The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-20
The Gold Rampage nap. in wall street stree
INCIDENTS ON CHANGE, &c.
From the New York Herald of March 9th.

| From the New York Herald of March 9th. ...
An astounding panic has prevailed for
the last two days throughout all that re-
gion bordering on Wall street, and in which
brokers' offices do most abound. Unlike
all other panics, which subside almost as
speedily as they are created, this which has
now seized upon the innumerable host of
large and small gold spectators bids fair
to be lasting and promises to bring hum
dreds of the small fry dabblers to grief.
It first made its appearance in the ranks
who had taken up their usual ground
around Change on Wednesday morning !;
but the news which subsequently caused
such dire commotion failed for a time
to make a perceptible change in the
state of affairs. A little later, however.
there was noticeable lengthing of visages
and stealthy slipping away from the now
really perturbed and anxious crowd of the
long beaked chaps, who made big tracks
to the various brokers' offices. These were
quickly followed by whole mob, now d.
vided into different packs, according to
the direction in which their prey lay, and
the rush was so great that it became dang
erOus tor casual passenger to enter one
of those narrow streets. This was the re-
suit Of the effect which the new banking
law has had upon gold speculation, and
which brings up all standing those who
have of late devoted their whole time to
this one all absorbing pursuit. Yesterday
the panic increased, and from up town and
down town, from Brooklyn and Williams
burg, and all around, came thousands who
poured down Wall street and scattered
themselves here as from common
centre. So great was the rush that it
was almost impossible for any one to ell
bow bis way through the excited mass,
who fumed and fretted, and pulled their
hair and cursed with confusion oftongues
that would have shamed the gathering of
Babel. The excitement was not alone in
creased by the vast accession of cormo-
rants to the crowds OF the previous day,
but by the increasing depreciation of the
premium of gold, which babe fair 70 dis
solve the golden dreams INDUCED in by so
many among them, and which kept their
lamentations on the crescendo scale. At
the opening Change yesterday gold,
which had fallen the day previous four per
cent, came down eight or ten per cent.
vita crash that sent the operators flying
again in all direction. MilliOnaires-Old
adopts at the game Depreciation traders,
shop keepers, lottery ticket men, Peter
Funks, clerks, cooks, walters, old clio men,
and the thousand others that the deranged
state of the finances of the country inocu-
lated with the gold purchasing epidemic
rushed into William ST., completely block
ing up the thOroughfare for some distance on
either side of Wall street. There never was
seen such deplorable crew of disap-
pointed money grabbers on the rampage
since the days OF Titus. Many ludicrous
scenes were enacted around the brokers
offices. Jostling, and crowding, and tram
| pling-some endeavoring to get in, some
to get out, all impatient and all resolutely
bent on fasifying the old aphorsm, which
says, ga fellow feeling makes us wond
rous kind" Though kindred spirits, there
was nothing of kindred feeling among
them, save in their great desire to get
rid of their gold, which they had pre-
viOusly been SO anxious to hold over for
higher prices. Most of the heavy specu-
latorS were Jews, and they cut miserable
figures as they rushed to and fro, foaming
at the mouth, cursing with impotent rage
Old Abe and Secretary Chase, who had
brought this ruin on the house of their
fathers. One incident is worth relating
A Jew, named Meyers, having some gold
transaction with Christian, the latter, OH
closing the business, asked Meyers his
name. Meyers" replied the other.
What's your Christian name!" ''Me
ish got no Christian name; I'm ish a
jew" Another ancient-loOking Hebrew
was so astOnished at the state of affairs in
Wall street.-the impetuous rush of people
flying as if pursued by an army with BAN
ners, the amount of gold they carried, and
the alarm exhibited in their countenances,
as if fearing to be left behind in the race.
that, after some time contemplating the
scene with lowered brow, he raised his
head and exclaimed, "Mein Colt! dere
ish been noting like dish since de crossing
of de Red Sea-" The old gentleman was
overheard by an Irish apple woman, near
whom he stood at the time, and who,
guessing his meaning, quickly said, ooh!
the divil sink the whole of yez in the same
Red Say, thin, and may this be only the
beginnin Of your throubles, you set of
miserable nagurs, yeZ Divil IL copper,
let alone bit of silver, did you
lave any of u.s." The desire to sell was
not abated at the close OF the day, al
though gold rallied little The slight
rally impaired no confidence, however;
the blow came too heavily and stunning,
and, as the right arm of the law Itself has
dealt it, further beneficial results will fol-
low day after day, until gold becomes once
more a currency medium in the country.
There was considerable buoyancy Of feel
ing manifested in all quarters of the city
on learning the CONSERVATION that prevail
ed in Wall street, and many were the rep
etitions of Cassandra prophecies uttered
months ago, but which fell then on unheed-
ing ears, as to the certain collapse of all
the currency initiation. Even the news
boys were jubilant, as the nickles were
making their appearance all the day in
unaccountable abundance. "Jamie!" cried
one of these urchins to another, ''by gor-
ra! do you know what III do? Pm so fly
of coppers tonight that I'll send one to
the Heyuld for the Greeley fund