The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27
Claus SpreckeIs Passes Away
in His Temporary Home
After Brief Illness
Unexpected End to Long Life of
Business Triumphs and Per-
s0naI Generosity
Two Sons Watch at Bedside
With Mother, Other Relatives
Being Beyond Call


Being Beyond Call
owned by any one living west Of Chi
cago- Various estimates have placed
the value of his property at all the
his interests were of widespread va
riety.
Spreckels was a man of powerful
character and his life was marked by
an indomitable tenacity Of purpose that
carried him through TO success in every
venture that he undertook, despite the
powerful odds that he was time and
time again forced TO face and over
come
he was q fighter whose wars were
wsged in the broad fields of commerce.
and smong the great generals who have
been born TO lead during the last half
century IN the conflict for industrial
Advancement he was foremost leader.
He was imbued with boundless pluck.
daring and resource and no fight was
TOO great for him TO attempt if he felt
The end 10 be gained a worthy one.
Battles Helped Home City
Though his commercial interests have
spread TO all parts Of the country and
across the seas TO Hawaii and the
orient. Claus Spreckels has always
made San Francisco his home and has
given much to the welfare OF the city.
His bitterest battles were waged in
California, and each victory that he
achieved brought some good, directly
or indirectly, TO the city OF San Fran
cisco and its people. He was pa
triotic and generous citizen OF the mu-
nicipslity and gave many valuable gifts
10 the city and to various forms of
charity.
One or the best known monuments
10 spreckels' civic patriotism is the
great stone music stand at the head of
the stadium in Golden Gate park. which
was an outright gift from him to the
city. The music stand was erected at
a cost OF 100000, and Spreckels gave
slO0 600 to the fund for the Dewey mon
ument in Union square. and later do
mated $3.50 TO the relief committee
after the FIRE
First Great Local Skyscraper
The Claus spreckels building at Third
and Market streets, the home of The
& Call, was built by Claus Spreckels and
was the first great San Francisco sky
9 scrap per-a sEyscraper which still ranks
as one Of the architectural masterpieces
OF the country and is known as one
Of the handsomest office buildings in
the world
The vast estate left by Claus Spreck-
els passed yesterday into the tempo
-rsry. control OF his son. Rudolph Spreck-
els, through special letters OF admins
.tration issued by Judge Graham, pend
ing the probate of a will which he left
and in which Rudolph and c. Augustus
Spreckeis are named as executors.
The viii is in the possession of Mrs.
Anna G Spreckels, the widow, and will
be fled for probate as soon as the
proper application can be prepared. In
granting the petition for a special ad-
ministrator Judge Graham fixed the
bond OF Rudolph Spreckels at $500 900.
and a bond in that sum was furnished
by the United States surety company.
Property Demands Attention
II became necessary for Rudolph
Spreckels to take immediate charge of
the estate in order that the large busi-
ness interests OF the late Claus Spreck-
els might be carried on without break.
In the petition of Rudolph Spreckels
prepared by his attorney. Charles S.
Wheeler. and presented by him to the
court. it was stated that among the
properties requiring immediate atten-
tion were the electric light and power
plant and various buildings in course Of
erection.
The petition stated that the heirs at
law were Anna c. Spreckels the widow
Emma c. Ferris, daughter; and John
d. Spreckels, AdoIph B. Sprsckels.
Claus Augustus Spreckels and Rudolph
spreckels, sons. The petitioner stated
that he had given directions that pc
tition for probate of the Will be forth
with prepared. During the 10 days that
must elapse before the will can be ad-
mitted 10 probate the estate requires
care and attention The income from
the real and personal property is stated
10 exceed $3.50, 900 q year, but the entire
income probably is somewhere between
sl,0oo.ooo and s2,0Oos00o
Parents of Moderate Means
spreckels' great fortune did not come
into his hands through inheritance or
mere freak OF luck, but was won bv his
own endeavor. He was born in Ian
stedt, Hanover. Germany, in 1923. a
poor lad, the son Of parents ia the most
moderate circumstances. He was edu
Gated in the German schools and came
10 America ia 1886 to seek his fortune
landing in this country when only is
years old, alone and with capital OF
only a few cents in his pocket
Handicapped by an absolute lacl, Of
knowledge OF the English language \.
found his first employment under the
German owner of a small grocery in
Charleston, :. c., as a junior clerk. Fo,
six months his only wage was his board
and lodging but when finall.. his 60