DEATH OF “SILENT” SMITH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2086, 22 May 1907, Page 1

DEATH OF “SILENT” SMITH.

ROMANTIC STORY

“Silent” Smith, one of the most remarkable, of America’s multi-mil-lionaires, whose fortune is estimated at £15,000,000, died on March 26 i heart disease, at Kyoto, in Japan, which he was visiting with his wife on their wedding tour round the world.

Until 1899 he was James Henry Smith, a taciturn, reserved man, with

a small office in Wall-st., New York, and a small flat in an unfashionable part of tho city. With tho exception of the hour a day ho spent at tho Union Club he was never seen outside his office or his homo. In that year his still more eccentric cousin, “Chicago” Smith, died at tho Reform Club, in London, where he had lived at a maximum cost of 18s a day, and left him a fartune of nearly £12,000,000. From being the least obtrusive of Now Yorkers, “Silent'” Smith became tho most prominent.

Ho joined twelve of the loading social and sporting clubs, and had the distinction of being launched into society by Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, as one of the world’s richest bachelors.

Ho always drove a four-in-hand, and bought the best horses that money could purchase. His entertainments were as freakish as they were magnificent. His valentine ball at Sherry’s and tho musical© in the Fifth Avenue Palace, bought from Mr. W. C. Whitney’s executors for £400,000, at which ho paid Caruso £6OO to sing four songs, will bo long talked of in New York. At this mansion ho entertained the Duchess of Manchester and the' foremost leaders of American society. He was tho elusive catch of many seasons; but last year he chose as his brido the beautiful Mrs. Rhinelander Stewart, of Baltimore—a sister of Mrs A. J. Drexel.

Soon after their wedding Mr. and Mrs. Smith started on a tour of the world, with the Duke and Duchess of Manchester, in Mr. Drexel’s magnificent steam yacht the Marglierita. The great 1 appreciation in the value of real estate in Chicago added largely to Mr. Smith’s millions, and his railway stock holdings were also immense.