Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-07

Anula traue-partlcularly In the Island OF ST.
Domingo at the moment of the well-known
outbreak of the slaves, he had two vessels lying
off the port The afrighted planters rushed to the
docks and deposited their most valuable treas
ures in those ships for safety, returning to Sc.
cure more. They were nearly all, with their
families, massacred. Stephen Girard advertised
literally for the owners to the property, but
very few claimants ever appeared, and it was
transported to Philadelphia, to swell the store
and increase the power of the one-eyed capital
lists, who commenced the building of those
large ships engaged in ths trade with China
and Calcutta, which were, at that time, the
pride of America.
In 1893, a fearful pestilence broke out in the
City of Philadelphia. The yellow fever left
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 avoided even by their friends and
the fumes of tobacco and camphor filled every
house in the city. While the pestence was at
its height, square repulsive man boldly enter
tered one of the most crowded hospitals, and
bore out in his arms victim in the last saffron
colored state of the disease. For days and
weeks, this man continued to perform the same
terrible Office of attending upon the sick and
dying, discharging the most painful and dan
gerous 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 reorganization of
the pest-house hospital at Bush Hill-two men
nobly volunteered for the forforn task-Stephen
Girard and Peter Helm. On the afternoon Of
the same day on which he offered his services,
Stephen Girard, a merchant of growing wealth
and influence, foreigner with no ties of
country between him and the afflicted city, en-
tered upon his dangerous task with all the per-
severance and decision of his character. He
soon established order and cleanliless provided
accommodations, and procured supplies and,
for sixty days, continued to discharge his du-
ties at the hospital.
In 1872, Stephen Girard, the one-eyed cabin
boy of Bordeaux, purchased the banking prem
ises Of the old Bank of the United States
(whose charter was not renewed,) and started
the Girard Bank, large private establishment,
which not only conferred advantages upon the
community greater than the State institution
upon which IL foaneis5. bat while the r,ssba
lie credit was shaken, and the Government
finances were exhausted by war, the Girard
Bank could cammand large subscriptions of
loans, and put itself in the position of the
principal creditor of the country. In 1914
Girard subscribed the whole of a large Govern
ment loan from patriotic motives, and in 1877
lie contributed, by his unshaken credit and un-
diminished funds, to bring about the resump-
tion of specie payments. In 1881 his opera
tons were so extensive that when the country
was placed in extreme embarrassment from the
scarcity of money by reason Of the balance OF
trade being against it, he was enabled, by sin
gle transaction with an eminent English firm
to turn the exchanges and cause specie to flow
into the States.
Stephen Girard began his remarkable trading
career with one object, which he steadily KEEP
in view all his long life-the making of money
for the power it conferred. He was content, al
starting, with the small profits of the retail
trader, willing to labor in any capacity to make
those profits secure. He practised the most rig
id personal economy he resisted all the al
lurements of pleasure; he exacted the las
farthing that was due to him and he payet
the last farthlng that he owed. He took ever,
advantage which the law allowed him in resist
ing claim he used men Just SO far as the,
: would accomplish his purpose he paid his ser
: wants no more than the market price when
n faithful cashier died, he exhibited tho utmos
indifference, making no provision for his family
and uttering no sentiment of regret for hsloss
Q He would higgle for penny with huckste
n in the streets he would deny The watchman a
a his bank the customary Christmas present o
9 a great-coat. To add to his singular and de
: ficient character, he was deaf in one ear, coul
e only speak broken English, never converse
s upon anything but business, and wore the sam
s old coat, cut in the French style, for FIVE year
d together. An old ricketty chair, remarkabl
: for its age, and marked with the initials ' S
d g." drawn by faded horse, was used when h
d rode about the city He had no sense of hos
pitalty, no friend to share his house or his ia
d BILE. He was deferential in appearance to ran
n and family violent and passionate, only to on
le man-an old and faithful clerk named Robei
of got His theological opinions were heterodo
h in the extreme, and he loved to name his spler
le did vessel after Voltaire and Rousseau. He WI
l. devoted to the improvement of his adopted Gil
and country he was a determined follower
m ostentatious charity. No man ever applied
,e him for a large public grant in vain, while tt
re starving beggar was invariably sent from h
I'd gate lie steadily rose every morning befo
r. the lark, and unceasing labor was the dai
he worship of his life.
er Thus he attained his eighty-second year.
ce 1880, he had nearly lost the sight of his o,
IN eye and used to be seen cropping about his ban
rc disregarding every offer of assistance. Cros
of ing one of the Philadelphia roads, he W
ng knocked down by a passing wagon, his ia
|; was bruised, and his right ear was nearly c.
he off. His one eye, which before opened slight
ed was now entirely closed he gradually vast
'al away, and his health declined On the TIVE
tu-si 9TH nf nncernhn, Stnnhnn Girnrh nvnir