The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-01-04
"BL1CK FRIDAY
Dcath of the Central Figure Of that Nom .
orable Day.

Doath of the Central Figure Of that Nom.
|, orable Day.
Albert Spevers died at his country
home in Bayside, N. j., last Tuesday.
His death recalls the incidents of
Black Friday, III which Mr.. Speyers
was the central figure. He was the
principal broker Of a pool composed
of jim Fisk, Jr., jay Gould, William
NJ. Tweed, Henry N. Smith, Peter b.
Sweeney, William Belden aud several
others, formed for the purpose OF put
ting up the price of gold. Spcycrs
began purchasing on the week, and at
the close Of business on Friday night,
September "a, 1869, he had bought
over $35, 100000 Of gold for account
OF the pool. When hc began buying
the price was 1870. On the morning Of
Black Friday it opened at las. Spoy-
crs went into the gold room, which
has since been removed to make way
for al extension to the Stock Ex-
change, with orders from the pool to
buy all the gold offered up to $50. He
did, and reported. Then he was di-
rected to continue purchases up to 155.
When the price was advanced above
$50 the terrible excitement Of the day
began. Most of the members Of the
pool were assembled in the Office of
William Heath & Co., from which
they issued orders and sent encourage
ing messages to Spcyers. They as
surcd him that tho short interest ex-
ceetlcd 100000, 200, that they had
ample resources to margin upon his
purchases, and that the government
was with them and would not sell any
gold. About noon the price APP
preached 100. Then Speyers, under
new orders, rushed to tho front, Offer
ing that figure for any part of mil
lion dollars. His cry "Onc hundred
and sixty for any part Of q million i"
rang out above the confusion, as he
bought million after million at that
figure. Then he raised his bid to 1924,
the highest price Of the day.
AT this moment q dispatch came
from Secretary Of tho Treasury Bout
well to the sub-treasurer directing
him to sell 81, 900, 900 of gold. While
tho brokers were trying to learn wheth-
CT such an order had really been issu.
ed, the price of gold dropped from 160
to 40, rallied again aud finally declin-
cd to l31 in the early evening. The
action Of the government wrecked the
scheme ofthe pool, and bedlam fol-
lowed in the gold room. 1t. was re-
ported that Spcyers became insane.
While the excitement was atits height
just before the crash came, some ono
handed Speyers note warning him
that I'm attempt against his life. was
meditated if he continued his work.
He rushed into the Stock Exchange, of
| which he was q member, sprang upon
the presidents platform and made a
request to he heard. He repeated his
information, and added:
'Now am here. am good tar
get. Shoot me if you dare. Any man
that wants to shoot me can have O
chance, and any man that said he
would shoot me is a poor, miserable
coward"
Then he rushed out and across
Broad street into William Heatl's
office, where the members of the pool
were assembled. Fisk told him to 90
back and buy more gold. Before the
day closed Spcycrs was taken home in
a carriage completely exhausted and
unstrung. When he returned to the
street several days aftcrward he found
that Fisk and others OF the pool had
rcpudiated the transactions hc had
made or large part Of them. This
threw him into bankruptcy, along
with the dozen or more brokers who
! were obliged to close their doors. He
finally instituted suits against Jay
Gould and others to recover the
amounts that he claimed we're due him
for the purchases made on Black
Friday. One Of these suits came to
tho surface about a year ago, and
since then nothing has been heard of
them. He was unable to meet his
obligations to those from whom he
purchased, and that was followed by
suspension from tho stock exchange,
which was practically expulsion.
| About year and half ago lie went
into the real estate business at No. 83
Cedar street, where he had an office ut
! ! toe timo Of his death. He was about
sixty-five years old at the time Of his
death. His disease was cancer III the
stomach. He leaves widow and
several children.
DEATH Or A HUMAN WoNDER.--For
a long time past until Yesterday medi-
cal mon, as we'll as the public at large
! of Northern Ohio, have been aston
ished at tho continued existence and
growth Of child of J. A. Knisclcy,
of New Philadelphia, whose flesh was
as hard as stone. All efforts to render
the little one like ordinary children
proved unavailing, although large
sums of money were spent in the at
tempt. Prominent slIowmen heard of
the phenomenon, and offered to give
an immense amount for the privilege
Of exhibiting the child; but this the
parents would not allow, although II
was treated in the presence Of promi-
nent physicians and medical classes in
Cleveland. At length the singular
being has died, and The desire on the
part of doctors and others to get pos
session of the body Is so great that it
has been placed by tho parents in a
strong vault, which is constantly
guarded by faithful watchmen. The
child is creating as much Of o sensa-
ton dead as living.
NOTICE.
copartnership existing under the
/ L. firm name of Matthews & Go. OK