Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-08-18

Ilo"' cohslucilng inc disturbed and de-
pressed state of the country. He was oui
city hiding his time His store was we'll
filled with old blocks, sails, pieces Of cor.
dage and other materials useful in shin.
building.
In 1850, Stephen Girard again com
mencei the New Orleans and st. Domin,
20 trade In two years he had progressed
so far as to be able to purchase a ten years
lease, with renewal, of a range of brick
and frame stores, one of which he occu-
pied himself The rents were low at the
time, and the purchase very advantages
perhaps the turning point in his fortunes.
In 1850, Mary Girard, from whom he
had been divorced, was admitted an insane
patient into the Pennsylyania Hosrital. 49,
Here she remained shut up twenty-five
years and one month, while her husband
was tusily pursuing his one object in the
world at last she died in the year 1915.
On being told Of her death, Stephen Cir
ard selected her burial place and requested
that he should be called as soon as all the
arrangements for her funeral were com
pleted. She was buried in the manner
Of the friends. Her husband was there.
glaring with one fearless eye silent and
unmoved; after taking one short look at
the remains, he departed saying, 'all is
we'll He returned home, and began to
give largely to the local charities and hos
pitfalls from this day.
I 4 circ umstance occurred at this period
which materially aided Stephen Girard in
his cherished determination. He was en-.
gagged III the West India trado-particular-
ly in the Island of st. Domingo-at the
moment Of the wellknown outbreak of
the slaves, he Lad two vessels lying off the
port The atirighted planters rushed to
the docks, and deposited their most valu-
able treasures in those ships for safety.
returning to secure more. They were
nearly all, with their families massacred.
stephen Girard advertised literally for
the owners to the property but very few
clients ever appeared, and it was transport.
ed to Philadelphia to swell the store and
increase the power of the one-eyed capi-
taIist, who commenced the building of
those large ships engaged in the trade
with China and Calcutta, which were, at
that time the pride of America.
In 1893, feerful pestilence broke out
in the city of Philadelphia. The yellow
fever lett whole streets tenantless; the
hearse was the vehicle most frequently
seen in the streets those who wore the
badge of mourning on their arms, were a.
voided even by their friends, and the
fumes of tobacco and campl or filled every
house in the city While the pestilence
was at its height, square repulsive man
, boldly entered one Of the crowded hospi-
tails, and bore out in his arms a victim in
the last satlron-colored stage of the dis
ease. For days and weeks, this man con
tinued TO perform the same terrible Of
/ flee Of attending upon the sick and dying,
discharging the most painful and danger
Gus duties of the lowest servant in the
place. This repulsive-looking Samaritan
was Stephen Girard, with his strong will,
his bodily energy, his stout heart, and his
one eye. The hard gripping trader was
not so selfish after all, When all the
paid attendants, all the visitors of the poor
were either dead, dying or had fed when
no offers Of money would purchase that
labor which was required for the re.organ-
ization of the pe't-house hospital at Bush
Hill; two men nobly volunteered for the
Eorlorn task-Stephen Girard and Peter
Helm. On the afternoon Of the same day
on which he offered his services Stephen
Girard, a foreigner with no ties of country
between him and the afflicted city, enter
ed upon his dangerous task with all the
perseverance and decision of his charac-
ter He soon established order and clean
illness; provided Accommodations, aud pro-
cured supplies; and for sixty da, contin-
ued to disc barge his duties at the hospi-
tai.
In 1912, Stephen Girard the one-eyed
cabin boy Of Bordeaux, purchased the
/ banking premises of the old Bank of the
United States (whose charter was not re.
newed, and started the Glrard Bank Il
large private establishment, which not
only conferred advantages upon the com.
munity greater than the State institution
upon which twas founded, but while the
public credit was shaken, and the Govern
ment finances were exhausted by war the
Girard Bank could command large sub
scriptions of loans, and put itself in the
position of the principal creditor of the
country. In 1914 Girard subscribed the
whole ofa large Government loan from
I natriotip moi ,vps and in 1918 he oon4r;I,