New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-15

nOuncenent of bis death was NOT uEeXptcleu as
those who knew hIm best scarcely thought tnat ne
would 1--we to reach the ii It Springs.
SKETCH OF HIS EVENTFUL LIFE.
THE son Of a QUAKER, HE KMBARKs IN THE GRO
CEKY BUSINESS IL THIS CITY AT - WEEK.
TAKING AN INTEREST IN POL lTiCo-IHs TCMUL
TUoTs EXPERIENCE AS MAYOR OF NEw-YoRK-
HIS LIFE IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
THE MAN.
Fernando Wood was born in Philadelphia
June ID 1872 His father was Quaker, with 1--we SONS
and Wo daughters.
He removed to this city in 1920. having met with
busness disaster Philadelphia. Soon after Fernando
became clerk Krocer's office ~ ~ week and later
entered the employ OF broker Mt 50 week. He after
ward became a clgarmaker aud sent 10 Richmond,
Va to look after tobacco factory While there he Was
smitten with "sock aud buskln mania which lasted
for seyera months He returned TO Sew-YOrk, and in
1882 started In for himself a. tobacco dealer
IN P.arlst Ho became INTERESTED In politics and as
n cops, onence was soon Obliged 10 give W.
nA business Mr. Woods next venture was
grocery aud liquor store at Rector ana
Wasn,ngton-sts While this he became owner OF two
or three vessels In 1910 he ran on the Van Buren, TICKET
for Congress as one OF the four meInbeS-aarge for
Ncw.Yo,k City. He had 73i votes more than Moses H.
Crinpel who stood highest the Harrison Ticket Al
this time he chairman OF the Young Mems commit
Tee ia Tdnmany Hail. and with the ava "i secret aso-
citation OF i've members from each ward IL 10 sad that lie
virtual dictated all the npmn tOns aue III the OOun's
Convention Of that year
After hls return from Congress Mr.. Wood became
sbipplpg merchant sohtl-st. III winch business he
prospered 50 we'll thai In lS47 lie owned
several vessels. In lS4S the news OF
the dscovery OF gold in California led him and bis
partner to send vessel TO san Francisco loaded win
merchandise which sold AT ali imnense profit The
n, ,pners Of the firm ouarreed and Wood charged
with irregularities which aferwHrd became matters OF
litigation and used In political cauipangs against
him. Mr. Wood invested his money In real estate, winch
auergaId enhanced much In value ~ 10 make MIN
wealthy man. lie still owned much OF this real estate
at the time Of bis death part OF berg plot OF ound
running from Scventy-sxb 10 Seventyeighth-sts ana
fron the Boulevard 10 the river. An Od-fashloned
frame house siluated this pr perty was used by him
IA bis summer fne house IN Washington served
as his winter home
In 1850 Mr. Wood received the Democratic nomination
for Mayor but was defeated by A. G. Kingsland' lie
WAS again nominated for Mayor by The Democrats III
| 1854 and was elected by plurality OF 1000 there
being four candidates I'm the field His acquaintance
with the uish Democrats IN the lower wards
made him their leader, an ascendancy Whcn NC
| Aftrr taking ofHce as Mayor he assumed powers
about all illegal nraIn-shops, enforced the Sunday
laws aud drilled and Iipped the police force III
| a Complaint book City Hal, where everybody
invited to write down niS grievances and the MAYOR
undertook to redress theni During thls tme INC Cen
| tral Park project was under WY ard Mr. Wood Old
| what he could u assist II.
love II novelty and he was charged with using ths
for political pSo srrra asS Mn nt the ne CITY
| Hal Was hied with some OF the WORST men
however anu in 1897 the Legislature passed number
OF bills amending charter Of the city. by the Metro
i"n the Connties OF N@w.Yrrk Kings Wrstcnrster and
| Richmond. a Board Of fire Poilcc Commissioners aI
| punted by the Governor ana Senale. Was gwen entire
Charge OF the police force Mayo Wood refused 10 dis
! band the old municipal force. or To recognize
/ an
| for time the city had TWO P.rlce Departments
lame 10 variant was obtained from the Recorder
for the oil the Mayor, on NE charge OF MEETING
Governor. Police Captain WaliIne tnOw superntendtn
wi.h nifty Metropolitan policemen attempted 70 serve
policemen in the building. and these wlth the crowd
gathered about attacked tho new poncenen, ana "evo
men severely wounded Inc ~ htslIlrnt, conn
ing down Broadway TO take tho D1a1 Tor AN t4cusoh 10
DosoG was to %a s and a nsS nOGS c
Mayor lhe ely continued III sI e "i wrS
| ordered out The Court Of Appeals ia the meantime
decIdrd the To be sluOnal, ana the Mayor
r lxg e a. howrver the dead Rabbits and the
Bowery Boys engaged III hGht III the streets which
nnt,I me maIy Suppressed the six were
Killed aud more huD loo persons were Wounded o'ncr
an break IA occurred, but order was finally Restored
| m@ y liz 'ne MARI Hll Organization III 1857,
| and maintained ut Large expense uhth
| 1869 At the expiration OF his second , TERN I
Ii."n1 im 1853 ne again e,ecicd INA, or, deient-
mo William f. ilavemeyer. IN The COURSE OF thls term
nri nm al ILe Prince OF Wales aud Chinese En-
| h.ssy When tue "A broke out lie sent mesSnge 10
! line Common Council Recommending tLat Tue CHy Oh
New-York should sccede ana becone lree Guy.
Ie f of Sumter, however, be Recommended measures
me- 40 IA, b,ttue a candidate Tor Mayor, but was de-
| featcJ by George Opdykc. . ,,o, ,,.
In 1872 Mr.. wood was eectrd 10 CohGI r u mV.
me va District. During his service 10 t1 10, Ho lou
I'm Ius XXXVIIIih Congress he was cam"ring Tor peace
, H. s,,itn m accordance with his mpathies III
1897 r Wa reelected 10 Cong cess hs al ludtrend-ht
iemoorat In 1873 he was the Democratic nOmlee Tor