National Republican., 1883-11-20
THE FALLEN MILLIONAIRE.
Personal Sketch OF Morris Ranger, the
Great Cotton King.
Epecial Letter

LIVERPOOL, ENG, Nov. S.-The fall of Nor
ris Ranger still monopolizes attention, and
many anecdotes are related of the man, his
modes Of transacting business, and of his gen.
erosty. Though in the magnitude of his
transactions SO many were brought down,
scarcely word is heard against him, and he
is still popular in Liverpool Like Baron
Grant, the great stock speculator, Morris
Ranger is German Jew, and like that gen.
tleman he does not wear his own, but an as
sumed name Besides the great corner he
made in cotton in 1881, when he
cleared about q quarter of a mil
four or five years ago in a similarly success
full transaction, and ho and those connected
with him cleared G300,000. Future deliy-
cries of cotton were bought in March, and tho
vessels bound for the cotton ports wero char
tered so that American exporters wishing to
send cotton forward could only do so on their
terms. The cotton sold in the spring was by
the conditions of sale to be warehoused in
Liverpool before noon on the thirtieth Of
September, but the feet of cotton ships was
delayed by the heavy fogs which hung about
the Irish and English coasts, and tho last
ship arrived only few hours before the cot
ton was due. But, as the description runs,
1.-THE hands into which it came were too ready
the last bale was safely in tho warehouse, and
as Morris Ranger walked across the flags q
lane was made for him by tho excited crowd.
Amid cheers and hootings tho Napoleon
of the hour, with the light of triumph on
his face, passed. silently through the feverish
ranks of bulls and bears, winners and losers,
"beggarcd men and men of fortune" During
the years of his prosperity many incidents
occurred which tell of his kindliness of heart.
One of the smaller spectators sought him in
his private Office aud said 81 am ruined
man; have u wife and family; givo me
time" The contract was produced on which
Ranger stood to gain 81 900, and after look
ing it over carefully the now fallen Jew
speculator tore it in pieces and told the
anxious suppliant that he might CO. home
and be happy, for the contract was cancelled.
The story of tho mistake which involved
him, and SO many others with him, in ruin is
soon told. Ho had found from careful and
extended inquiries made in every cotton
growing district that as certain as anything
could be there would be an immense crop,
and conseqently cotton would DO cheap.
On this basis all his plans wero
laid, and success seemed certain. But
one morning in August came kilograms
telling that throughout the American cotton
districts there had been nip" The follow
ing morning brought intelligence of another
nip" and yet third time the cabled mes
ndkp was w lno sdlnb cutCl lHICb hikuLs
blight reduced the estimate Of the American
cotton crop by one million and half bales,
and Morris Rangers fabric of skillful, we'll
planned speculation came down with crash
which has involved all connected with him in
business In ruin. The man who had deAed
and beaten one combination Of bankers and
brokers after another was completely over
come by tho effects of three cold nights in
August which made y difference Of el,000,000
in his calculations.