Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1895 — NORTH KNOCKED OUT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NORTH KNOCKED OUT.

Tried to Buy His Way Into Parliament but Failed. One of the most picturesque figures in English life is Col. John T. North, known familiarly as the “nitrate king.” The son of a mechanic in Leeds, England, he started out in life without any advantages and in the 60’s went as an engineer to Chili. Thence he went to the nitrate beds of Peru and partly by good luck and partly by collusion with corrupt Chillian and Peruvian politicians acquired a controlling interest in the rich nitrate beds and incidentally a fortune of many millions. A few years ago he returned to England to buy his way into society and public life. He performed numerous

benefactions, endowed hospitals and colleges, gave splendid parties, became one of the Prince of Wales’ amusement set and then, satisfied that he stood well in the minds of the people of his native towns of Leeds, he annoupced his intention of entering Parliament, standing on the Tory platform. He was defeated, however, by Herbert Gladstone, son of the “grand old man,” and has now time sufficient on his hands to realize that money does not always accomplish the purpose of its user.

COL. NORTH, “NITRATE KING.”