A BIG FORTUNE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 18, 21 June 1913, Page 10

A BIG FORTUNE

AN EVENTFUL CAREER. Recently a cable message was published from Sydney stating that a fortune had been inherited by Captain Harry Cox, an ex-mariner on the New South Wales coast, from his brother, Colonel Cox, of Dublin. A Sydney correspondent writes:— The amount of the estate is said to be £1,400,000, and Captain Cox will share this equally with an only sister, now residing in America. Their brother, Colonel Cox, died last year at the age of 80, and the Australian heir is himself 74 years old. There is considerable romance in Captain Cox's change of fortunes. When he received the news he was living in a two-roomed weatherboard cottage on some sheep property, near Bunngendere, in the southern part of this State, and was looking after the sheep for the owner. How quietly he is taking his sudden accession of wealth is indicated by the fact that he and his family, -who left by the steamer Roon for London, travelled second-class. He learned of his inheritance in a peculiar manner. The solicitors entrusted with the task of locating him sent a cablegram addressed to him at Sydney, New South Wales. The department endeavored to deliver the cable to several "unlucky" Coxes, and eventually the Cox of Bungendere was tried. The captain was fortunate cnoiign to be the "man wanted,' and on opening the cable merely said, in the coolest and calmest way imaginable: "Supposa, I had better go and get this money, though it can't bring us more happiness. We've got good health and enough to live fairly comfortable on now, and what more do we want?" But the wife was of a different opinion, and it was not long before she, with the ready co-operation of her relatives, had made all arrangements for their departure. When the father of the brothers Cox died over HO years ago, he left the estate to Colonel Cox and his brother, and the sum of £11)0,001) to the younger. Captain Cox. When he received his -CI 10,000 Captain Cox was a young captain in the British Army. He resigned, and after a world's trip decided to take to the sea. He commenced to invest in ships, and had an idea of building up a. large commercial llect, Bad luck, however, dogged him, anil he lost his fortune. He followed the sea for some years, and then retired to run a small store in the North Sydney district. Captain Cox was of a very cheerful disposition, and when asked once, "How ever did you lose C'KID.OOO like that?" answered gaily, "Like many another fool. I had CIOO.0(H), and thought I would mak.-> two hundred thousand of it." j A quaint story is printed in one of the > papers to the ell'ect that the capiain also j expects to share in the "great fortune" left !>v Field-Marshal Viscount Wolseley. of whom he was a nephew, and that he will succeed to the title of the gallant soldier. As a blatter of fact. Lord Wolseley never possessed and consequently did not leave a fortune, and he occupied a suite in Hampton Court Palace, which is set apart for those who have rendered distinguished service to their country.' The title is secured "by special remainder" to his daughter.