Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-29
SORRY FOR JOHN D.
Frank Rockefeller Says His
Brother Has No Friends.
AFRAID OF BEING KIDNAPPED
Financier Classed as Most Lonesome
Man on Earth.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BELVIDERE, Kan. December 2S.-
THAT brother Of mine, John D. Rookie
feller. is the most lonesome man in the
! world: there is no man who walks the
earth he can call his real friend
This was the statement made today by
Frank Rockefeller of Cleveland and New
York, who is at his big ranch near Bel
videre. where he comes every winter for
few weeks of vacation. For twenty
years he has been general field man for
the Standard Oil Company. His 1900
acre ranch in this county is called Rock
efellers 100000 plaything.''
"Td rather live on a 1jO-acre western
homestead, with homesteader's usual
! fare. than live like John d. does in his
palaces. He's the most lonesome man
on the face of the earth. He can call
no man friend
John has been relegated to the back
ground by all the big business men with
whom he once did business. None of
them VIII have anything to do with him.
They don't like his ways of doing busi
ness Brother William is worth more
money than John D.. but the people don't
know it. John d. hasn't reinvested his
money in many years. and is practically
out of the game. He has the income
of his investments, but nothing more.
William invests and reinvests. and today
.s worth one.half again as much as
John ID.
Never stirs Without Guards.
John D. is afraid of being kidnapped
and held for ransom. He never stirs
without his guards. If he goes from his
house few steps there are several
armed men with him or standing at win
dows with their eyes on him. He al
ways is afraid kidnapers are after him.
Years ago he attempted to stop me from
going hunting for fear l would be kid
naped and he would be called upon to pay
the ransom.
Its a regular mania with him now
Frank Rockefeller is seventy years of
age, as straight as an arrow. weighs 211
pounds and is an athlete Regardless of
his appearance while in New York or
Cleveland, when in Kansas he looks just
like an ordinary rancher, and he acts like
one, too. He can ride any horse the
ranch, and he can chew as much tobacco
in day as the next man. He doesn't
mind asking chew from any Cow
puncher" and he will as readily give one
to any of the boys.
Wall street and lower Broadway would
never recognize him. He purchased the
| ranch thirty-nine years ago and came out
here soon afterward to take look at
he passed under a big cottonwood tree.
From it's branches three men were swing
ing Horse thieves" ironically said his
foreman. Then there followed such Wig
orous campaign against the rustlers and
horse thieves that the Rockefeller ranch
was troubled no more for years.
But gradually the rustlers returned and
the Rockefeller herds began to suffer.
On one of his periodical visits to the
ranch Rockefeller was given proofs that
gang of bad men, had gathered on
an adjoining ranch and were cutting
fences and running off cattle.
Known as Daredevil.
| In Ohio and New York Rockefeller's
Reputation may be that of a peaceful
man. But out in western Kansas he is
known as dare devil and is as reckless
as they make them. He mounted his
horse and unarmed rode over to the rust
Ier's ranch There were fourteen men on
| the porch as he rode up. The head of
| the gang was not to be seen.
where's your boss?" demanded Rookie
| feller.
! The boss came out on the porch Rookie
feller shook his finger in the mans face.
II just came over here, he said, in
an ordinary tone of voice, Ito tell you
you are a thief and that II my fences
are cut again or single head Of my