The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-04-18
Wednesday. April Is. ls77.
John z. Tracy.

There is temptation to write OF Mr..
John f. Tracy as if his death had been an
nounced, and in the same spirit as an ooltua-
~ article would treat of citizen who had
occupied so conspicuous place before the
public The disaster which has overtaken
him is worse than death coming upon
man in the enjoyment of all his honors,
richly earned; there is probably little left
to Mr.. Tracy's life but the mechanical
process of breathing. With his position.
fortune, physical health, and mental vigor
all gone, he is so complete a wreck that
there is little left for death to take, We
say it in the kindliest spirit, For couple
of years it has been an open secret that
Mr., Tracy has been suffering from partial
softening of the brain, which, along with
other diseases, had rendered him unfit for
business. He went to Europe in the hope
that rest and change would restore him
his health, but for some months past his,
friends have had him under q sort of sur
veillance, convinced as they were that he
was scarcely capable of caring for himself,
and apprehensive of some calamity overtak-
ing him through his own indiscretions. He
remained president of the Rock Island
road only nominally, aud his recent heavy
losses in New York stock gambling rem
dered his definite and public retirement
necessary to the interest of the road.
John L. Tracy was one of the railroad
pioneers of the west. The Rock Island
road was constructed under lis super
vision. and he has been the chief manager
of it's interests up to the failure of his
health. His large wealth was mainly
acquired, however, in stock speculations,
and he was known in Wall street and
throughout the country as one of the
boldest, shreWdest, and most successful
operators. ranking with Vanderbilt, Drew,
and Gould in the magnihcence of his
schemes and the fearessness with which
he attacked any large bull or bear move
ment If tle failure of his last pool had
occurred while he was in full possession of
his health and faculties, he would have
been entitled TO no particular sympathy,
for he would only have been beaten at his
own game, played by him for years des-
perately and without scruple. But, in view
of the fact that he went into this operation
with impaired faculties and eluding the
vigilance of his friends, it is only proper
to regard his misfortune with the same
pity that one feels in contemplating a dis
aster that overtakes lunatic who escapes
from the asylum. 1t is intimated that
Tracys large fortune, estimated as high as
$3,O00000 and $4,000, 900, has been en-
tirely swept away. This may be exag.
gerated, but in any case large part Of it
has disappeared. 1t is not likely that he
will live long to regret lis losses, and we
believe that he has no immediate family to
suffer from them.
The idea that Kennedy 4 Co. or anybody
else in Wall street should sue Mr. Tracy
for what is left of his wrecked fortunes on
accounty ofunpaid margins and unsettled
transactions in the late stock POOLS simply
outrageous. If there are any suits grow
ing out of the affair, they ought to be re-
versed, and Mr.. Tracy, or his friends in
his behalf, ought to sue for recovery OF
money taken from him by persons who
knew he was not in fit condition to trans.
act business. We think his case illustrates
more strikingly than any previous ex-
perience the utter heartlessness of the
stock gamblers. This plundering of man
bereft of his senses is on par with the
act of any dishonest card player who cheat
a drunken man. 1t is a species of robbery
and if it be a fact that MIR. Tracy's menta
condition is 80 distracted as has been rep
resented, then serious effort should bt
made to compel the men who plundereC
him to disgorge. Mr.. Tracy has Away
been the man to attract strong persona
attachments, and has had the reputation
of being fast friend and a generou
master. The termination of his career, il
which light his retirement from the presi
dency Of the Rock Island road may be re
garded, is sad one and will be regretted
by all who knew and admired him in hi
time of power.