The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-08-31
oszrsspeaacnss sf sAs wassssas
'I.cxa BsAxoH, Asg. 20, 1870.


anes Of the military. element on the
scene. Fisk's regiment (the 9th,) eame
down last Saturday, six hundred strong.
THY are wsli drilled and handsomely
uniformed, With . band comprising
about 80 pieces. The encampmsnt,
which is on "Ocean Avenue" between
the "Mstrspolitap", aud HClarsndon"
Hotels, II we'll aud accurately laid out,
aud ell the discipline of . bsdy ofrsgu.
lar troops lis naintained. Thousands
attend the dress parades every afternoon,
tosse the soldiers and the distinguished,
or rather notorious Colonel; aud to
listen to the 6ne music Of the Band
ANsr the parade the regiment is some-
times marched through the avenue to
tho south end and back. The Colonel
mounts a splendid brown charger, (said
to heve cost $4,000 y and heads tho
regiment, accompanied by Lieut. Coleuel
Braiue, who furnishes the bra,ns, in the
military limo, for Fisk. 1t is an unao-
sountable ambition which prompts tho
"Prince Of Erie" to seek this bloodless
fame as make-believe soldier. Yet 40
the scattering Of seven thousand dol.
lars is the consequence Of his fancy, j.
is a good thing for somebody. Perhaps
you think 1 write too much about "Fisk."
It is impossible to ignore his existence,
down hero; and although, socially, he
is tabooed, his immense wealth, his
profuse expenditure, aud his open aud
shameless immortality, bring him promi
nsntly before tie public. A few words
oonoeraing him may not prove uninter-
esting. l give the particulars as hear
them, without endorsement:
James Fisk, Jr., commenced life ped.
ding wares in wagon, making Boston
his basis of operations. Even then he
was remarkable for his enterprise, and
the neatncss of his team. A Boston
dry goods house, noticing his smartness,
took him as a salesman, aud he soon
acquired good position. On visit to
New York. he attended ono Of the heavy
auction sales, aud purchased for his
house in Boston one hundred thousand
blankets. The auctioneer-, uneasy at
the amount of the sale, telegraphed to
Boston to know if Fisk was authorized
to make the purchase, and received in
reply, q message stating That one of the
firm would como GU by the first train
On the arrival Of the partner, Fisk
could not be found, but had left mes
sage stating that he had gone to Wash
ington and would return next day. At
the time appointed he did return and
on being asked by his employer what he
proposeasto do with all those blankets.
replied that he had already sold them
to the government, and had cleared
ssventy five thOusand dollars for the
house. Tho Boston merchants, after
due reflection, decided that they could
not afford to keep so bold an operator,
and desired to close his engagement.
Fisk, having all interest in . profits,
claimed his share OF the business. a
compromise was effected, aud Fisk re-
csivod ninety thousand dollars in
settlement. The whole OF this amount
he Invested as margin on cotton. and
the war having suddenly ceased; cotton
went down aud he lost his all.
In this desperate state Of his affairs,
some one recommended him to Wander.
bilt, as smart and cutcrprising young
man. Tho Steamboat aud Railroad king
employed him, and from that time his
Fisk's assistance, turned Vanderbilt and
his party out of the Eric Railroad man
agement. and sc'zed upon the road
himself. What with buying up proxies,
and with stock actually held by them,
they obtained entiro control of that
immense interest. They watcrsd the
stock to suit themselves, appropriated
tho earnings to their own use, and
bribed certain Judges so that the stock
holders we're unable to obtain any
redress through the Law.
The stock, which used to sell at a
premium GU 81 90 par value, soon fell,
aud is now at 22 to %.
Tho road and cars are kept in fine
order, their business is constantly in
orcasing, but the stock holders get no
dividends. Jay Could is said to fur
nisl' the mind for this ncfarious bust
ness and Fisk the brass.
Fisk also owns the steamers which
run to Boston Bloomington i.in",) and
by expcnding large suu~ of money on
them, furnishing splendid music, and
catering to the licartious habits Of
young men, he has obtalnvd highly
prot; able business for the limo.
He owns tho Long Branch Boats and
they are paying handsomely.
Ills finanoeering in purchasing Pixies
Opera House is worth mentioning.
Asccrtaining that (sS75,00O) eight
hundred and seventy five thousand dol
lars woald buy the Building. and ths,
the owner would allow half million to
renaiu on bond and mortgage, Fisk
iDAdo the purchase. He rented to the
Erie Il. II. Co, splendid suite Of
Offices in the Opera House for thirty
seven thousand i've hundred dollars
per annum. for ten .yru,s, alt PnYnb/e IN
aa0ance, and with vlis amount lj7o. .UU0)
paid tho cash portion OF tho purchase {!
If MIR. Boutwell, could manage the
finances of the Cnited St.,:es Us well us
That. the cNuuIru lYnniI hn s.Ann nnt III