es Taylor was a practical man, he
cared more for business than for any amusement. Art was of far less
account with him than were the suffering miners who had no place to
stretch their bleeding forms until he came to their aid.

WILLIAM C. RALSTON.

William C. Ralston, a synonym for goodness, was born at Wellsville,
Ohio, January 15th, 1820. He drifted to California, being one of the
first to pass through the Golden Gate. Here he remained for twenty-five
years, becoming the most noted man in the State, having prospered
wonderfully.

It has been truly said of him that he did more than any other one man to
secure a good municipal government for San Francisco. Aiding with his
money weak industries, he did much to elevate the tone of a class of
people consisting of almost every nationality--the miners. The
struggling young man had nothing but sympathy extended him from this
great philanthropist; indeed, his great desire seemed to be, what can I
do for my less fortunate fellow-man. He was elected President of the
Bank of California, to succeed Mr. Mills. This bank had a credit all
over the globe. It was the greatest financial power in the Republic.
Such was its standing in the financial world when Mr. Mills delivered
the bank over to Mr. Ralston. Mr. Ralston was a great and good man, but
his desire to benefit and aid others led him to place out the bank's
money too freely; hence, when Mr. Flood made his sudden and unlooked for
call for over $5,000,000, the amount of his deposit, it was useless for
the bank to try to raise it at once, as it could not be done,
notwithstanding the bank had ample resources, if they had only been
available. Mr. Flood, it seemed to us, need not have pressed his claim
when he knew that the bank could pay him soon. It is claimed by some
that he chose this method to cripple the Bank of California to the
advantage of his Nevada Bank. Be this as it may, Mr. Ralston unwisely
allowed his tender heart to be touched too deeply, and thus placed the
bank in a weak position to meet such a crisis. A meeting of the
directors was immediately called, and it was decided to ask the
President for his resignation which, together with his household
effects, he promptly tendered. This was a terrible blow to him, and it
may be the officials were somewhat hasty. On the 27th of August he went
down to the beach, put on his bathing suit, drank something from a
bottle (it is alleged), dived into the waves, was carr