Seward daily gateway., 1930-05-23
N|t.C.:IN.h|iI|1, M, MADE R!G FCfTI'NE: 1N
 c1iH3I0GA LQlE

wonderful city are able to recall the picturesque character and career of J. .. Flood, WHO $Garted a5 a poor mechanic and won great fortune on the Comstock lode in Nevada. Although he never rose to such nation wide prominence as did his partners, Fair and Mackay, t'lood played 3 conspicuous part in the days of the California gold rush and in the latter financial history of San Francisco.
 Born on Staten Island, New York October 25, 1926, James c. Flood received meager education in the public schools of the metropolis and then took up the LIauc o4 mechanic He was among the first of the pioneers who came to Cali fornia in '49. On reaching San Francisco he worked for about a year as carpenter, then went to the diggings and engaged in min ing, and after accommodating sever al thousand dollars returned to New York With his little capital he removed his parents to Illinois, bought them a farm, and then re- turned to California.
 FORMED PARTNERSHIP
 Soon after his second arrival in San Francesca he met ont Will liam O'Brien, who had accompan- fed him on his first trip around the Horn. The two formed a partner ship and opened a saloon, which soon became the headquarters for many miners The partners added to their business that of buying claims, finding purchasers for dis couraged and needy miners, loan ing money, speculaing in stocks, and joining fortunate claim own CTS in developing their property
 BECAME BROKERS
 The success of these ventures led O'Brien and Flood to stablish a regular brokerage office. Later, the partners invested heavily in various mines in the celebrated ComstOck lode, and made a large sum of money. Soon after their investment, they became acquaint- ed with James c. Fair and John w Mackay, both successful mining men, and the four uniting in part nerShip formed the famous Bonan- ga firm A large number of small properties were purchased for the reported sum of $75,0OO, combined into two-the Consolidated Vir- glnia and the California and stock to the amount of $5,OOO0OO was placed on the market.
 GREAT SILVER DISCOVERY
 Tn 1871 the firm began to push the development of their mining property with vigor, and in 1875 made the announcement of the Wonderlul discovery of silver that aSronlshed the world. Their stock rose to fabulous figures and start ed q craze for speculation. In six wars the two mines yielded in golC ana silver $172,275,27O and from 1875 to 1879 paid S75,0OO,00O in div idends. The partners were report ed to have cleared $2O,OOO,OOO eacf by the transaction
 MINING MADE PROFITS
 Flood, as did his partners, be- came one of the financial mag natesI of San Francisco. He enter ed into the banking business, bu in the panic of the late '70S hi bank failed and he was reputed t have lost considerable money. Lat CT he encountered another heav, loss in colossal wheat speculation His mining properties, however continued to yield large return  and he retained a fortune of man, millions. Mir. Flood was generou in his donations to public cause and did much for the development and improvement of San Francis co. His home on Mob Hill, erecte, at cost of $1 ,5OO,OOO and lavishl places of the Pacific coast metrop furnished, was one of the shoy oils. He also owned much propert in the business section of the city Flood died in 1889 while travelin in Europe.
 SAN FRANCISCO, May g. (H
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