The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-11
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY.

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After spending almost eight years
In Alaska, Tex Richard left for
California in 1902. Romance again
entered the career of Richard short
ly after he reached San Francisco
where he married his second wife,
Miss Mae Meyers, in 1902 One
child was born to them, Bessie, and
she died in 1907. The second Mrs.
Rickard died in New York, Oct. 30,
1925.
The facts about Richards first
marriage to Leona Bittick in May
1894, are worth retelling. Rickard
and his young sweetheart eloped
from Henrietta, Tex. where Rick
ard was serving as city marshal at
the time. and were married at Fort
Worth, Tex.
George L. Junior
The first Mrs. Rickard became Ill
and few months after she was
pronounced incurable, son was
born. He was named George L.
Rickard, Jr. Three weeks later his
mother died The baby died a few
days later. The tragedies brought
change into Richards life and in
f1uenced him in making his decision
to go to Alaska.
Just how much money Richard
left Alaska with always will remain
in doubt. Some say it was a half
million, while others say it was no
more than 100000. He flourished
as a gambler around Seattle and
San Francisco for a time, but in
1903 headed for the Nevada gold
fields and settled in the town of
Goldfield at the time the boom hit
that lonely spot.
Opens Another place" -
Conflicting reports were circulated
as to Richards finances when he
reached Goldfeld. One story had it
he arrived with a barrel of whisky
and two song and dance artists
which he promoted into his third
Northern" saloon and gambling
hall. He had run through with
most of the money he acquired in
Alaska before he reached Nevada.
But it was not long until Richard
was on the road to his third fortune.
The Northern" prospered from al
most the time the thin framework
was thrown together Like his place
in Nome, bank deposits we're &C
cepted from the miners and mer-
chants.
Many of the widest gambling
scenes ever enacted in the United
States took place in Richards
Northern" It was here that Rick
and once wagered $4,000 on one
throw of the dice-the largest single
gamble of his lifetime.
Palace in Desert
One of Richards first dreams
came true at Goldfield when he
built the finest brick mansion in
Nevada palace in the desert. The
house cost $4,000. 1t had a bath
tub, heating plant and lawn. One
years water bill was $1,000.
Many stories have been told
about Richards cold steel nerve"
but Jack Curley, the wrestling pro-
moter, contributes one of the best.
"Rickard walked in the saloon
with a friend" Curley recounted.
Larry Sullivan was drunk at the
bar. He was one Of the meanest
men in the gold fields He had a
record of seven notches on his gun
and he hated Richard.
Tex Grabs Gun
HE tried to insult Rickard by
every conceivable way, but Richard
kept his head and ignored him.
Finally Sullivan whipped out his
gun. All eyes turned on Richard.
Tex turned around casually and
faced Sullivan. The gun was lev
elled at Richard. With the swift
ness of a panther Richards hand
shot out and grabbed the gun. He
twisted Sullivan's wrist and broke
his grip. Then he stepped back and
tossed the gun into a far corner.p
A panic hit Goldfield in 1907 and
business fell off at the Northern.
Richard sold out and later opened