Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-27
END COMES TO
SUGAR MAGNATE
CLAUS SPRECKELS EXPIRES
IN SAN FRANCISCO
PNEUM oNlA BRINGS DEATH TO
WELL KNOWN PIONEER
Demise Comes Quickly to octogena-
rian, with Sons and Relatives
Gathered at His Bed
side

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 26.-Claus
Spreckels, widely known as the sugar
king of the Pacific coast, died at
4:30 o'clock this morning at his home
in this city in his eightieth year.
The immediate cause of death was
an attack of pneumonia, which devel-
oped alarming symptoms within the
past two days. His condition last night
warned his physicians that the end was
near, and relatives remained at his
bedside until the hour of his death.
Rudolph Spreckels, who returned
from Honolulu yesterday on the
steamer Nippon Maru, was one of the
number John D. Spreckels, proprie-
tor of the San Francisco Call and
head of the Oceanic Steamship COM
pany, was also in attendance at his
fathers bedside, as were Mrs. Harry
Holbrook and Mrs. Alexander Hamil
ton, daughters of John ID. Spreckels.
Despite his advanced age, Mr..
Spreckels had devoted a large share
of attention to the various enterprises
in which he was interested, and it is
less than month since he appeared
before the ways and means commit
tee Of the house in Washington as an
authority on the subject of sugar du
ties
Two years ago he was attacked by
severe Illness but his vigorous con-
stitution enabled him to withstand his
sickness and he was, after time, re-
stored to his usual health.
Prominent as Investor
Apart from the Importance which at
tached to Claus Spreckels as the pio-
neer sugar refiner of the coast and an
investor of millions in California and
the Hawaiian islands, the Spreckels
family has for many years been one
Of nn N or
John d. Spreckels, his eldest son, had
been for years a directing influence in
Oriental trade apart from his other in
terests, and Rudolph, president of the
First National bank, has been a sup
porter of the graft prosecution in San
Francisco to the extent of thousands
of dollars, in addition to his active
participation.
Mr. Spreckels recently returned from
New York. On his arrival at home he
was suffering from the effects of a
cold. He was not thought to be seri-
ously i'll, but his son, Rudolph Spreck-
els, who was in Honolulu, was noti-
fed of his fathers poor health and
hastened home, arriving yesterday on
the steamer Nippon Maru.
The other children of Mr.. Spreckels
are John d. Spreckels, proprietor of
the Morning Call and president of the
Oceanic Steamship company, and
business interests; c. A. Spreckels and
Mrs. Emma Watson.
Was Born in Germany
Claus Spreckels was born in Lam
stadt, Germany, in 1928. and came to
the United Staes in 1876.
After being employed for some time
in Charleston, S. c., and New York he
came to San Francisco, reaching this
city in 1856. He established a store
and later conducted a brewery. In 1868
he built the Bay sugar refinery and
began the importation of raw material
from Hawaii.
Prospering in this business he es-
tablished other refineries, promoted the
beet sugar industry establishing re-
fineries and engaging in the growing
of beets on q large scale.
He also built refinery at Philadel-
phia, invested largely in the Oceanic
Steamship company and many other
enterprises, including the building of
the San Joaquin Valley railroad.
Many of his interests in Hawaii are
reported to have been disposed of by
his son Rudolph during the latter's re-
cent trip to the islands.
They included the banking house of
Claus Spreckels & Co. and considerable
valuable real estate.
Superior Judge Graham today ap-
pointed Rudolph Spfecl1els and c. A.
Spreckels executors of the will of their
father, Claus Spreclkels, fixing their
bond at 100000, which was furnished.
In applying for letters of adminis-
tration it was stated that some mat
tiers connected with the estate needed
immediate attention.
The will is in the possession of the
widow, Mrs. Anna Spreckels, and will
be opened Monday. 1t is said that all
of the capitalists children are mem
toned in the will and each given
share of the estate, the value of which
is Variously estimated at from $4,000
900 to $50, 900, 900.
1t was stated in court that the income
from the estate exceeded $780, 900 year.