River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-12
The Chicago Wheat Corner.
90 Times.


The workings of the wheat ring which has
been in existence for some days, and whose
doings have been noted from time to time in
these columns, eliminated on yesterday in
grand coup which took the board of trade a
good deal by surprise and sent prices on their
travels up and down the scale IN anything but
a satisfactory manner to those on the wrong
side of the deal. To 60 back little and begin at
the beginning, it seems that for the fortnight /
preceding yesterday it was an open secret that
the ring which was making such bold dash to
control the wheat trade had endeavored to Dor
row from the Chicago banks 81, 800, coo with /
which to complete their operations. This
scheme, however apparently fell through, and |
things became preternaturally quiet that
'the boys were
THROWN COMPLETELY OFF THE TRACK,
and came to the conclusion that the New York
men who had the thing in hand had despaired
of success, and concluded to lay down. and
meet their losses with as good a grace as pos
sible
Yesterday, however, the first day of the busi-
ness month, put a new face on all these falla-
cious calculations. The forenoon opened with
such a free delivery, and the ring brokers put
down their cash so promptly for all the grain
taken, that surprise at their actions in paying
for the property delivered rapidly assumed
panic proportions, and the great question of
the hour became: How the deuce did Jim
Keene, the head of the combination, hoodwink
us all SO completely? As time went by the
modus operandi became known, and the facts
which came to light took form something in
this wise:
Keene, after concluding his unsuccessful
negotiations in this city, which probably
undertaken more as blind than nything else,
raised the 81, SOC, 600 necessary to meet his
tracts here, did the money up in one huge
bundle, and
SENT IT WEST BY EXPRESS
| to the First National bank of this city. He
timed his that the cash should reach
here the morning when it wanted,
| and a further precaution against discovery
| talegraphed no advices to the consignees. So IL
| came about that Cashier Gage was slightly
| astonIshed when the roll of 81 600 bills was
! handed him the counter at an early
! hour ON yesterday morning, and for while
| wondered what the event could mean. But at
! $50 o'clock
DISPATCH ARRIVED FROM KEEsE
| explaining matters and dir Getting Mr.. Gage to
| dispose of the money in such ways as would
| best protect his interests. Thereupon the
cashier sent for representatives of the firms of
| J. X. Fisher & CO., Rumsey Brothers Il Co.,
| Poole, Kent a. Co., ascertalned from them the
banks with which they did business, and passed
| proportionate sums to their credit in payment
of wheat deliveries, with the understanding
| that the brokers and bankers should render an
account to him prior to to-day's clearings as to
| the number of receipts taken and the amounts
| paid ont. This point once settled, the money
| began to pour over the counter and by p. NJ.
81, 300, 900 had been distributed, and Keene
| became
THE OWNER OF OVER TWO MILLION BUSHELS OF
WHEAT.
Meanwhile it became known that the little
Californian had intended arriving here at the
same time his money did, but the train on
! which he was steaming westward over the
Pittsburgh i Fort Wayne road missed some
! connection during the night near Mansfield
| Ohio, thus causing delay OF twelve hours. As
a consequence 1.-THE boys had the slim salts
faction of joking each other over the word
| Mansfield, which In years gone by grew SO no
torious as the name of Fisks mistress. 'Keene
has stopped off to call on Josie and then
there would follow a grand walk-around in
honor of the discovery. But fun of this kind
don't help matters any or change the cold fact
that despite all accidents the magnate was bear
ing down on the garden city the reputed
head of clique which stood ready to put $50,
100000 in the corner if necessary and who had
emphasized their determination to run things
or break something in the attempt by shunting
in an odd million to start with
At O'clock last evening Keene arrived and
went at once to the Grand Pacific hotel. He
was accompanied by his wife, daughter, two
sons and servants, all these latter being en-
route for California. The entire party disap-
pearcd at once from public gaze, and wrapped
themselves about with the mantle of strictest
privacy. An hour or so later representative
of the Times
SENT UP HIS CARD TO MR.. KEENEs APARTMENTS,
and in due time received information from the
nimble niger who conveyed the pasteboard
thither that Mass Flames was eatin' of his
supper"
After a wait of sufficient length to allow the
mastication of fair-sized whale, a second card
followed the first and was met by the like re-
| ception. 1t began to look though the boss
grain gambler had either entered on contract
to sample Mr.. brakes entire bill of fare, or in
tended to dodge the inquisitorial process by a
liberal indulgence in anything but words of
truth aud soberness. So the reporter conclud-
ed it would be the correct thing to go up I'M
announced, and make personal investigation
| of the statements given him by the unblushing
African who had conveyed his previous mes
| images.
Parlor No. 8 has double doors, and one of
| them swung back rather emphatically in re-
Spouse to the gentle rat-a-tat inflicted on its
surface. 1t wasn't formidable looking indi-
vidual who opened it, but he looked weary and
| didn't wear very enthusiastic smile at the
corners of his mouth. Nevertheless. it was the
! same little man who came to New York from
| the NCcIUenU WIN a Car-lOdu OF 1Olu, ana VINO
| in his two years connection with the stock ex-
| change at Gotham has made and lost a rather
/ fair-sized pile. AS of old, when the scribe
! used to see him the impressive centre of yell
! ing crowd, he wore his hair, slightly ting
| ed with gray cut close, while the short, full
beard gave to the facial lineaments that pc
culiarly grim expression which sometimes
blossoms out into sardonic smile known to
| the irreverent as
| "JIM's GRIN"
| ''Mr. Keene," began the reporter 81 suppose
there's dray-load or whereabouts of my cards
in your room, and l ventured to follow after
them and see if they had been properly be-
| slowed"
No answer.
'As regards the twenty millions you and
your friends propose putting in this pool, can
YOU give the Times any idea of the particular
mode you have chosen for skinning the boys:
And could YOU further let the readers of that
paper know whether or not it is your ultimate
intention to go back home with all the receipts
in your trousers pocket and keep putting on
the screws until you get control of the entire
spring wheat movement for the crop year,"
Tn tired out" responded still, small
voice. I've news to give; I've been de
Iayed on my journey, and I'm going to bed.
Perhaps, if feel like it, may have something
to say in the morning.
The door closed with exclamation point
and it is to be supposed that the great man
pulled off his trousers, slipped between the
sheets. and dozed eff as comfortably as though
he wasn't worth FIVE dollars in the world, and
hadn't Just re-established his reputation for
being, next to Jay Gould, the hardest man to
interview in the whole United States.
Down in the lobby attache of the hotel
said:
HENRY KEENE's
around here smoking. Maybe you could get
something out of him. There he goes now, by
the way"
And he pointed to a medium-sized young
man with a big mustache and small cigar be-
tween his lips which appeared to be engrossing
the entire sum of all his thoughts. The news
missionary gazed for while in admiration at
the son of his father and then approached.
''Mr Keene," he said, suppose you give me
a few points regarding this deal your father