The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-26
CLAUS SPRECKELS,
SUGAR KING, IS
DEAD
HE HAD BEEN ILL OF PNEUMONIA
SINCE LAST TUESDAY WAS
MOST PROMINENT MAN OF
GOLDEN WEST.

SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 26.-Claus
Spreckels, sugar king, multi-miilion-
aire and one Of the best known Dusi-
ness men ON the Pacific coast, died
early today of pneumonia, aged 80. He
bad been Ill since last Tuesday. The
career % the sugar king is punctaated
ny striking paragraphs, depicting HIM
as the son OF poor German peasant,
landing in the United States with 50
in his pockets. and laying the founda-
ton to his great fortune by uEtirihg
energy ard desperate struggles, which
are not experienced by many youths
who start out TO conquer the world or
endeavor
Spreckels was a type OF the men
who came to California In the early
days and builded the land OF the gold
an west to such an extent that they
have been pictured by word ard story
by the best writers of the day. He was
the John ID. Rockefeller of the Pacific
coast, and was possessed OF all the
business tact, astuteness of purpose
and executive ability that are known
TO the oil king
Mr.. Spreckels was attended by his
physicians and members of his fam
lily when Sthe last spark of life flick
cred and faded. The end came at
the Spreckles mansion, 2027 Howard
ST. Rudolph Spreckels. one of the
sons. who has inherited his fathers
great business ability, arrived from
Honolulu yesterday on the Nippon
Maru. John ID. Spreckels and his
two daughters, Mrs. Mary Holbrook
and Mrs Alexander Hamilton, reach
ed the home in an automobile and
watched the father during his last
moments.
The death OF Mr.. Spreckels had
been predicted yesterday. The pa
tient sank gradually, and at IL o'clock
last night. DR.. Richter said: The
condition of Mr.. Spreckels is critical.
He is suffering from severe attack
of pneumonia"
Spreckels was born in Lamstedt,
Hanover, in 1928. He received but
a smattering education, about two
years in school. When 10 years old.
the time for him to join the army.
ne thought It better to work for him.
self and came to the United States.
He landed at Charleston, S. G., with
50 In his pockets.
He followed several occupations
until he started a small refinery in
California. This business grew rap
idly Finally he bought up all the
San Francisco refineries. His bust
ness spread TO the Hawaiian islands
and he established steamship line
TO further his interests.
About this time Spreckels felt that
the Southern Pacific Railway was
taking all the marrow out OF the
bones of his shippers and he began
fight against the road which result
ed in the organization and construc-
tion of the San Joaquin Railroad
company, with Spreckels as its pres
ident and guiding hand.
When Spreckels had plished
his mission-that Of securing low
freight rates for the people OF CEN
trail and southern California the
road was sold to the Santa Fe for a
goodly sum.
Another feature that brought
Spreckels into the limelight was a
fight with his son-Rudolph Spreck-
els. The Hawaiian Commercial com
pany, practically controlled by the
Spreckels. levied an assessment OF
S. per share on the stocksof the coin-
pany. with the manifest purpose OF
freezing out" small holders and
gathering in the 100000 outstanding
shares for treasury use. Gus Spreck-
els objected to this high-handed pro-
ceedng, as also did his brother Ru-
dolph, who was more emphatic in
his position. Spreckels senior was
outgeneraled by his offspring and II
:, was six years before reconciliation
was effected.