Smyrna times., 1869-11-24
.MiSce WUM e o as.
Fisk, Jr.

A New York correspondent of the London
Daily NeaoS supplies the annexed brief bio
graphical sketch of the famous Mr. James
Fisk, better known as the Admiral" " who
played so prominent part in the recent "gold
corner" operations: ..a
Mr.. James Fisk first appeared before the
public as a circus-rider. Although he gained
a considerable reputation for jumping through
fiery hoops, and balancing himself upon the
the backs of horses, he had soul above such
vulgar triumphs and LETT the arena in order to
engage in commercial pursuits. For several
years he travelled through New England with
pedder's pack, and traded in wooden nut
megs and other Yankee notions. But still his
ambition was not satisfied. He felt that he
was born for better things, and exchanged his
pack for a stool in the Office of Mr. Drew, who
then shared the railway throne with Commo-
dOre Vanderbilt His shrewdness soon attract
ed the attention of his principal, and, having
acquired a little money, he gave up his clerk
ship, and, with the aid of MIR. Drew, became
| an operator in Wall street. AS he was in
telhgent and perfectly INSCRIPTIONS, he was
employed by many persons to do their dirty
work, and to bear the abuse which followed
detection. In the course of his business he
| made the acquaintance of certain Jay Gould,
third-rate stockbroker, and of lawyer of
| the name of Lane. These three worthless, like
the two centuriOns of Tacitus who determined
to revolu 10 .ize the Roman Empire, determin-
ed to make themselves absolute possessors of
the Erie Railroad; and, like the centurions,
] they succeeded The wonderful manoeuvres
| by which three obscure individuals became
masters of wealthy railroad company are too
well known. AT present Mr.. Fisk, Mr.. Gould
and Mr.. Lane form an executive committee,
who manipulate all the finances of the Erie
Company, and who own feet of steamers.
They keep Judge in their pay to interpret
the law in their favor, and they are able to
carry any new law which they may require
through the State Legislature at Albany. AL
though the earnings of tbe Erie Railroad mus
be largely in excess Of the expenditures, they
pay their shareholders no dividends. All the
money that comes into the exchequer is devo
ted to corrupting the officials and judges, anC
making purchases for the company by which
they enrich themselves. The directors o
several English lines of railroad do not enjoy
the absolute confidence of their shareholders
but what would be said if the chairman of al
English railroad were to buy Convent GardeI
Theatre, sell it for double the amount whicl
he paid rit to the company, transact bushes
III the green.room, and carry on an opera witt
the proceeds of his railroad? [? Yet this is wha
has been done by Mr.. Fisk. The Offices Of tn
a Erie Railroad are in that excellent freeholt
which he sold to the company, the 6 Grant
Opera House" and the money of the Fri
> shareholders goes to keep up theatrical com
I, pany. Englishmen who have invested thei
/ money in the line will be glad to hear tha
their enterprising president recently producet
Sardon's comedy of "Patrie" in a very credit
able manner, and at the present moment thei
money is employed in reviving the legitimat
drama by the representation of one of Shaks
pere's plays. There is species of royal boz
in which on NEST evenings Mr.. Fisk is to b
seen dealing out hospitality from a vel
furnished buffet to his friends and admirers.