The Portland daily press., 1872-01-09

Games FISK, Jrs
James Fisk. jr., was born in Pownal, Vt,
April 1, 1885. His father being peddler and
necessarily much away from home, James was
under the care of his mother, who sent him to
the district school, in which he gained whatev-
er of education he ever received He soon
showed an aptitude for his fathers business,
and was admitted to share of it; and MANY
in New England, will remember the gaudv
turnouts, the elegant dress, and the sapve and
winning manners of young Fisk, who soon had
his assistants, each with similar team to his
own, regularly laid out route for each, and q
Saturday-night rendezvous, and whose weekly
visits soon came to be looked for by the people
along his routes with as much regularity and
anticipation as as the arrival of the county
newspaper. But the box of peddler's wagon
could not long bound the ambition of man
like Fisk. Coming under the frequent obser-
walton OF Jordan Marsh & Co., of Boston, of
whom ne used to secure the greater part of his
stock OF goods, and from business acquain-
lance, he some time later, wishing to enlarge
his field of operations, entered that house as
clerk. When the war broke out Fisk's energy
and zeal became of such advantage to the firm
that he was admitted as partner Here he
manifested that genius for speculation, which,
though it led to his severing his connection with
the firm, yet enabled him to retire with some
S6O,OOO, with which capital he engaged in bust
ness for himself. on the corner of Chauncey and
summer streets, Boston. This, although al
most a financial ruin, only inspired him to
greater exertions in another department of
business. Going to New York with o., intro
duction to Daniel Drew, he came upon the road
to fortune and celebrity. His first connection
with Drew was in relation to the Stoninpton
line of steamers and though quarrel soon SEN
arated them, and FISK went into Wall street
alone, yet he had learned well his lesson from
the old veteran.
FISK hrst venture in Wall street was disas-
trous. What money he had brought thither
was soon gone, but his characteristic audaeitv
was with him, and he was soon on his feet again
with his losses retrieved, as member of the
hrm OF Bedding, Fisk & Co. His next appear-
ance was as director of Erie in which his
subsequent course is familiary to the public. It
mas peen constant stand-up fight with nor
ZION OF the shockholders,-a fight waged with
d Vlrnlence and luminosity never before eaualled.
but whatever the stockholders might saw. tho
ROAD as public accommodation constantly i'm
proved under his management From a dan
gerous, poorly built and shabbily eouipped con.
Germ, he made it one of the safest. the most
vo'nihoouoas and the most elegantly furnished
.ines IN the country. He bought palace for
i'S omces' and there set up an Opera House.
Ior winch he imported managers and PLAYERS
ran II, IN connection with his other enterprises,
WIN great success. Fisk's purchase in 1868 of
tne magnificent Bristol line of steamers. and
subsequently of the Newport line, which he
consolidated with the other, under the mama of
the Narragansett Steamship Company and
connected with the Erie Railroad by his splen-
dld line OF North River ferry boats, was anotb-
er step IN his plan to provide grand tbrouob
ilne OF luxurious transportation for the travel.
ing puDnc, and the almost regal splendor il.
Which ne carried out this plan is known to all
us subsequent purchase and refittin, of Tim
Long Branch boats, and his management of
tnose floating palaces, are also fresh in the MIND
OF every one.~ His varied Steamboat ;nteras,s
gave him the soubysqaet of Admiral which ba
Favored and aided by wearing the full nnifor,,,
OF that rank, upon the docks and on board Ii
boats. He further carried ont tho co., -
by putting all his subordinates in a sort of half
""'"i' nan yacheman uniform, which was not
ohiy picturesque, but a great convenience to
travellers, IN indicating the province of each
employee. Yet with his railroad and the ac-
companylng score Of lawsuits on his hands his
opera House, with quarrelling managers and
MS steamboat line, with constant competition
FISK yet had time to plan and carry out schemes
winch would any one of them. have occup;ed
the brain of a less extraordinary man. to tho
| exclusion of all else.
Ills connection with the corner in gold, of the
famous Black Friday" has never been fn,,v
explained, IN spite of the Congressional inyes
agauon, although it is known that he was one
OF the leaders in the greatest financial qamblino
operation of the day. The story of those few
Gays stands alone in the history of Wall straet
Although Fisk lost heavily, as is sunnosed
nothing appeared to cripple him. and his enter,
prises were pushed as vigorously as erer. The
Nhi'n regiment OF the New York National
Guard having run down to very low ebb. be-
ing poor IN members and bankrupt in treasury,
invited FISK to become its colonel. He accent
ed, and poured out his money like water in its
behalf He purchased for it snowy uniform.
organized an immense and powerful band; re-
erults, OF course, tioeked to its standard and
Ool' James Fisk, Jr, became the most nrom;
nent military man of the metropolis, while his
regiment rose to the first position in the coun-
try as show corps.
!, On two occasions, at least Fisk has turned
ms energies to the organization of cbarties
the first in Boston on the occasion of tba hattfo,
OF Antietam, and the second when the conntr,s
was startled with the magnitude of the Cbicas..
hre. On both of these occasions he made Ms
personal power conspicuous.
WIN Col. Fisk's personal appearance every
one IS familiar. Photographs and caricatnress
have made it especially So He was rather
above the middle height, though his leshness.
verglng on corpulency made him appear rather
short Short. He had a well-formed head, a keen
blush grey eye, ford complexion and blonde
nalI and moustache, His manners were free,
sessed the faculty of making hosts Of e wppn,
ana enthusiastic personal friends. He was one
OF the most prominent features on the streets
o! New York, and will be greatly missed bv
visitors, g Ua1l ~SN, Wy