Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-01-18

fell from 72t to IS. They then ':watered
the Company's stock from '$34, 4,000, 900 to
$57 200, 600, and purchased Vanderbilt
stock with the proceeds Of sales at forty per
cent. Fisk is believed to have cleared, by
this transaction, over 3, ,l25, 900. ln july,
1868. the broke firm Of Fisk, b1lden 4
Co. was dissolved, and the two consplrsters
at e,ce set bout securing control OF the
Erie Road. To effect this, Fisk and Goud
prosecuted Mr.. Eldridge, the President, tor
ftxs3ulently ssiag ESQ, 900 OF the CoHpa
ny's meney TO secure the passage OF the biii
which had enabled them TO increase the
stock EEridge resigned at last, and Jay
Gould became President
From that time to the present, Fisk and
Gould almost owned the read, and the Pfoats
we're appropriated by them without any
reference TO the interests or wishes OF the
unfortunate holders Of stock.
But Fisk became more notorious tor his
s'Blsck Friday" operations than ssy one OF
the ipounerable schemes he set GU foot. A
Ring was formed which absolute control
vas obtained of ali the salabie gosd IN the
market, and the consequence wss corner
m gold on Friday, Sept. "a, 1869. The re-
suit was a panic in Wall-stleet, gold sudden
" sprsng from I42 to lG0, Fisk and Gould :
agents forcing the rate by bids until 1t was
found that the Ring possessed al OF the
available gold, and intended to hold 1t tor
q further advance. Everything seemed IN
favor Of the conspilstors, as 1t was believed
that the Government sales Of gold would not
relieve the market. The scenes In the Gold
room were extraordinary, for continuation
of the crisis for twenty-four hours meant
absolute ruin for ali Of the small operators;
as well as usany of the leading firms. hlle
the panic was at It's height President Grant
ordered the sale Of 5000, 900 Of gold com,
and the rate dropped down to its old figure.
With characteristic efroutery, Fisk and his
eonfederstes repudated the majority Of the
engagements made by their agents, and
several failures were the result. This con
spiracy was an infamous one, and IN any
other city would pro badly have led to the
Imprisonment Of the leaders. -.
Fisk. however had become identified with
the Tsmmany Ring Txeel and Sweeney
were Erie Directors, and coTup Jtsige>
enabled Fisk to escape the clutches OF the
law. As an instance Of Fisk dishonest
manner Of business, it Is only necessary 70
cite his Opera house speculation. hen
the over-issue Of Erie stock gave HIM con
troll Of an immense amount OF the shares,
he purchased Pixies Opera-house for $50
600 In the name Of the Erie Company, but
they, not liking the bargain, he assumed
the purchase, reimburang the Company
with some of his watered stock. Sub>e
uueutly tie Company leased the upper part
of the building at an enormous rent, and
Fisk also dabbied 10 other property, among
which is the Eiith-arenue Theatre and
Central Park Garden, his Old experience "a
q Snowman making him banker after ItsccSs
of amusement.
Col Fix love Of fun and his transparent
frankpess Of nature made him ore of the
most smusiug of men he h.urtd out the
truth in q cood-nsturei, hum"luas WY,
without regard to cou>oau-uce>. he put oa
no airs. he made no prvte;tceS. he dl.:
no. AFFECT knowledge on subject Of which
he was ignor21t This trait xAs sMu>lUgty
developed VIXEN he w.s Solsc;t.i to take the
Coloaelcy of the Nath ltegis.:ut.
Il don't know ANYTHING sl.,ut military
matters, he seid. Il serer wv.s,t to g"'ter.
Of money by selling soldiers uuttor.us to
tn Government during the war, AMI that Is
all know about sold ierng.'
That makes no difference, rephed thc
committee: 1T is all pr;nt.-l in '-~- AMI
you can study upon IL, at y-str -t-arc.
How Dig bot& will | have ,u study
sAked the cunning Colonel.
On, not very large one, and you can
work into the rontine gradually
"A colonel has to ride on horseback,
doesn't he ~ asked the wsle-a~a&e Yankee.
Yes, sometimeS-once IN a while; but
that ism t anything, you know
''It isn't, eh? You can play that on me
] know all about rilng on horseback. IN
ike one Of our Erie locomotre>-I always
have tender behind. | n"ver rode on
horseback an hour in my life without having
to take nay meals from a mantelpiece for
three days afterward
The recent acts of Fisk require no ex
tended mention. In fact, the less Said the
better for his reputation His election As
militia Colonel and the shameless prohigacy
afforded new phases to his character though
they present no features Of interest, As
suming the command Of regiment while
ignorant of the duties OF the position, he
was only actuated by desire to obtain en-
trance TO respectable society-an effort
which proved decidedly unsuccessful. Bat
he met with a terrible end for his shame
ful use Of power, through influence oy,'
willing tools in the Judiciary, led him into
difficulty at last with man possessing the
same sort Of ambition, coupled with
wicked will to accomplish his own ends at
whatever cost The result was a tragedy
possessing no elements to excite sympathy
for any Of the actors.