The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-10
The Story OF HIS Life as Told ny One
OF Fisix'S intimate Friends.
70 he Editor Of The World


Fisk, ,Tr. He was q man who had great
abhorrence Of all hypocrisy, and whose theo-
ry of life it was to show to the world his
worst side, and TO conceal very carefully all
his good qualities 'front.' public knowledge.
He was oStcntatious of his faults, and never
| could be persuaded to do anything III public,
except OIL rare occasions, such as that
Of the Chicago fire, which would lead
| the public to believe him TO be the
generous and larse-hcartcd man he
| really was. Daring the last four or five
wears Of his lie in which it has been gene
rally supposed that he lived in style OF TN
cN:.mplcd luxury and spent enormous
amounts OH his personal enjoyment, the truth
was that except his four-in-iand and his box
NJ the theatre, and one or two matters Of that
| kind. which all the world knows about, he
| lived in much more simple style than three
lour;hs Of the persons who have his income.
At the time of his death, and for a long time
previous, he lived in little two-story house
Of the piaincSt kind--rather dilapidatcd-oc-
cupyinS only two rooms in it, and the only
real luxury III Which he INDUCED was
the luxury Of unusual cleanliness. He
was probably one of the most scru-
puIo,l>ly neat and clean persons that ever
| lived. His personal expenses were, ut
Il liberal estimate, not on>iitth rs large rs the
amount which he spent In providing for per.
sous in whose affairs hc took kindly inter-
est, who had seen misfortune in life and
whom he felt TO he dependent upon him for
assistance. He gave away constantly enor-
nous amounts in still more direct charities,
concerning which lie rarely spoke to any one,
and il vas only by accident that even his
most intimate friends found out what he was
doing. He supported for some years an el-
tire family of blind persons without ever
saving word about it to his nearest friends.
He was particularly generous towards actors
and actresses, who, whenever they suffered
from misfortune, would always appeal to him.
Nlr. Fi>k'S early career has been set forth
in exaggerated form very frequently and
hardly needs TO DC rcc!tcd here. 1t is not,
however, generally known that he was left
in charge of good old farmer and his wife
in the town Of rouml, VT, when he WAS
quite II little child, and remained with them
; until he was well grown up boy. When
James was five years old his guardian sent
him to district school, where, after few
days, the school-mlster thought it necessary
to punish the little fellow for some misde.
meanor. Which went 50 grievoisly to tho
heart Of the cid farmer that lie never would
send him to school again, so that James
crew TO be ten years old without knowing
how to read or write, His father then caused
him to receive some little education but
, this, Of course, was very imperfect; and he
soon launched into life for himself. HI
was q peddler in massachusetts and Yer
mont, aud the old ladies' of Western MasSg
chuSctts often speak Of the handsome four
horse team which he used to drive, and tht
excellent goods which he brought round tt
them, very much superior to anything whicl
they could obtain in country stores. Aftel
this he settled iii Boston, and received III:
business training in the house Of J. VI: Beeb,
Il Co., who at that time were the most noteC
dry goods dealers III that city. Mr.. Fisl
used often to tell with gllSto how Mr.. Beebe
when he had S2e, 900 to raise for days pay
mcnt. would, III those early days, devote
whole day tojt, and with what awe the clerk
. would listen to the sigh Of relief with wl;cl
their good chief announced that the days la
bors had been successfully concluded. ,00'
in those days was as much thought OF q
t &l,GGU, 900 would be i'll these. Mr.. Fisk thel
5 entered the establishment of Jordan, Narsl
: l. Co., and very soon, by his remarkable
e abilities. commanded the entire confidence 0
the house, and was taken into partnership
Unto his death they were his wal1ncSt friends
He was sent South by them during the war
and landed in New Orleans with Genera
Butler, passing through many remarkable
adventures with the army, which he fire
quently accompanied on its expeditions. A
tie close OF the war he dissolved partnership
with Jordan, Marsh 6 Co. and came to New
= York, where, as Il protcgG Of Daniel Drew
y he ser up business in partnership with vii
: liam Bclden.
The firm of Fisk g. Bclden made many
[ large ventures, and did also an immense com
mission business. Mr.. Fisk has been hcart
So to say, in Illustration of the eTlanimity will
which he was prepared to endure any re
verses that might afterwards befall him, thai
one Monday morning he opened busincs:
with Il lank account of $500, 900, and on Sat
urday night had lost every dollar Of it, an(
that he slept just as soundly that night as ht
had done OH any night Of bis life. He very
soon reviewed his losses and became known
as 4 successful operator. Indeed, the firm
never failed upon the street. It being TIT
object Of this narrative to mention incident
about Fisk which are not generally known
: it is not necessary here to refer particularl,
to his advent into the direction Of the Eli
Railway Company or Of the Nal1agalSct
Steamship Company.
AN ANCIDEST ~ HIS LIFE.
James Fisk, Jr., conceived and executed
brilliant stroke at the close Of the late wa
between the States the particulars Of which
have never yet been published. With tha
) sagacity which distinguished him in all hi
: career Fisk saw that when, on the 2d o
i, April, 1865, General Lee was driven from
Petersburg bis surrender could not be Ia
distant. He Immediately went to Boston
!; consulted some of his financial friends, ailt
!, made them partners in hi. scheme. This wa
to get the news of the surrender of Lee ant
collapse Of the Confedercy for use OF
'Change in London in advance Of the mail
1t will be remembered that the Atlantic cable
was not then laid. 4 small, swift steamer
formerly blockade-runDer, was purchased
fitted out, and sent to Halifax in ballast
, Neither the captain nor the officers OF tn
steamer knew her destination. The sccre
Of her mission was solely contidcd to al
agent of Fisk, who was the only passenger
. on board.
Steam was kept up day and night, an(
everything was in readiness for start acros.
the Atlantic. DAYS went by, and still tht
steamer lay quietly in the harbor Of Halifl,
awaiting the expected message from Fisk
At length il came. If James Fisk, jr., hat
tried his best he could not have inditcd {
shorter dispatch. 1t was dated at Boston
signed Fisk, and contained but one word
"Gor' The blockade-runner started fol
Queenstown Immediately, and got there two
days ahead of the mail steamer. The agent
sDecded across Ireland to London and COM
menced his operations. Before twenty-foui
hours clapsed he had sold "sh0lt" THAT is
sold what he had not got,) S, 900, 900 in Con
fcderate bonds. He had orders from Fisk ft
sell us long as he could get buyers, but 'faS
restrained by partner of one of the Boston
mon who >vaS pIrsnd with 1,rlI1enpp. Bit