The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-01-27
1onaloson6llle Cbief.
Fisk's Early Life.
IFrom the New York World.l

tain State, of parents the mOdesty OF
whose resources have been well under
stood, whatever is believed of the in
tegrity of their lives, and shot down
beneath the roof of a marble palace
by an ancient partner in revels II not
in crimes, the career OF James Fisk,
Jr., so varied and so wonderful, was
interrupted last night by startling
act. not wholly out of keeping with
the strange drama of his life. In that
eventful history there were many
strange scenes, and though the most
remarkable of them have been enact
ed in few years, there has been a
period in his life, from his native
cabin to his acquired palaces, which
is not full of incidents next TO impos-
sible under any other civilization but
our own.
A peddler, he was the son of Yer
mont peddler, but before adopting
the profession of his father he saw
life, and acquired manners and eXpe-
rience by making the grand tour OF
the States, not, indeed, as those who
occupy as much of mems thoughts i'll
other countries as he did in this are
accustomed to travel in their youth.
He was satisfied to travel with the
rowing menagerie of Van Amburgh,
in the more than humble position OF
a caretaker, whose highest occupa-
ton was to erect the tents and clean
out the filthy cages of the wild ami
mails. His employer, recognizing his
tact, advanced him to the somewhat
more elevated position of ticket seller,
and as such he travelled with Van
Amburgh for eight years. When
twenty five years of age, he returned
to his fathers town, BrattleborO, Yer
aont, and became peddler. His
first speculations were not very re-
markable. One biogfapher is author
ity for the fact that they were con-
fined to the sale of pencils and pens
on the sidewalks of the streets of diff
ferent Vermont towns. Subsequently
he rose to that point of success which
is marked by horse and wagon.
This enabled him to invest in higher
class of goods and to make more rapid
and extensive excursions. Associated
with his father, they soon extended
their trade through New England and
Western New York. Their principle
was to sell excellent articles at mod
crate prices. Everywhere the advent
of the future financier was hailed by
the ladies of New England. who, with
cannieness of their section, and the
taste of their sex, sought prudent
dent purchases. He endeavored to
supply handsome material at pos
sible profit, and far-wide the fame of
the Fisks, senior and junior, travelled
as that of trustworthy merchants.
The wholesale house from which he
made his purchases thought they had
found a likely salesman in james iu-
NOR, and as good thing for their
house offered him a partnership. II
it was good for them it might be
equally so for him, and he accepted.
On the whole his surlnise was correct;
it was a very much better engage
ment for him than for them. After
some difficulties which were tided
over by prudent war contracts made
by him, one of which was the sale OF
some Southern cotton at one dollar
and eighty cents per pound, the
house of Jordan, Marsh g. Co., offered
him sixty -four thousand dollars fol
his interest in their establishment.
Boston was not quite the place for his
energy, and not unlike many Massa-
chusetts Archimedes he thought he
could shake the Western world, if he
could but control the fulcrum, New
York. Marsh's money and his owl
savings would give him a start, ant
he closed with this offer. Delaying
for time in Boston, but with mo-
much success, he at last came from
the Massachusetts Mantau to thu
great metropolis. Men come to New
York every day and many go TO Wal
street, but, as Mr.. Fisk said, some
what profoundly it must be admitted
to a World correspondent last August
I" 1t is not every man that goes in wht
wins ~ and Mr.. Fisk was one of thos,
men who, visiting New York, went il
Wall street and came out loser. HI,
is understood to have registered ;
sincere VOW that as g Wall street hat
ruined him, Wall street should pa,
for it, Empty boast for pennies
and unsuccessful adventurer, but still
one which neither his failure nor hi
restitution prevented him carryin.
out to the fullest extent of his pre-
dietion. Knowing that Daniel Drey
was interested in the purchase of tn,
Bristol line of steamers, he sought hi
acquaintance and became his instru
inent in the purchase of that flotilla
$ Daniel recognized Jim's ability
and thought he would give him
chance, and the firm of Fisk & Beldel
did much for Daniel on the street
Fisk rapidly acquired fortune, an,
in an onceivably short space o
time from the period of his complet
failure he had put together large
bank account than ever. For good o
for i'll this sealed Jim's devotion t,
Wall street, if he ever seriously pur
posed leaving it. When, in October
1867, the great Erie contest between
the MISUNDERSTANDING parties ant
Drew resulted in the defeat of TIL