The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-11-08
FaoG AFFLUEN = TO POVERTY.
THE PAST WEALTH AND PRESENT WOES OF
A NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN.
Wash. Corr. n = Evening Post

Wash. Corr. N. Y. Evening Post.
The friends of Fernando Wood here arr
endeavoring to excuse the recent demagog
ical conduct manifested in his speech to tn,
New York Workingmen by stating that hi
has lost his large fortune and is anxious tt
be returned to Congress as means Of earn
ing livelihood. Fernando Wood has fol
years been considered one of the richest
men in Congress. His entertainments have
been of the most lavish character. One OF
the strongest arguments made for him in
his candidacy for the Speakership against
Mr.. Randall in the two last Congresses has
been that he could entertain handsomely
and could better support the dignity Of the
Speakers station than poverty and natural
desire would permit Randall to do. The
most elegant stag-parties ever given in
Washington have been those held at the
house of Fernando Wood He owns the
corner house in the row on Fifteenth street,
which is quite famous for the celebrities
who live there. Among the number are
Blaine, of Maine. whnsa house is said to
have cost $50, 600; Assistant Quartermaster
General Van Vliet, the richest ma.sin the
regular army; Governor Swami, of Mary
land, who has won beautiful wife, but lost
his seat in Congress because advancing
years have induced the younger men to
crowd him out; and ex-senator West, of
Louisiana, who, since he has fallen out of
politics in that State, has made Washing
ton city his permanent residence.
Fernando Woods wealth was so great
that it was common saying that, whatever
may have been recorded or proved against
him in the past, his financial condition was
such as to place him above suspicion in
Congress. Such reason for being an hon.
est man is not the highest one, but it is
quite certain that there has never been a |
whisper Of suspicion against the integrity |
of Fernando Wood, since he has been in |
Congress, and he enjoys the personal friend
ship of many of the purest men in both |
parties in public life. That home on
Fifteenth street has been a popular centre
for dinner, parties, entertainments and the
like Fernando Woods daughter, until
she was married, was the hostess, and was
noted forsher ease and dignity. Since his
daugllter,s marriage a widowed relative has
ae4hashonors-for there has for years
been great sorrow at Fernando Woods
heartnstone. His wife some time since be-
came deranged, and lives at an asylum.
But reverses have overtaken Fernando
Wood. He is one of the victims to the
great depression in real property. He was
q very large holder of real estate in New
York city. 1t deprecated in value and be-
came unstable, while the taxes of the Tam
many regime kept consuming the substance.
Another shadow on Fernando Woods
learthstone has been an extravagant son,
Who has gone himself into bankruptcy and
las involved his father by his wild habits.
The consequence of this is that Fernando
Woods fortune has greatly diminished and I
hat he will do we'll if he saves enough
rom the wreck to keep the wolf from the ;
loor in his old days. These circumstances,
While they do not justify, may perhaps ex- J
,lain the desperate course which Fernando
Nood is now taking in politics to save his
which friends tell.