The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-10

only; his Boston hackers, Josiah Bard.
well, John S. Eldridge and General
Whitney. among others, having with
drawn. But he had powerful assist.
ance from the Tammany Ring, one oil
whom became q director OF the road.
BLACK FRIDAY
will ever be remembered, as Fisk and
the Erie road as our readers will
recollect, were concerned in il. After
the storm had blown over Congress in
stituted an investigation into the causes
and circumstances OF the gold corner,
and Fisk was summoned before the
investigating committee at Washing.
ton. His testimony was remarkable,
but it will be chiefly remembered by
his expression, now so well worn,
GONE WHERE rHE wooDBISE rwINETu.
Fisk's purchase OF the mammoth
building formerly known as Pixies
Opera House, on the corner OF Twenty
third street and Eighth avenue. for the
sum OF $S50,000, was one OF his bold
ventures. He leased the front building
and saloon to the Erie road, for twenty
wears at an annual rent OF Si5, 200, and
magnificent offices were at once fitted
up in il for the use OF the officers OF the
corporation; the theatre he managed
himself while he let the stores advsn-
tageously. 1t was a profitable invest
ment. Not content with this venture,
and his craving for property being still
unsatisfed, he managed 10 get himself
elected
COLONEL OF THE NINTH
regiment Of the New York State Ma
tiOual Guard, when, in April. 1870,
Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General
Wilcox retired from the command.
This gave him an opening as military
man oil which he availed himself TO the
utmost to the advantage OF the regi-
ment and his own credit.
Fisk resigned the Vice Presidency OF
the Erie railroad on the 10th OF October
last, but was Immediately reelected by
the votes OF his supporters. He has
been married for about fourteen years,
but the marriage was untruitful. His
wife is Miss Lucy D. Moore, Spring.
field girl OF rare beauty.
INCIDENTS OF His CAREER.
In the strange, eventful history OF
the extraordinary man who on yester.
day morning bade farewell to life, its
pomps and vanities. there were many
remarkable chapters. 1t would he
strange indeed were it not so, for no
man can rise in few years from com
parative insiguiicance to great wealth
and wide celebrity without the per
formance OF acts bearing the stamp Of
genius.
The story OF the elder Rotschild's
journey from Brussels to London after
he had been assured OF the overthrow
Of Napoleon at Waterloo, and OF his
immense and successful speculations
there in consequence, is well known.
But James Fisk, Jr., conceived and
executed an equally brilliant stroke at
the close OF our war OF the rebellion,
the particulars Of which, we think,
have never yet been published. With
that sagacity which distinguished him
in all his career, Fisk saw that when,
on the ID OF April, 1865, General Lee
was driven from Petersburg, his surren.
der could not be far distant.
A BRILLIANT IDEA.
lie Immediately went to Boston, con.
suited with some OF his financial friends
and made them partnerr in his scheme.
This was to get the news OF the surren-
der OF Lee and collapse Of the confeder-
acy for use on Change in London in AL
vance OF the mail. It will be remem-
bered that the Atlantic cable was not
then laid. A small, swift, steamer, for
merly blockade runner was purchased,
fitted out and sent to Halifax in ballast.
Neither the captain nor officers OF the
steamer knew her destination. The
secret OF her mission WAS solely con
fided to an agent OF Fisk, who was the
only passenger on board.
STEAM WAS KEPT UP
day and night, and everything was kept
in readiness for a start across the At
lantic. Days went by, and still the
steamer lay quietly in the harbor Of
Halifax, awaiting the expected message
from Fisk. At last it came II James
Fisk, Jr, had tried his best he could not
have indited shorter dispatch II
was dated at Boston. signed Fisk, and
con tained but one word
co.
The blockade rnnner started for
Queenstown Immediately and got there
two days ahead Of the mail steamer
The agent speeded across Ireland to
London aud commenced his operations
Before twenty.four hours he sold short
(that il, sold what be had not got)
100000 in Confederate bonds. lie
had orders from Fisk TO sell as long az
Re could get buyers, bat was restrained
by partner OF one Of the Boston men,
who was cured with prudence. But
the operation was pretty successful; the
Syndicate" divided between 5000, 900
and $4,0O)0)0, the proceeds OF the
speculation. This was a lift for
James Fisk, Jr, which was very vel
come.
VANDERBILT EUCHERED.
Another incident in his career illus.
trates his fertility Of resource when
closely cornered by powerful oppo.
neut. Vanderbilt had grown jealous Of
Fisk and determined 10 crush him.
The readiest way to do that he thought
would be by destroying the business OF