The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-07

Naco last night from FL Paso by
special train and went on to Cananea
by automobile.
William Cornell Greene, colonel by
virtue of having organized and led
volunteer forces against the Apache
Indians back in the early SOS, was
one of the most spectacular operators
in the history of the copper indus
try in this country. He also was
known in Wall street as one OF the
most careless of spectators. AT one
time his mines were among the
worlds largest producers. Then with
the panic OF 1907 his properties were
taken from him and he retired to. his
Mexican ranch.
Colonel Greene WAS born in West
chester 'county, just north AZ the
present New York city line, in 1881.
Although his family was fairly well
to do he left home when he was
II wears old and started West in
search OF a more active life. From
then until his retirement his life was
one Of ceaseless adventure.
His first work In the West was as
a government contractor in Colorado
and Kansas. Then he went into
ranching In the San Pedr valley.
drifted 10 Arizona, did a little pros
pecting and in 1890 had got together
enough money to buy a ranch of his
own il was in these DAYS that
he was known as Bronco Bill.
The small ranch prospered, and
taking advantage of the Mexican
law allowing prospec ting on. lands
alreay granted for pasturage Colonel
Greene went over into the State Of
Sonora and located eight mines on
a big tract OF land which had been
purchased for grazing purI<ses by
syndicate of Califofnians headed by
United States Senator George {. Per
kins. That was in 1899. He put
in his claims for the property and
the Perkins syndicate sold out for a
nominal sum rather than fight con-
demnati0n proceedings. 1t was not
until Colonel Greene had bought the
property that Senator Perkins had
an investigation made and gave il
as his opinion that his syndicate had
lost one OF the richest copper prop
critics in the world.
Colonel Greene organized and be-
came president Of the Green Con-
solidated Company, the Greene Gold
and Silver Mining Company. the
Greene Cattle Company, the Turkey
Tract Cattle Company and had hand
IN other corporations.
These corporations he orga nized with
Eastern capital. and TO get the money
to float them was the purpose of his
first entrance into Wall street. The
100000 original stock OF the Greene
Consolidated Company was offered tc
the public through newspaper adver-
tisen1ents In $40 shares. The stock was
sold and within two years the Cananea
mi tpl{ &c
who had been sceptical of Greene's
claims took him up and were glad &c
aid him for a consideration.
One OF the men to whom he ar.
pealed was Thomas w. Lawson, who
had just foated the big Monsam com
panye Lawson. on behalf OF a syndi-
cate which included r. H. Rogers
agreed TO supply development fund,
UP IN 81 100000 in return for an option
on the control OF the cananea prop.
ertv at one-third the face value q
the stock, one,hundred and thirty ftv,
thousand dollars was furnished in &C
cordance with the agreement, and theI
a further draft of Greene's was no
/ honored and Lawson threatened suit al
the three months note on which tn,
/ money had been borrowed Greene go
the money and saved his property. an,
not, long .afteEwara. the Ca ia asss prop
ertV mad an estimated value OF $35,
060, 900
In 1902 Colonel Greene headed ,
/ syndicate of four men which bought ,
/ tract of 1900. 600 acres in Sonora for
ranch which should be the largest II
| the world. II was his plan 10 put So
T 90 head of cattle on the ranch I,
/ Wall street he became the associat
/ OF John w, Gates. James A. Drak
and other Wen known spectators an
1 for time outdid them all In tn
/ iaVishrness of his expenditures, Mucl
I OF the money he spent was said to hav
gone for worthless properties and 10
t losing stock speculations. For all hi
/ astuteness. as a mining man and
ranchman In Wall street he was know
+ as an angel pure and simple.
! The height of his glory was reache
In 1903 when His companies had a CAPT
/ talization Of nearly $1,000 900, o
/ which Greene owned more than halt