Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-10-01


house of Barring Brothers tive millions; ini
this came an offer from Duncan sherman II
sell from three TO thirty mllions then the repor
that the government would sell four mIlions
gold tomorrow.
TURN IN THE TIDE.
At this poi0t a rumOr, which proved to be cor
rect was put in circulation by the bears that
despatch had been received by the Asslsta n
Treasurer in this city, from Secretary Boutwell,
ordering the sale to-day OF tonr millions OF eoi'
and the purchase of four millions OF bonds.
Had the room teen struck by lightning th'
bulls could not have been more astonlshed M
fight was all taken out of them; they dropped
their heads, covered up their horns. and beat {
hasty retreat. A moment later it was announced
that Gould, Martin & Co; had failed; ,o AZ the
was a rush of excited men through Wall stree
beyond alI precedence. Men were flying bach
and forth in all directions, some for the Colo
Room, others to the different offices. In state O
excitement bordering upon frenzy. Ii this rust
they would run against each other, knock OF
ach;other's hats, jump over carts, and did MOI
appear to heed anything. 1t was stampede
which beat the famous Bull Run rOut. rome
were anxious to ascertain whether the report
was true or not, others were rushing to carry
the news to their firms. 1t would seem that al
the bankers and brokers in Wall street and BroaC
ticular which way they ran, or who they knocked
over in their flight. 1t was every man :or him
self and the devil for the hindmost. Any number
of excited individuals found themselves sprawl
suit Of the collision.
LIST OF THE WOUNDED.
Among the firms which closed their doors after
this conflict are those of Smith, Gould, Martin &
Co.,, who ask until to-day to see how they stand
Belden 4 Co., A. G. Speyers Il Co., P. FL. Will
Iisms. Jr., Galwaye, Hunter Co., Chase
Mcclure & o., s. NJ. Wallis. William Heath q
Co. Some of these will in all probability prove
permanent failures, especially those who gave
bids on verbal orders OF the managers.
EXPERIENCE OF A FORLORN HOPE.
During the excitement, Mr.. Speyers announced
that she had received an anonymous note con
tanning threat to shoot him; but he would now
offer 100 for one or five millions Of gold-let the
man who wants to shoot come on if he dares. ,
Three minutes later he was retreating IRON
tho room. completely annihilated, and returned
to his Office where he had to shut his doors and
refuse to take the gold which he had bought
He subsequently made q statement in the board
that his bids were made on verbal orders OF
James Fisk, Jr., end those Of the day previous
were made upon orders of MIR. Belden and that
his inability to make his contracts good arose
from the fact TIL at neither Of these parties had
given him any margin.
SCENES ON THE BATTLE FIELD.
At such times the human aspect ON Wall street
is not factoring to civilization. Probably in nc
other condition of excitement do men in masses
so entirely give themselves up to passion. and so
outrageously and recklessly exhibit their animal
propensities. The scenes at Il gambling table
where the lowest desperadOes gather, is not so
noisy, SO violent, 30 repulsivo to the better in
stincts of the man, as the riot III the Gold Room.
1t exceeds in frenzy and earnestness the sacking
of city. Men at prize fight do not utterly
forget themselves. pack OF wolves, famlshed
and furious, suddenly coming upon blood is the
nearest approach to the bowling fight of these
mon over the precious metal. One is to under
stand that the financial emeute affects the entire
commercial interests of the adjacent streets -
Smaller and connected interests are for the mo-
ment paralyzed, and men leave their counting
rooms and Offices. and stores and crowd into
Broad and New streets, where they stand wedged
in a dense mass, glaring with strained eyes, as
they might do at an execution, up to the dial
which marks the fluctuations in price. 1t is true
the crowd at an execution Is good natured, and
has it's pleasant banter and rough jokes, for
there it ia only human life that is to be extin-
guished; and it Ia true that here the crowd holds
ITS breath and shuts its teeth hard, and looks up
with deep, painful anxiety, tor this is question
OF gold. New street is utterly shut against all
travel by anxiety. TO get into the Gold itoom
from either the Broad street or rear entrance is
mere dangerous than getting into a burning
building. The steps, narrow passages, and little
vestibuies are soldly occupied. Men are hang
ing on to the iron railings standing their toes
to look in at tho windows, fighting thejr way with
abstrscted evaporation in and out, men who,
anywhere else and at any other time you would re-
gard as gentlemen really to sacrifice their own
comfort for the convenience of fellow, push and
pull and scream and trample upon Hi IN their
Way--rabid with the gold excitement anu blind to
everything but the al-lmpOrtant crisis at hand
Once into the passage in u wicked mahiacal crew,
air you may hear, what seems to be the screechos
Of The damned it is only the operators in the
Gold Room, but it exceeds i'll wild disAonant ill.,
tensity an orgle Of tiends. Men are tigting to
get in, begging to get IN men are lighting their
way out. You can hnar nothing but ono shrill,
poignant, horrible clamor OF thrOata, and the
policeman at tho door, cross and almost crazed.
requires all his strength to keep his feet. Once
in the room, what scene meets the eye 1t tho
place wero black hole from which Gods blessed
air had been utterly excluded and these five
hundred mon wore struggling for existence. with
all the condensed agony OF Il suddenly inflicted
suffocation, it could not ba much worse. Thoy
are wild with somo frenzy that in the cooler at
mosphere OF life ID never awakened their eyes
CLEAN strangely, their nerves stand out on their
temples and necks, their checks pspitate, there
il q fOaminS saliva gathered at the corners OF
their mouths They scream and gcsticulate and
thrust each other out OF the way, and gather
round the iron railing in the centre Of the room
whore puny little fountain SINGS it's iehtened
but unheard song of purity, and there they bay
each other till they arc purple in tho face and
shake thor memoranda like signals OF distress
AFTER THE BATTLE.
For an hour after the bubble broke and the
gold bulls had disappeared from the street. there
was perfect lull. Everybody was looking around
t. see who had been wounded in the struggle A
majority OF those to be seen wore cheerful coun'
tenances and were greatly olated over the cessa.
ton OF the storm. All breathed easier and q
sense Of relief was apparent in every erection
A little later and there L rush OF those who
neu 6OlQ SOlQ SNORT 10 inc cirque, With the pre-
cious metal to deliver, which they had purchased
at the fall but they were unable to obtain admit.
snce, and had to return with their gold. Soon
after this crowds gathered in The street. All noise
had ceased, and they were engaged in quietly
talking over the events OF the day, counting up
the dead and wounded bulls, This street was
densey packed by the crowd, vi 20 remained there
until near dark. When they came to understand
the desperate game that the leading parties en-
gagged in this movement had been playing the
crowd began to be excited. This increased un-
til rush was finally made on the Office of smith,
Gould, Martin Il Co.. with the apparent intention
of demolishing it. Nothing short of interference
by the police, with assistance from the Sheriff &
office, prevented their carrying out this inten-
ton. Fisk made his appearance on the street at
this time and he was beset in all directions /; one
man. about half drunk, cried out, LET us hang
the fellow to the lamp-post," and some one else
gave Fisk's pose a punch. He disappeared 81
soon as possible, and thus prevented 81! physical
harm.
REVIEW OF THE STRUGGLE.
Various are the speculations in regard to the
manner in which the bubble has been managed.
It is clear to all that the whole panic has been an
artificial One that there is nothing in the condi-
ton of the country the state OF the finances to
justify it, further, that it has been engineered by
o set OF interruptions men, who hoped to obtain
gain by the nlisfortunes Of others. That they
have succeeded in nearly raining many is appa-
rent but it is likewise clear that they have de.
mollshed If not completely ruined themselves
They have built Il house OF cobs and it has tumb-
led down on their own heads.
There are numerous rumors ii regard to the
position of Secretary Boutwell, in this affair One
hIr1rrr Snln ~ hi olom-