west but throughout the nation.
Self Made Giant Among Men
He was a self-made giant among men
themselves strong and powerful in in
dustrial control. and his personal for
tune ranked easily first of any private
fortune that has ever been amassad