The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-03
lana. r. Keene, Once Threatening
power on tho Market, Died In
Hospital This Morning
After Operation.
RUTHLESS OPERATOR
R.aI Mourning in Sporting and FL
nancIaI Circles Whom HIS Death
I,ecamc Known to
Old Associates.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Servlce.l
NEW YORK, Jan. 3.-There was
real mourning In sporting and tinan-
ciaI circles today when the death Of
lanes r. Keene, at 2:15 q. M, today
became known. He died in private
hospital, following a serious abdomi-
nal operation Out of the market for
over yea, and a chronic invalid for
almost two, his operations which had
taken millions from the operators.
who persisted in playing the market
10 rise. had been almost forgotten ana
IN some part forgiven. The name or
Keene, once a power to threaten, had
become one of tradition.
The "old gray fox of Wall street"
he had been known for years. Heart
less. many called him, and there was
no doubt that he was ruthless in his
methods. The very last big operation
With which his name was connected
the Hooking pool which collapsed
because 1t was claimed he had
"double-crossed" his associates and
which brought ruin to dozens OF
small investors in the middle west
and east, was one OF his characteris-
tic deals. He skinned the cream
and left the others to take the thin
milk that was left.
Soon after that spectacular opera
H0t xx-cn -. y Sx,,e
given out that he was sick unto
death, but he seemed to recover. An
operation was performed and 1t was
declared successful This was in the
fall Of 1911, Keene had been unable
70 take any active interest in bust
ness since.
Three months ago Keene returned
70 America. He went to the Waldorf
and never left his room. Two days
ago ne was taken to the private hos
pital and yesterday another operation
was performed by DR.. James r. Tuttle
and Or. st. Clair Smith. It was an
emergency. last resort operation. bur
II was too late.
Foxhall Keene, his son and pride,
Inc one person who seemed able to
rouse the financier from his intense
absorption in money-ge.ting. and the
\ doctors. We're with him when he died.
HIS daughter and other relatives
were notified but too late to reach
the bedside.
james R. Keene had two passions
Z ms son, Foxhall. excepted--operations
VI the bear side OF the stick market
ana morse racing. At both he made
Inliiions He was born in London
england, in 1888. Tutored by private
teachers, young Keene went to Trim
''y college, Dublin, to complete his
euucation but day or SO after he en-
tered his father became bankrupt
6eileving his field limited, the elder
heene recalled his boy and they came
70 tnls country, going west. AT For
Riley, young Keene got ioh as {
hostier sticking to that job only Ions
enough to ontfit himself az a miner.
He passed several years mining an,
U ealting country newspaper ant
hghting. Going to San Francisco h,
oegan speculating in mining stocks
eaen as always on the bear side, an,
soon piled UP fortune. He me
MISS Sara Dangerfield there, an,
.ney were married In 1869. A yea
ia'er the market went against him AM
ne was soon broke. He owed $4,000
after the crash, but within a week ha,
made connection with Senator Eel
ton, then just appointed assistan
treasurer of the United States. Keen