New-York tribune., 1879-04-26
ALONG ABSENCE UNEXPLAINED.

MS DfsAPPEtRANCc-rISASCIA TROUBLES
SUPPOSED r. De TIE CAUsE-Cc LIONEL GEoEs-
BECk's HABITS AND PECUuARITlEs.
Colonel Joh Grocsbeck, we'll known in Wall ST..
disappeared from the Fifth Avenue Hotel on April
II. HIS relatives in Cincinnati and Philadelphia
have been informed of his mysterious departure
and are totally unable 10 account for his absence.
The apprehension some quarters that he has com
mitted suicide is not generally credited b. those
who knew him most intimately the opinion beng
that he has left the city to avoid financial embar-
| rassments. Colonel Gr,csbcc.i had been living III
this city for about twelve or fifteen years, coming
here from Cincinnati at the close of the war, with
q considerable amount of money which he had in
herited, and which he has added 10 by sue
cessful speculations. lie made che Fifth Avenue
Hotel his home, and until two years ago spent his
Summers at Saratoga. On saturday, April II, he
took breakfast Mt the hotel aud told the head
waiter that he intended to go West in the after
noon. lie was seen later in the day on Wall-st..
when he was in good spirits, though complaining of
his poverty. lie has not been seen or heard from
since by any Of his friends or relatives. In his
room at the hotel he left all of his effects consisting
of clothing and business papers, but no message 10
his brothers. sisters his only daughter has been
discovered. Among his goods was box OF large
sized cartridges for revolver. which evidently had
been recently opened. and FROM which six cart
ridges are missing just enough for a full charge
This is the only circumstance IN his disappearance
which points to probable sef-destruction.
Information of his mysterious disappearance was
sent to his relatives, and Thomas C. Gaylord. whose
first wife was a Miss Groesbeck, aud K. B. GrOes-
beck. Of Philadelphia, nephew, have been in the
city during the last week endeavoring to solve the
mystery OF his sudden departure. 1t was learned
at the hotel last night that Colonel Groesbeck was
exceedingly retired In his habits, and that he vas
rarely seen in the rotunda. He invariably used tho
private entrance. and until recently would spend
Lis evenings In the billiard-room watching the
players. He had only few personal friends.
among them Dr. Gray and DR.. LamOreux. and 1t
was frequently his custom to spend tho evening In
a game Of cards with DR.. Gray. He seldom
versed about himself and to strangers he was very
rotcent. HIS friends have noticed an apparent de-
spondency for several months. and recently he has
been known to avoid some of his old friends and
business acquaintances.
CoLoSrL GROEsBECE's WALL sTRRRT CAREER.
Colonel Groesbeck was not noted for any remark
ably heavy transac ons In Wall-st his limit being
dealings of 5000 shares. His speciality was priyi-
leyes either IN puts" or "calls.' He was
gardcd as a very conservative operator. He would
invariably insure his privileges by purchases Of
stock IN quantities equivalent TO his put" or
"calln Sometimes he would buy a " call aud sell
against IL. When Daniel Drew the leader in
the celebrated Northwest corner" Colonel Grocs-
beck held cal" OF 5000 shares at about 20. and
running during the year. He sold out at a large
advance. clearing SO, 900 by the transaction, when
10y holding on for forty days more. when the stock
was quoted at $50, Lie would have made S250.OO0.
Another of his transactions was put" Of 5000
shares of Pacific Mail in 1872. which he purchased
another broker 2, 800 shares of the stock Be
fore the pauic of 1873 he withdrew 100000 from
!. Is Nusgravc & Co., which he deposited IN tho
hank of Amer "a and he transferred his bu'i-
u.ss To Grlcie 81 Wcstcrvelt, thror Sh
etHm he operated until he left the
.'l.' ~ reported lavchad to his credit ia tho
%. / q America ~ 900 wnen the panic of 1873
,aiir "n. lie continued his peculitlOns wi vary
IS "a 'cs- until tt Summer OF 1917, VIII the
D ..lin. .lI.pg nrut between the Western Union
s'd trlsr''c AID Pacific Telegraph Compau es went
so a-stetion. At that time he purc' ased a
: q o. S.pb shares Of Western Union stock, which
u r"tsetrd b, buying 1000 shares Of 1t. lie sold
us, n,, rai and u. l.. Horton 4 Co. b'camc the
SI, ta~'r., lie, retained hs stock for a
"i shoat 10 per cent. leaving his call
n"' 'I,- '', aud a. the stock advanced from 37 TO
c.. E.n pas nent was demanded OI hls call, he
va. uuablc to respond and was repc rted to have
T ,wampr,l hy the unlucky venture. Since then
III as visited Wallet. almost daily, watching
w vest, and more recently his riends have OBJ
y rd Indications III his persol al attire of sad
y 4 vi funds.
A SKETCH or MS uFE.
: Colonel Grocsbcck was born IN OHIO, and like his
roihcrs and sisters. inherited fortune. He was a
awyer by profession. HIS Lr' thcr the Hon. Will
lam :. Grocsheck. of CincInn iti, an c1-mcmber OF
Congress and member of the Monetary Confer
ence which was held IN EuT )pe last Summer, where
he strongly advocated a lmotsllic currency The
brothers divided on N tIonal questions at tho
opening of the REBEL on, the Colonel being
an ardent. outspokcn Union man and
n Jealous Republican. He accepted the colonelcy
OF al Ohio regiment, and was conspicuous for his
bravery at the battle of Shiloh. He was cOmp-
mented by General Sherman, and ever since they
have been warm pei sonal friends. One Of his sisters
is the wife of General Joe Hooker; another sister
married Mr.. Burn It, of Cincinnati, a well-known
capitalist, after whom the Burnett IIouse was
named, and th.rd, sister was, the first wife Of
Thomas G.. Gaylord, of Cincinnati. Colonel
Grocsbeck If sixty.thTee years , Old six
a''p prominent nolc % high r forrehead, and With Keen
piercing blu, eyes lie wore no whiskcTs, and
closely reser bled his brother the Hon. William s.
Groesbcck. He was slow and deliberate in speech,
q good con ersatonaiIst. aud when discussing the
civil war o was frequently eloquent
warn. personal friend said last night that
COloucl Grocsbcck was not a man to commit sui
eide n, was n brave, courageous man, with n
warm benevolent nature. lie was strictly tenn
perate 10Th in eating and drinking. he wasvery
proud and would dIe before asking any of his
iamilj to aid him. lie had been despOndent for
some time, but he siDgnlarly reticent upon the
subj ct OF his financial embarrassments He thought
tina, seeing no relief from his financial EN- barrass-
ME Its, and being In arrears at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, where ho had lived 20 long In ease, he had
gone away for q time until he could secure the
rieans to liQuidate his Indebtedness.
At the hotel last night IL was stated that Colonial