The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-02-02


teriDg with spangies aud turning
somersaults, apparently as much for
his own amusement as that of large
circle of spectators. He is first, last
and always man Of theatrical effects
of grand transformations and blne
fire. All the world is TO him literally
a stage, and he the best fellow who
can shift the scenes the fastest, dance
the longest, jump the highest aud
rake up the biggest pile.
HIS WHOLE BUSINESS CAREER
Has been n series of scenic hits and
stage metamorphoses. His first ap-
pearance was as the Prince Of ped
dlers in New England. Ills wagon
was magnificent; his four horses sleek
and mettlesome. At different points
in his triumphal progress through the
rural districts he was met by train
OF his srbalterns, who filed the sheds
of the country inns with their wagons,
held audiance with their chief and
obeyed his orders. His next appear
ance was dry goods merchant,
member of the well known house of
Jordon, Marsh IL Co Then quickly
the scene changes once more and he
looms up as
A STOCK BROKER IS NEW YORK,
With a capital Of $4,000, the profits
Of his season of merchandising. His
Office in Broadway street was ban
quoting hall, where he presided over
tables which groaned daily with the
most sumptuous lunches. From this
period Of time (ls65) there has always
been in the turbulent stream OF Erie
an under current and an upper whirl
of James Fisk, Jr. Uncle Daniel vel.
coined him Tor perhaps we should say
his bank account), patted him upon
the back, indoctriDed him into the
mysteries of pools (of course always
in Erie), gave him paternal hing,
during which James saw his pile
growing small by degrees and beauti-
fully less, and early in 1868, as he
told a friend, he was
NOT WORTH 4 DOLLAR IS TIE WORLD.
Six months after this the scene
changed again, with much rumbling
and the shifting of blazing and many
colored lights, and he stands forth
with million dollars at his bankers,
THE HIGH CONTROLLER OF ERIE,
A general theatrical manager, a
steamboat potentate-in fact, Prince
Erie James Jubilee Admiral James
Fisk. Jr. Now the scenes shift swift
ly-the eye can hardly follow them
first to Wall street where, to use his
own words, "he made Rome howl"
in the Erie ring of November, 1868;
then 10 the Courts; then to the Office
of the Union Pacific Railway Com
pany, amid the hammering in of great
salamander sales with ponderous
sledges; then back to Wall street
amid the growlings of a thousand
bears and the believing of rs many
bulls, in the great gold ring of Sep
tember, 1863; then in the Courts
once more, tarnpering with the Com
modore's iron chest, all the while the
voices of his enemies raining
oDiUM AND CURSES
Upon him, which fell off like water
from ducks back, as he drives on
his dozen teams. railroads, steamboats,,
theaters, pools, contracts, political
combinations, etc, as imperturably rs
a farocroupier, and as .cool as q
couple of summer mornings" Bold
ness! boldness! Twice, thrice and
four times. Impudence cheek |
brass. unparalleled, unapproachable,
sublime! Perhaps the strong point
of this was in
THE PHYSIQUE,
So robust, so hale, so free from the
shadow of every optic arrangement.
His boldness, nerve and business ca
pacity are supplied by this physique,
which also supplies him with animal
spirits beyond measure. He is con-
tinually boiling over with jokes, good,
bad and Indifferent. Once, when he
and his father were
PEDDLING GOODS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
An old woman charged Fisk, Senior,
with having deceived her as to the
value of a piece of calico worth twelve
and one have cents.
"Well, now" said Fisk, Jr., "I don't
think father would tell a lie for twelve
and half cents, though he might tell
eight of 'em for a dollar He always
seems to look upon
HIS OPERATIONS IN WALL STREET
No matter how large they may have
been, as gigantic splitting farce.
After the great gold break of 1869,
one B, broker, called upon him
at the Erie Railroad office, for the
purpose Of rendering to him 100000
gold, which he claimed to have sold
him. Now, as this amount of gold
would weigh something like a ton,
Fisk was well aware that B had
not brought it with him, and, there
fore, the tender could not be legal
So, as soon as B stated what he
came for. Fisk promptly replied =
"Certainly, Mr.. b, we will take
the gold. Here, John, (calling to an
attendant), go down and help Mr..
B. to bring up his gold" Poor
Mr.. b, not having brought his
ton of gold with him, could only look
sheepish and retire.
BLACK FRIDAY.
Fisk was one of the principal con-
spirators in the celebrated gold COR
ner of September "a, 1869, or "black
Friday" The extent of the opera
tions Of the clique at that time can be
best understood by a few figures
The calls, or options for the delivery
of gold by other parties, and the cash
gold which they held, was stated to
be from S80,OUO, 900 to $4,000 600