The New Orleans Bulletin

Ralston became generally known as a business man and his social life was at the same time a matter of comment among the people of the slope. He was known as a man who set all social conventionalities at defiance. He lived only for W. C. Ralston, and the pleasures which that individual experienced. He outraged what little there was of decency in the mining camp, and lived a life of almost utter recklessness; he maintained fast women within a stone's throw of his home, where lived his wife and children. He did nothing by piecemeal.

A circumstance which happened during his sojourn in Virginia City will serve to illustrate as well as could anything else the prevailing characteristics of this strange man. John McCullough, the tragedian, was in the height of his glory on the coast; he made a visit to Nevada, and had played several nights in Virginia City to crowded houses. He was a special favorite of Ralston, Sharon and a couple of others. He had closed his engagement and was ready to leave the city; his trunks were packed and at the stage station, ready to make their journey to Reno.

It was in the early evening, and after business hours, when Ralston and a few others conceived the idea that it would be a capital thing to have McCullough play once more, so they sent him word that they wanted him to appear that night in the "Gladiator." John sent back word that it was impossible; he was prepared to go to San Francisco, and could not delay his journey. This would not do; play he must. Messengers were sent to bring his baggage back, to light up the theater, and make everything ready. The theater was a small affair, and would not seat over seven or eight hundred people. McCullough saw that it would not do to refuse the men who had been his best patrons and bankers, and so he made ready. There was no door-keeper that night. It was free to all; but there was a man in the box-office who sold tickets simply for a show.

It was a grand blow-out, gotten up by the bank people. The receipts that night amounted to the unprecedented figure of $13,200, and it was all contributed by three or four men, most conspicuous among whom was W. C. Ralston. The plan pursued was for all concerned to go to the ticket office and buy $500 worth of tickets each, after which all would go to a wine cellar and wager a basket of wine that each one would tear his tickets up in the soonest time. When they had concluded this game the box office was out of tickets. There was $13,200 in the till. Mr. McCullough had finished the play, the floor was strewn with tickets, and the whole party was as drunk as men can well get.—Phila. Times.