The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-12-21
The Fallen Millionaire.

The fall of Morris Ranger still mo.
nopolizes attention, and many anec-
dotes are related of the man, his modes
of transacting business, and of his gen.
crosby. 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 gentleman he does
not wear his own, but an assumed name.
Besides the great corner he made in
cotton in 1881, when he cleared about
quarter of a million sterling, he was
engaged some four or five years ago in
similarly successful transaction, and
he and those connected with him cleared
f3OO.OOO. Future deliveries of cotton
were bought in March, and the vessels
bound for the cotton ports were char
tered, so that American exporters wish
inc 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 Septem-
Der. but the fleet of cotton ships was
DELAYED by the heavy fogs which hung
about the Irish and English coasts. and
the last ship arrived only a few hours
before the cotton was due. But. as the
description runs, .'the hands into which
it came were too ready and plucky for
failure" Ere the clock struck the last
bale was safely in the warehouse, and
as Morris Ranger walked across tbs
flags lane was made for him by the
excited crowd. Amid cheers and
hootings the Napoleon of the hour,
with the light of triumph on
his face, passed silently through the
feyerish ranks of bulls and bears, win
ners and losers, "begeared men and
men of fortune" During the years Of
his prosperity many incidents occurred
which tell of his kindness of heart.
One of the smaller spectators sought
him in his private Office and said: Il
am ruined man; l have a wife and
family; give me time" The contract
was produced on which Ranger stood
to gain $1,000, and after looking it
over carefully the now fallen Jew specu.
lator tore it in pieces and told the anx-
ious suppliant that he might go home
and be happy, for the contract was can
celed. The story of the mistake which
involved him, and so many others with
him, in ruin is soon told. He had
found from careful and extended in
quiries made in every cotton growing
district that as certain as ANYTHING
could be there would be an immense
crop, and consequently cotton would be
cheap. On this basis all his plans were
lai1 anA snocaSr saap,aA o.Yrfain Ruf
one morning in August came kilograms
telling that throughout the American
cotton districts there had been '.nip."
The following morning brought intelli-
gence of another nip" and yet third
time the cabled message was to the
same effect. Three nights blight re-
duced the estimate of the American cot
ton crop by one million and hall
bales. and Morris Rangers fabric of
skillful, well-planned speculation came
down with crash which has involved
all connected with him in business in
ruin. The man who had defied and
beaten one combination of bankers and
brokers after another, was completely
overcome by the effects of three cold
nights in August which made differ
CuIt VI ilsOcO,VOV III
LireypoOl Cor. National Republican.
After noting the proposal to erect
a new home for the President of the
United States, and to surrender the
executive mansion to public business. a
correspondent says: ''Many people
wonder why it costs so much to keep
the executive mansion in good order.
Col. Rockwell says the wear and tear
of the furniture exceeds that of any
hotel in the country. The people, to
the average of 800 day, insist upon
seeing the White House. They must
tread upon the carpets and rest them
selves in the tempting chairs They
must examine, with their eyes and fin
gers, all the upholstery and drapery.
When it is remembered that this is re-
peated every day in the year, it will
cease to be q matter of wonder that the
wear is SO RAPID. "-Gaica9o Times