Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-10-03

oEs.-The Picaynn,, noticing tho re-
appearance Of Uncle Jacob, in Wall
street, after an absence of near half
century. gives a familiar anecdote Of
Of his shrewdness, as a 6nancier. IL
il q char acteristic feature in the life
Of the old gentleman, which will bear
repeating.
lie was, in his time, ono Of the
most important financiers of the coun-
try, and during the last war with En-
gland no raised money for the Gov
erBment. In the panic Of 1925, q
great number of the banks, insurance
companies and merchants were smash
cd up, and indictments we're iDstitut-
cd against many Of the broken ones
Among the unfortunates on trial was
Jacob Barker; but the jury never
could agree in his case, and no was
finally acquitted. During the trial
Judge ordered him a fine of an humid
red dollars for some offensive word
relative to one Of the witnesses who,
as Mr.. Barker was aware, had made,
erroneous statements in the course of
his evidence. Jacob stopped down,
wrote check for the amount, dis
patched messenger to the bank, and
handed the fine, in gold, to the bench
.-remarking in natural manner,
that he always settled his diiFerer CO
in cash
At another time, the old broker,
who was expecting from distant port
a ship richly laden, had converse
ton with the president of a maritime
insurance company the latter engag.
ging his friend to have the ship in
sured, but Jacob Directing on account
Of the expenses. Finally, although
they parted without coming to any de-
cission, it was agreed that the presi-
dent would draw the policy, and that
the next day Barker would see whetb
err he had better sign it or not; but the
day was Sunday, and the two friends
did not meet.
In the morning an express, who
had ridden a long way, went to the
private residence of the banker, and
announced TO him that his ship, so
long expected, and on board of which
was all his fortune, had been wrecked
on the shores Of New Jersey. 1t must
be remembered that at that time there
were neither magnetic telegrapbs, nor
even railways across the Jerseian pen
insula. Another man might have
lost bis senses under such an unex-
pected blow; but Barker, with his
eyes and ears always open to look for
the main chance, remembered imme-
diately his conversation Of the previ-
Gus evening With his friend, the pres
ident, and without losing one moment
he sent him the following note
"Eriend John--If thou hast writ
ten the policy, send it by the bearer
for my signature if not, thou neodst
not trouble thyself about it, for have
just received news of my ship.
"Thy friend, JACOB BARKER"
The President of the insurance
company had not yet written the pol
10y, intending to do it on Monday
morning; but as soon as he received
that note, he FASTENED, of course, to
fill up a blank and to send it to Bar
ker with letter, in which he said
that the paper was drawn when the
note came to hand, and that be was
much pleased to hear that his friend
had news Of his ship.
But, on Monday morning, when
friend John knew what kind of news
Barker had received the day before,
he never could forgive himself for hav.
ing drawn the policy so inconsiderate-
ly, and for very long time he had
grudge against the old broker, who
had caught him in such plain trap.
The interesting souvenirs which
the visit of Jacob Barker, in Wall
street, recalls to the mind of the old
inhabitants might I'll up a book, and
we have no doubt that, one day, that
book will be written.