Railway Kings in Russia.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 282, 18 July 1888, Page 3

Railway Kings in Russia.

St. Pr/TERKBUiia has been unexpectedly startled by the sudden death at once of iho two PO-coUed railway magnates-, the Israelitos Varshavsky and Poliakoff. The latter was one of the richest men in Rnasia, and the fortune ho has left; his son— Bo,ooo,ooo roubles— proves (writes the correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald") that a good deal can be got by railroad concessions in this still innocent country. As to Varshavsky, who was also very rich, he got entangled in some very deep plans of a purely Jewish dye, and was well-nigh ruined. A few days ago, being in great financial distress, he applied to his intimate friend, Poliakoff, tho millionaire, for the loan of a trifle, 75,000 roubles. The latter refused, and Varshavsky Went home and pti angled himself with the silken waist coid of his dressinggown. At his burial Poliakoff was so distressed that ifc was thought he would lose his reason, and just as tho coffin lid was about to be screwed on, he fell down dead over his friend's body. The sen&ation created by this tragic event was very great, and the obsequies of Poliakoff formed one of the most imposing sights. However he had come by his great liches, Poliakoff employed them well. He had founded innumerable asylums, schools, institutes ; there was not a charitable society in which he had not a hand ; ho generously helped artiste and all sorts of strugglers in life. His goodness was not confined to Israelites alone, but extended over every kind of people.