Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-19
INCIDENTS Nv THE LIFE OF
FISK.

ey from BRUSSELS to London after he had
been assured Of the overthrow of Napoleon
at Waterloo, and of his immense and sue
cessful specuations there in consequence,
is well known. But James Fisk, Jr., con-
ceived and executed an equally brilliant
stroke at the close of our war of the rebel
lion, 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 End
of April, 1865, General Lee was driven
from Petersburg his surrender could not
be far distant.
He Immediately went to Boston, consult
ed with some Of his financial friends and
made them partners in his scheme. This
was to get the news OF the surrender Of
Lee and collapse of the confederacy for use
on Change in London In advance of the
mail. 1t will be remembered that the At
lantic cable was not then laid. A small,
swift steamer, formerly blockade runner,
was purchased, fitted out and sent to Hall
fax in ballast. Neither the captain nor
officers of the steamer knew her destna-
tion. The secret of her mission was solely
confided to an agent of Fisk, who was the
only passenger on board Steam was kept
up day and night, and everything was in
readiness for a start across the Atlantic.
Days went by, and still the steamer lay
quietly in the harbor of Halifax, awaiting
the expected message from Fisk. At length
1t came. If James Fisk, Jr., had tried his
best he could not have ndited a shorter
dispatch. 1t was dated at Boston, signed
Fisk and contained httto Go
The blockade runner started for Queens
town Immediately and got there two days
ahead of the mail steamer. The agent
speeded across Ireland to London and COM
menced his operations. Before twenty
four hours elapsed he sold "short' (that is,
sold what he had not got) S., OOO, 900 in Con-
federate bonds. He had orders from Fisk
to sell as long as he could get buyers, but
was restrained by partner of one of the
Boston men who was cursed with prudence.
But the operation was pretty successful;
the Syndicate" divided between S3,OOO,-
600 and 81, 100000 the proceeds of the "spec-
ulation." This was liz for James Fisk,
Jr., which was very welcome.
Another incident in his career illus rates
his fertility of resource when closely corn
cred by powerful opponent. Vanderbilt
bad grown jealous of Fisk and determined
to crush him. The readiest way to do that
he thought would be by destroying the
business of the Erie railroad. With this
end in view he issued an order lowering
the rates on freight from Chicago and ask
ed Erie to do likewise. Fisk assen:ed and
cattle were consequently brought from the
Wasf in nj no nd oil Nv
special agreement the rates on Vanderbit's
line and on Fisk's were made uniform.
After a few weeks, however, Vanderbilt
showed his hand. Giving the Erie officers
short notice he broke faith with Fisk and
announced that for twenty days the freight
on the Central Railroad for cattle from Chi
cago would be S1.60 per head instead OF 81.
He expected to crush Erie by this move,
but he reckoned without Fisk. The latter
made no alteration on the rate on the Erie
road, but quietly directed his agent in the
West to purchase 10000 head of cattle and
send them by Vanderblts route. The
cattle were soon purchased, and Fisk had
the pleasure of seeing Vanderbilt carrying
freight for him for less than the cost of run
ming the trains. OF course the Commodore
soon grew tired of fighting against such
odds, and the rates were again raised to
those of the Erie. Fisk cleared 500, 900 by
this transaction, direct from the Central.
But this was not the full extent of the dam
age done the Commodore. When the Cen
tral was blocked with Fisks 40, 900 head of
cattle the Erie was open and carrying other
freight at its own rates.
Risk apDaaraI In ha nj l. laca in
his conduct toward his opponents but it
was only in appearance. He was really
sharper than the best of his legal advisers.
When the great litigation was ut its height
it was stated that the Erie officers were
watering the stock of the road-that is,
issuing extra certificates of stock TO an un-
limited extent. The Vanderbilt interest in
the suit obtained an injunction from Judge
Balcomb restraining the president, vice
president, secretary and treasurer OF the
Erie Railway Company from signing the
certificates of stock which were ready for
issuance. This was Il damper on the hopes
of Fisk and his colleagues but the cum
ming Vice President soon discovered way
OF deliverance. Fisk got his council to get
out a legal document which would have
the effect of compelling him Fisk and the
other officers of the road to do their duty.
And he directed it to be done, and 1t was
done, in this manner Application was
made to Judge Gilbert, in Brooklyn, on
behalf OF the directors of the Erie Railway
Company, for an order restraining the
officers of the company from refusing to do
their duty. Judge Gilbert issued the order.
II Xae snmathin1 nau, in la az anI u,. o.lI