THE TRAGEDY OF THE STANFORD MILLIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12859, 6 May 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE TRAGEDY OF THE STANFORD MILLIONS.

A GREAT PHILANTHROPIST.

Tub death of Mrs. .lane Latbrop Stanford at Honolulu, in the Hawaiian Islands, ended the career of one of the greatest woman philanthropists. The tragic circumstances attending this sad event were fully in keeping with he.- life's romance. Born in comparative poverty and obscurity, she became the mistress of a colossal fortune and one of the most benevolent and liberal benefactors the world has known.

Up to the time of her husband's death she was known merely as the wife of Governor, then Senator, Lei and Stanford, and was regarded as in every way qualified to fulfil the duties of a position of social eminence. Put when she was called upon to lave the heavy responsibilities entailed upon her by his death she displayed qualities, heretofore- unrevealed and unsuspected, that stamped her as a woman of remarkable force of charade*, not to say of positive genius.

These suddenly developed traits of character were the heritage of a distinguished ancestry. Her father, Dyer Latbrop, proudly traced the family lineage back to the reign of Henry MIL (1509-1545), when John Lathrop (gentleman), of Cherry Burton, was "accessed on the subsidy roll of Yorkshire for more than twice as much us any other inhabitant of the parish."

Dyer Latbrop was considered " well-to-do" and was enabled to give his children fair educations. Mrs. Stanford attended the Albany Female Seminary, a sort of high school, where site was graduated. Attending the Albany Roys' School at tins time was Leland Stanford, sou of a gentleman farmer who Jived on his estate just, back of Schenectady. Young Stanford afterward studied law. and after bis admission to the Bar married Jane Latbrop, the merchant's daughter of twenty-one. But neither Stanford senior nor the elder Lathrop was able to give his children more than a blessing and some good advice, and with this patrimony the pair started for the growing West, where the opportunities for a ivoung lawyer were regarded as much greater than in the staid old New York community. For two years they maintained their residence at Port Washington, Wis., where the young lawyer managed to make a decent living in the practice of his profession, and this scant income was eked out by the thrifty wife. who kept a few boarders. Mr. Stanfoul's law office was in a room of the dwelling, as was customary with young lawyers in those days. The young couple lived in two rooms' upstairs over the law office. Mrs. Stanford did her own housework and cooking. She repeatedly said in years thereafter that those days of poverty were among the happiest of her life. The young lawyer was making but poor progress in his profession, when an event occurred that proved the turning-point in his career. The " law office" was burned out, together with ail the books the poor young 'man possessed. Disheartened but "not entirely discouraged, the young couple reappeared a - - the old New York bornestead. For several years, or since the discoverv of gold in 18'49, there had reached the Eastern States the most glowing reports of fabulous fortunes to be made in the California placer diggings, and. like many other young men. of the period, Leland Stanford became imbued with the gold fever. Pour of his brothers had preceded him to California and had sent ha-.-k to the States most encouraging accounts of their success. " "Let Jane stay with you until [ send fur he'-," the young husband said to Dyer Lathrop. in 1852 he set sail foi California via Nicaragua, which was at that lime the moot expeditious route. Young Stanford sailed • through the Golden I late in 1852. Verba*Buena. the somnolent old Spanish town on the Pacific, had lung ago thrown j off her lethargy. The discovery of gold had brought a population cosmopolitan and more or less transient in its character to the city of San Francisco.

At first the prospect was not pleasing to the comparatively moneyless young NewYorker. He paid seven dollars to have his trunks hauled from the dock, two dollars for the cheapest breakfast he could find, and was obliged to pay 35 dollars a week for loom rent. Ordinary provisions and supplies were scarce and dear and altogether beyond the means of new arrivals. But after a '•.'-„ residence lie found that money was so plentiful that the cost of living was justly proportionate. This plenitude of money and scarcity of supplies and provisions impresses young Stanford as it had hi' brothers, who were by this time established in a prosperous mercantile business at Sacramento. Ha obtained from them capital enough to start, a stoic at Cold Springs and Michigan Bluff in El Dorado County, in the foothills of the Sierras, and his rough experience in the placer diggings doubtless had its influence in moulding hi.-, sturdy character.

During his residence in El Dorado County young Stanford at various times found his knowledge of the law useful to himself and tho community. Self-constituted courts of justice usually made short shrift of murderer-, horse thieves, and the like, ami the young merchant frequently served either as judge, juryman, prosecutor or defending attorney. For. it may be recorded, frequently there was a miscarriage of "justice." or a lack of all legal formality, the culprit being strung up with little ceremony, his bodyriddled with bullets and a note pinned to his clothing us a warning to evildoeis in genend. Though young Stanford found life in this region not without a certain bind of excitement, the winter months were irksome enough. There weic a tew women of the type not ordinarily admitted to polite society : there were gambling houses, open day' and night : but the more respectable members found life irksome and sorely miosed the society of the " folks at home."

Little by little better conditions prevailed, and young Stanford began to think of sending for Jane. In the meantime his brothers had decided to retire from business at Sacramento, where they had prospeied, and go to Australia. Leland Stanford purchased their interest in the store. He went back to Albany via the Isthmus to bring Jane back to the new California home, It is related that on tin; voyage she buffered greatly from seasickness. "Never mind, Jane," said the hopeful young husband; some day I will build you a railroad to ride on." Whether this was said in jest or in earnest is not recorded; but it fa certain that at a period some ten years later a coterie of staunch business men of San Francisco conceived the idea of building a transcontinental railroad. Th» project was ridiculed by the faint-hearted. They pointed out. the impracticability of raising money, difficult feats of engineering through and over the I mighty Sierra l Nevada .Mountains, covered with snow the year round —and oftentimes t) a depth of twenty or thirty feet ; in the I mountain passes hostile Indians would interfere with the rails; hordes of migrating buffalo alone would be sufficient to impede ! traffic. "Impossible," said they. These hardy frontiersmen, who had by indomitable courage and determination. carved fortunes out of the wilderness, were, not dismayed at the stupendous task before them. The idea, was a big one, lint, for the matter id' that, even-thing in California, was conducted on a big scale. In the meantime Stanford had accumulated great wealth as a merchant and was already regarded as one of California's foremost citizens, Cold mining was at its height' and Sacramento was the centre of the rich district of the Sierra foothills. He was nominated for Slate Treasurer, but was defeated. Later he made a vain race for Governor, but in 1861 was successful. His success in holding California for the Union made him the friend of Lincoln and one of the most prominent of the "war Governors." Mrs. Stanford became first lady of the State, a'nd as hostess at the Executive Mansion, which still stands as a rather mournful relic of its past splendour, .she acquitted herself brilliantly. The building k -of the Central Pacific Bailroad had already been projected, to connect: with the Union Pacific and form a transcontinental railroad line. The high price of provisions and tedious passenger journey to and from "the States" was a greatinducement toward the undertaking of such a stupendous enterprise. But the Wat of the Rebellion was a factor in influencing Congress to grant aid to the Pacific roads. Lincoln's friendship for the war Governor

or California, who had been instrumental in holding California for the. Union, was a deciding factor. It was pointed out that a railroad across the continent would neve; be undertaken by private capital without assistance. ft was represented that the roads would be useful in the future transportation of troops and military supplies free of all cost to the Federal Government.

This argument prevailed and Congress voted millions .'or the guarantee ot bonds based on mortgages of both the Union and Central Pacific railroad*. Huntington, Stanford, Hopkins, and Crocker were the principal projectors and constructors. When the bonds fell due the Pacific roads defaulted ami frequent attempts at foreclosure legislation have been made by Congress. But the seventy-odd millions has nevei been paid. The Pacific roads were also voted immense grants of valuable public lands, miles and miles in alternate seclions upon each side of tic railroad, besides being voted a subsidy foi each mile of track laid.

It has been alleged that Messrs. Huntington, Stanford, Hopkins and Crocker formed a- "wheel within a wheel" anil, organising the "Contract and Finance Company," made a contract with themselves, and in actual construction nl the Central Pacific Railroad not only realised enormous profits per mile in subsidies but profited immenselyNis stockholders of the railroad, whose seventy millions of indebtedness to the Government was never repaid. But however much Huntington, Stanford and others were criticised for this default/ of the Central Pacific Railroad, it is certain that Mr. Stanford was highly esteemed in the State of .lis adoption, and died not only esteemed but loved as one of the most benevolent of her citizens. While president of the Central Pacific Railroad he was elected a United States Senator, was reelected, and died while serving his second term, in 1893.

The erection of a magnificent university of learning at Palo Alto, Oaf, was the crowning work of Leland Stanford and Jane, his wife, and forms one of the most beautiful and pathetic incidents in the recital of this story of their lives.

While Governor of California a son, Leland Stanford, jtin.. was born: a bright lad. to whom ids fat hoi ami mot lie:' were passionately devoted. His every wish, every whim or caprice was indulged. Private tutors were employed for ids education: all of their great wealth was at the beck and call of his tiny voice. (lifts innumerable were showered on him. stub as no child out of fairyland ever enjoyed. (treat plans were laid for his future and the happy father iudalged in fond Jay-dreams of the time when his son wo.ild succeed to Ids business interests. It was the story of Dombey and Son again. During a sojourn in Italy in 1883 the son died of typhoid fever, the remains were brought to New York and after services wore said at Grace Church were taker, to California and buried at Palo Alto, the famous country home of Senator Stanford. The parents were inconsolable —with all their millions life had no further charm for them.

Senator Stanford's relatives havi taken some pains to deny that he and Mrs. Stanford were Spiritualists in the strict sense, of the term. It is not denied that they frequently consulted mediums, with the faint hope of receiving spiritual consolation, but whether or not they really believed in Spiritualism a: a faith will perhaps never be answered. Colonel Law ton, a brother-in-law of Senator and Mrs. Stanford, said to the writer. "They believed in the immortality of the soul, but were not Spiritualists."

Senator Stanford's niece, Mrs. Lawtou, relates the story of Senator Stanford's " ;-i----sion." It has been alleged that immediately after the death of his son in Florence Senator Stanford saw the spirit ot his son, who said : " Father, do not spend your life in a vain soi'ow. Do something for humanity. Build a university for the education of poor voting men.'' " It. was only a dream." said the Senator, "but so vivid that I saw my son as he appeared in life. Was it a spirit'/ Win) can sav'.'"

The effect of this spiritual visitation or '"dream" was so great as to change the whole course of lite of Senator and Mrs. Stanford. Their entire Jives were then centred upon the ejection of a, memorial to their son. and they resolved that it should be an institution of learning "for poor young men." Afterward it was decided to admit girls also, but by special provision the number was limited to five hundred, for it was the wish of both Mr. and Mrs. Stanford that the university be regarded essentially as a school for poor boys. The charter was granted in 1885. The corner stone was laid in 1887.

After the death of Senator Stanford in 1895 tho heavy responsibility of erecting the university in accordance with her busband's ideas and her own fell upon Mrs. Stanford, and the world knows how nobly she executed thes;> plans. Her principal gifts were one million dollars in 1897, ten millions in 1899 and about twentv-eight millions in 1900.

A few years ago she was greatly embarrassed by a suit for 15.000,000* dollars brought by the Federal Government in the courts of California, in which it was alleged that as a stockholder of the Pacific railroads Mrs. Stanford was responsible for nCout one-quarter of (lie Government indebtedness. This suit threatened the very life of the university, and Mrs. Stanford contemplated the sale of her rich jewels to meet the situation." But the Government's contention was not sustained by the lower court or the Court of Appeals. The court of last resort affirmed the decision of the Court, of Appeals and the belovod university was sale.

The slightly bent, veiled figure of a woman often strolled through the college campus, smiling right and left at the cardinalclad young men and nodding familiarly to young women in mortarboard hats. To her all students lilted their hats in reverence and honour.

But to the museum her steps were invariably bent, for within a room protected by strong locks and bars and hallowed and sanctified by the memory of her boy ■were kept his trinkets, his books, his playthings, while in the orchard back of the Palo Alto mansion was kept for years a, most, melancholy reminder of the lad, a miniature railroad, equipped with a " real" locomotive, track, and" cars. Dismantled, diiiSt-covered and rusted, they were left undisturbed for years—left as were the toy soldiers when "Gene" Field's "Little Hoy Blue'' "kissed them and put them there."