AN IRISH MILLIONAIRE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 54, 12 October 1878, Page 3

AN IRISH MILLIONAIRE.

In the death of W. 8. O'Brion, which occurred at San Rafanl on tlin 2nd of' May, OalUorill* ha* lost a man whoso | pond fortnuo almost equalled in romtooftl tlio fabulous talc of Aladdin's Innip. | Bon MftT Dublin, about tli«* V'.U' IMB,

of humble parentage, he emigrated at a rish age, and was engaged in ft atore at New York. In the guiding hands of an inscrutable Providence led him to try his luck in tho new 111 Dorado of California, where he lauded so poor thai he was glad to earn a few dollars l.y assi«ting in discharging cargoes from the vi ssel. For si vcial yi irs he Lcpl iii ■ Auction Lunch Saloon at San Francisco, in partnership with J. C. Flood. They became interested in some mines, and in 1807 relinquished tho saloon business, and gave their undivided attention to mining, the result of which was that they drew to themselves such immense wealth in so short a time that the name and power of the Bonanza Kings have become a household word all the world over. The Bonanza firm, the wealth of which it is impracticable to estimate, was composed of J. C. Flood (with one-fifth interest), the late W. S. O'Biion (with ono-tifth), .1. S. Fair (with one-fifth) and John Maekoy, who purchased the share of J. M. Walker, of two fifths. In private life the deceased was unostentatious and amiable, greatly liked and respected by a large circle of friends, with whom he lived on terms of alliiblo bonhomie, not untouched with that tinge of Bohemianism which respects wealth only for the sake of the material pleasures it brings. Against him it can never be alloged that his immense wealth pulled him up or made him ignore those with whom he had been associated in his earlier and poorer days. His country men will point with pride to tho grand career of the poor Irish boy who has made California a

power in the financial head quarters ot the world.—San Francisco Alta.