New-York tribune., 1875-12-25
sTROUsBERG,S CAREER.
THE STORY OF HIS RISE ASD FALL.


| (yaoH TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRiBUsEi
| Byp,rv Nov. IO-The career Of Or. stronsberg IN
not mike that of RastOn Of California IN its short
and dazzling brilliancy even il il be less tragic IN
what promises To be Its close. He was prooably
Iess accomplished man than Ralston, and certainty
less honest one. He never enjoyed 80 Berlin such
| resources Of money or Of public confidence as tho
other had in San Francisco. That imperial breadth
OF conception, that magnificent show of public
spirit, that impressive association of personal aims
with national ends, winch half redeem the errors
of Raston formed part of Strousbergs character
OF policy He was at the best daring and unscru-
! pulous speculator whose schemes would have been
only incidentally Of public benefit His railways
we're poorly built, his mines were ndifferently
worked. He ends his career, too, not with the
dramatic effect Of Ralston, but hike vulgar swind-
Ter in Russian Jail, while pawnbrokers are specu-
lating with his wifes jewels. In spite however II
these points of dissmilarty, the two men and their
two careers must suggest comparison to many
observers.
Strousberg il Polish Jew by birth. | think the
paternal signature was Stransberg, but viii not
add with postiveness the crime Of false spelling TO
the more serious offenses Of which the Spectator
has since become guilty. The change dates probably
from his long residence in London, where the SIM
plest way of writing patronymics s looked on with
disfavOr. He had an uncle in London possessing
some influence in business circles, who helped IN
many ways aud doubtless assisted him IN winning
his English wife. About twenty years ago Strons-
berg was sent 10 Berlin rs agent Of the Albert Life
Insurance Company and there doubtless learned
some Of the financial devices that have puzzled more
conservative Observers In those days of honest toll
he was very poor. Neither nc nor his wife had any
fortune and the income from the insurance business
seems to have barely kept them from actual want.
Sn1I u haarned tlpm
railways were 10 be built in Prussia and the
tracts for them awarded 10 Thomas Bra~@ey,
the great English capitalist. Strousberg who spoke
both English and German, won perhaps b his aDIl-
ity and enterprsing spirit the confidence of Brassey
and was made his chief representative and business
agent in Prussia. From that time his career was
made His service under Brassey initiated him into
railroad enterprises and enabled him to master the
art OF securing investments.
The enthusiastic confidence shown by some men
and some institutions in strousberQs enterprises
in curious contrast 20 the aud skeptcism Of
the Bank of Prussia. Up 10 about year ago
this institution would not take his paper even in
dorsed bv the two names which its rules require.
That the better class OF capitalists here always dis
trusted him, is shown in the comparatively small
losses now made known. With the Discount So
ciety which was for several years his chief financial
support he enjoyed unlimited credit and the au-
thority of that institution may have helped him
abroad, where the prudence of German banking was
proverbal.
In the various localities where his enterprises
conducted he seems to have impressed people as an
unselfsh public benefactor. In Roumania he stood
next in honor and dignity 70 the Prince himself. At
Bubua near Prague, the very peasants were ready
up 10 the moment Of the crash u put their
small savings at his command. In Moscow, one OF
the most prosperous and most prudent concerns, the
Commercial Bank OF Loans, seems practically 20
have given him the key its vaults without any
check or security whatever. species Of fanaticism
took away the reason of All who were honored by
his promissory notes The man could borrow mil
lions while his notes for hundreds were daily pro-
tested at Berlin. Strousberg is short, stout man,
active and decided in his manner, giving an impress
sion of talent, energy, and power. No one could
meet him without being struck by his appearance.
The oarnestness of his Self-assertion, the daring
magnidcence of his schemes carried everything be-
fore him. AT Moscow, while the stockholders of the
Commercial Bank were just deciding 10 throw hIm
overheard, he walked into the room, as Loais XIV.
into the Parliament Of Paris, and demanded ar once
new loan Of S1,36O, 600 He living at the
Hotel Dessaix with suit Of rctainers, az cost Of
S1O2 per day. When arrested and taken 10 the
debtors prison he had just S29 available money in
his pocket.
prenelt the Germans an UntrHehme, and what Wa
would call an undertaken if we had not per-
yerted that word into a limited and wholly gro
tesgue sense. He was a contractor. He built rail-
ways. bought and worked mines founded vast
industrial establishments, and took care always 20
gain money for himself if not for his creditors and
associates Just how large private fortune he had
acquired not known, for he was always submerged
in mortgages and notes. But he managed to organ
ize and support costly establishment at Berlin
where his home noninally is, and everything that
could he transferred appears tn have been made
over to his wife If the newspapers be correct she
has acted like a true woman and wife. A mine which
she owned in her own name, and which
was worth 81 800 600. she sold some time ago. and
put the proceeds into her husbands enterprises Nor
was this al. When the crash came she was az their
country-seat Zbirow near Prague, and she promptly
sold her Jewels and other treasures in value nearly
S75. .OOO and sent that money TO him. After his
arrest she started at FOR Moscow 70 effect ms
release The poor woman, who had Just been living
in a castle like a princess, was obliged TO borrow
money to pay her railway fare. 1t is -taget that az
the station, where hundreds of men thrown ont Of
work and many Of them ruined by her husbands
catastrophe were assembled, she treated with
respect and silent sympathy. The incident deserves
notice The devotion of the poor woman 70 her hus-
band the single bright feature in this Of
preense of swindling and Of shame, and is srati
fving 10 learn that the rough peasants Of B0-
hemia can appreciate the fact
After the affair Of the Roumanian railways which
threw "A temporary cloud over the phi ant ropis'P
fame, he removed to LoLduu. II Nas even rlmored
thai he had retired from business They who ac-
cepted sacl a theory knew Ltile OF the u.1- rest
less nature for about year ago hc returned. aud IN
a short time again deep N variety 4 en-
terprises. AZ Bubna. near Prague, above men,
toned, he began scheme which wac brilliant ia