The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-10

SatlS atl lDS way UP stahs WIN w -,
and when asked my generous friend WIN
made her whistle 80 happily, he said !" by,
I keep her whist!ing SO she can't CIT VIZ
raiSins out Of the cake"
rarecr rra millionaire FiDaDcior-ffe
weyerxcs md Successes Of the ifesi-
dor, of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Ten Millions made III
Three Years.
AR Alden B. Stockwc'l. the president OF
thc Pacific Mail Steamship Company, over
whose affairs rumor has been very BUSY IN
;hc money mart and club-hotlses during tic
rast few days, or since The companys STOCK
began to deprcciate, is ono OF the most
prominent spectators in Wall street: al.
though comparatively unknown outside OF
financial circles, lie Is q central figure among
the milonaires on Change. Within the
short space OF three years he has presented an
example of pecuniary success far exceeding
the expectations of the most sanguine wor-
shippers of Mamnon. From ordinary cir
c,unstances he has risen to be the possessoi
of fabulous wealth, and to share with Jay
Gould and Henry n. Smith the reputation
of being the most wealthy among the active
operators on the street. His deeds of none
tary daring have been numerous and note
worthy, and have been conducted on scale
Of greater magnitude than those of the yete-
rams on the stock market-like Commodore
Vanderbilt and Uncle Daniel Drew never
dreamed of undertaking.
Mr.. Stockwell is of humble pareDtage, his
| father being ut one time i'll the livery stable
business in Cleveland, Ohio, where the great
steamship manager was born. lie Is about
thirty-fivc years Of age. The turning point
in His career, which had previously been
quiet aud uucYcntful. occurred in 1860 while
lie was acting rs purSer on one OF The Poto-
mac river boats. On one Of the vessels
trips down the river from Washington the
late Elias Howe, of Connecticut, the distIn-
.liished inventor of the seWlDG-machinc,
was II passenger, with his eldest daughter in
his company. Young St0chWell was very
attentive and con>ilerate of the comfort OF
Mr.. and Miss Howe, and extended more than
the customary courtesies to them. The ac-
GuaintaGce which was then formed between
the purscr and the HoWes was renewed in
the following year in Paris, where the father
and daughter went for their health. The fu-
turc millionaire was quick TO journey after
them to tue French capital, alter collecting
ali the money ut his command to enable him
to travel i'll style. On his arrival there be
laid siege to the affections of the young lady.
and was not long i'll obtaining her consent to
their marriage. Mr.. Howe's sanction was
secured, and they were welded with much
ccldt. They tarricd amid their nuptials and
then returned to this country.
Subsequently Mr.. Howe'S second dauSh-
ter was introduced to Mr.. Stockwclps bro
ther, Colonel Levi Il. St0ckWcll, and before
many months q new match had been formed.
i Il n lnft 1,sn
property to lis two daughters. Soon after
this event Mr.. StockWell threw himself into
tue arena of the bulls and bears.
AT first he confined himself to small invest
ments, but gradually launched into heavier
and more colossal operations. Pacific Mail
was his iayurte stock. and under his manipu.
l.tiou it commenced advancing rapidly in
value. He purchased share after share, and
made it an active stock. His ambition had
led linn to become Il director in the company.
After getting himself elected director he
aspired to the presidency OF the corporation,
TO which he also got himself chosen. Once
in the coveted seat, he began TO consider
how he could keep himself there without
| being obliged to carry the stock of the COM
| plny. 4 solution was presented in the Pam
| anna railway.
The stock CT this road was selling very low
| and Mr.. S,cckwcll seized on it as the iustrll-
| mcnt which was to keep him in control OF
| Pacific mail. He knew that the steamship
company was powcrle>s without railway, by
which It's passengers and freight were car
riel across the isthmuS, and that the posses
sion of its stock would enabIe him TO unload
| hiGIself OF Pacific mail, and at the same time
prevent his removal from the presidency.
/ lie therefore sold short Of Pacific mail, which
Henry y. Smith began buying in, in the
hope Of creating corner. The stock drop
ped several per cent, and after Smith had
secured the most Of it he contracted with
Mr.. Stockwell to sell il back at ninety in three
months. Before the contract could be ful-
filled tue northwestern gale swept over Wall
street and unexpectedly stranded Smith, who
was just as eager to get the Pacific mail OF
his hands as he was previously anxious to
carry it. Spectators say that Inc bcseeched
Stockwel with tears in his eyes to take il
back, and that il cost him bonus OF $500,
GOO before he could be released from tht
: contract.
The fortune Which Mr.. Stockwell has
amasscd from his different spcculations has
been yariou>ly estimated ut from eight to ten
million dollars. How much Of this he has lost
in the recent fluctuations in Pacific Mail i;
yet unknown.
In personal appearance Mr.. Stockwel is
medium sized, aud possesses penetrating
blue eye. He Weays Il mllstachc and flowing
English side-wIliskers Of red color. He i.
very quick and decided in his MANNER. His
house on Madison avenue, corner of Thirty
ninth street, is one of the most elegant and
costly in the city. 1t is furnished in style
of tie greatest grandeur. Even the Tenders
around the CRATES in the drawing-room are
of gold. Mr.. Stockwell lost his wife about a
year ago, and it is now reported in fashion
able quarters that he is engaged to Il we'll
| known New York belle