New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-11
TRAGEDY CHANGED
RICHARDS Plans
Do(th d First nd Second Vile
Sat Bin to Alaska
CHAPTER III
Try 0AorKe Kirskey)

(By George Kirskey)
! United Press star Correspondent
Copyright 1879 by the United Press
After spending almost eight years
IN Alaska Tex Richard left for Cali
sfornia IN 1902 to enjoy his wealth
ACQUIRED in the Nome gambling
venture.
Romapce again entered the career
OF Richard shortly after he reached
San Francisco where he married his
second wife, Miss Mae Meyers. In
1902. Ste was often referred to as
his first ,.ife. One child was born
to them, Bessie, and she died IN
1907. The second Mrs. Richard died
in New York October 80. 1925 OF
pneumonia.
The facts about Richards first
marriage to Leona Bittick in May.
1884. we're never made public and
are worth retelling even at this
point. Richard and his young sweet
heart eloped from Henrietta, Texas.
where Richard was serving as city
marshal at the time, and were mar
ried It Fort Worth. Texas. The
brides father, DIR. s. G. Bittick, Bit
terry opposed the>marriage. but for
gave them afterwards.
The f,rst Mrs. Richard became i'll
and . few months after she was
pronounced incurable. son was
born. He was named George l..
Richard, Jr. Three weeks later his
mother died. The baby died few
days later.
Went TO Alaska
The two tragedies brought a
change into Richards life and In
huenced him in making his decision
t. No to Alaska None OF Richard
intimates can ever recall any men,
ton he ever made Of his frst mar
rage.
lust how much money Richard
left Alaska with will always remain
In doubt. Some say 1t was half
million, while others say 1t was no
more than 100000. At any rate
mart Of this fortune was wiped out
in the purchase Of claims which fail
ed to yield gold after he left the
Yukon.
He dourished ~ 4 gambler around
Seattle and San Francisco for
time. but in 1903 headed for Navada
xoldnelds and settled in the town OF
0oldneld 1T the time the boom hit
that lonely little spot in tho western
desert.
CONFLICTING reports were circulated
,as to Richards finances when he
reached Goldfield. One story had i
that he arrived with . barrel o.
whiskey and two song and dance
artists which he soon promoted int
his third Northern" saloon ant
gambling hall. 1t seems that thu
tai, has been slight exaggerated. blu
the facts indicate that Richard ha'
run through with most Of the none.
he acquired in Alaska before h
reached Nevada.
Made Third Fortune
But it was not long until Rickar'
was on the road to his third fortune
The Northern prospered from almos
the time the thin framework wa
thrown together at the corner 0
Crook and Main streets. Like hi
place in Nome. bank deposits wer
accepted from the miners an
merchants. Entries were made il
grocer's pass books.
Many OF the widest gambling
scenes ever enacted in the Unite
States took place in Richard
Northern. 1t was here that Rickar'
once wagered $35.oo0 on one throw
Of the dice-the largest single gam
Bile In his lifetime.
One Of Richards first dream
came true At 0oldheld when h
built the, finest brick mansion i
Nevada palace in the desert. TIL
house cost $4,000. 1t had = bath
tub. heating plant and water. On
years water bill was $1,000. TIL
bricks used to build the structur
wsrs imported and almost wort
their weight in gold.
Gold Steel Nerve
Many stories have been told abou
Richards cold steel nerve" bu
Jack Curley. the wrestling promote
contributes one Of the best illustra
ting the fearless Richard of hi
younger days. 1t happened in Rel
ly's saloon in Tonopah, nearby ri
val city Of Goldfield.
"Rickard walked in the saloo
with . friend to get a drink" Cur
Icy recounted. larry Sullivan wa
drunk at the bar. He was one q
the meanest men in the Goldield
He had Z record Of seven notche
on his gun. He hated Richard an
began looking for trouble the mir
ute Tex came in.
He tried to Insult Richard b
every conceivable way. but Rickar
kept his head and ignored hin
Finally Sullivan whipped out h
gun. And Sullivan had a reputatio
for never bluffing. All eyes turne
on Richard. Tex turned aroun
casually and faced Sullivan. Tt
gun was levelled at Richards lowe.
vest button. With the swiftness :
a panther Richards hand shot o,
and grabbed the gun. He twiste
Sullivan's wrist and broke his gri