Year: 1876

In front of the st. Nicholas Hotel he
went shambling along, with his eyes cast
down, says New York correspondent Of
the st. Louis Globe Democrat, dirty
brier-wood pipe in his mouth, ragged
coat on his back, an old slouch haton his
head, pants sadly the worse fer wear,
rolled up over dirty bregans. His whole
get-up was strikingly suggestive. How
much would you give for what is ON that
old fellow7" I asked my companion.
After he had turned and surveyed him
from head to foot, the answer came,
"Well, his old clothes might bring So at
secondhand shop; but why do you ask
that question 7'


Because" l responded, that old
specimen of humanity is worth three or
foursnSllions, and he usually carries in
those old clothes from s25, 900 to SAC, 900
in United States securities" And such
are the facts. This man is named Con-
nors. Many years ago he landed in Hall
fax from Ireland with but $18 in his
pockets Strolling along Water street he
saw, in junk shop, large quantity of
old brass. An idea struck him. Could
he not make successful deal in old
brass3 He entered and inquired how
much per pound would be accepted for
the junk. His next move was in the
direction of the piers on the river front.
He found a vessel about to sail for Boston
in ballast, and sought an interview with
the captain, who proved to be country
man of his. From him he ascertained
the price of brass in Boston, and after a
little calculation they found that they
could clear about $400 by buying out the
junkman. The skipper advanced the
money, the brass was transferred to the
schooner. They set sail for the Hub,
where they arrived in due time, and SELL
ing their cargo cleared $3.50 by the trans
action, which they divided between
them. Connors remained in Boston,
where he made few more lucky specu-
lations of this nature, and then came to
this city. He lived the life of a miser,
in a dilapidated tenementhouse, cooking
his own meals, and having as his only
companion little dog, with whom he
divided his frugal meals. Every specu-
lation he entered into yielded him gold,
and finally, when he had accumulated
about $4,000, he began to operate in real
estate. He was remarkably shrewd, and
everything he touched seemed to turn in
to gold as if by magic. All this time
his wife and children remained in Ire
land, and rarely would he condescend to
write them,. owing to the necessity of
purchasing postage-stamps that would be
involved. His wealth doubled nearly
every year; lots purchased for mere
song enhanced in value rapidly; and as
he prospered he placed much in tene-
ment-houses, and gave handsome profits.
Some years ago he purchased the Park
Hotel, corner of Beekman and Nassau
streets. Later the Central Park Hotel
was erected by him, and still later the
Astor Place Hotel. He now owns, it is
said, five or six hotels and other real
estate, valued in the aggregate at between
81, ,OO0, 900 and 81, 100000 Conners is a
miser in every sense of the word. A few
years ago he sent to Ireland and brought
out his eldest son, to aid him in the man.
agement of his large estate. The young
man toiled diligently; but the old fellow
did not give him sufficient to pay his
board, and the young man left him, and
is now running real estate Office in
Brooklyn on his own account. During
all this time Connors carefully guarded
from every one, including his son, his
place of abode. None of his tenants
know where to find him except on rent
day, when he calls promptly to the hour
and demands the uttermost farthing.
Connors is but one of many fantastic
characters that are met every day in the
busy walks of life in New York City.