Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1889 — FLOOD'S FATORS. [ARTICLE]

FLOOD'S FATORS.

Home of the People He Made Rich, and What they Did with It. James C. Flood, the millionaire mine ownekwho died in Heidelberg on Thursday, waaeven-tongned, cool, calculating, patient and courageous. Like most men of his temperament, he made but few friends. It was hard to gain his confidence, but he never permitted an opportunity to go by to help the few who were his friends. While Flood was still dispensing liquors over the ha. of his saloon in San Francisco, he was a member of a voltffiteer hook-and-ladder company. When he became a power in the I ** stock market he did not forget the associates who had been members of the fire company or patrons of his saloon. One by one they dropped the reins of the horse car, gave up their hods, yielded up whatever might be called the badge of honest toil, and began to frequent the pavements about the Stock Exchange. They were at first ill at ease in their new station, but they acquired one good habit from Flood, “tße silent golden Irishman,” as he was called—they did not talk too much. They never missed a chance to talk of Flood’s virtues, but had nothing to say about his business. -

When, in 1873, the big bonanza was uncovered in the Comstock lode and Flood and his partneir began the manipulation which made them so rich and others so poor, Flood and his associates still remembered their old friends, and their fortunes went sailing skyward too. To help them along, Flood did far more than his share. He lent money to some, carried shocks for others and madp all richer than they had ever dreamed of being. But their riches, easily got, easily went, and to-day but few of them have anything left. J. M. Walker was one of the men who profited most in the big bonanza deal. Now his mansion in Oakland is a hospital, while his daughter, once such a belle, now the divorced wile of a clerk, was two years, ago playing minor parts in a small theater.

Dennis McCarthy was once city editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, and he was let into the secret to the extent of winning SIOO,OOO, He is dead and left only a small estate. Joseph Goodman published the Virginia City Enterprise, and his friendship for the bonanza firm got him information which resulted in the accumulation of at least $75,000. He felt that he must have at least an even million and f he went into stock speculation after the collapse of the big bananza deal; When last heard from he was raising raisins on a little ranch hear Fresno, and would probably be satisfied with any fortune that could be represented by five figures. Pat Crowley was Chief of Police of San Francisco. He; profited by his intercourse with Flood.-, to the extent o $425,000. His ambition was* only half as large as that of Mr. Goodman, as he wanted only $500,000. H(s followed the editor and is again a jibliceman. Flood bad a fancy 'for fast trotting horses, and Pete Finiflgan was his driver. Peter got his horse in first once in such a clever manner that several brokers “went broke” betting against it. Mr. Finnigan had a “tip” on the big bonanza which sent Consolidated Virginia up to &n unheard of figure. He also had sense. He kept his money and built one of the fineßtof the houses on Nob Hill, and became the chief patron of the turf on the Pacific Coast. Mr. Flood’s fortune, though greatly reduced; is still large enough for an ordinary individual to look after, and will be divided between James L. Flood, his son, and Jennie Flood, his daughter. She was engaged to Ulysses Grant, Jr., who afterward married the daughter of Jerome B. Chaffee, of Colorado. She has already $5,000,000 in her own right.