The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-22
THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE.
What Spectator Saw on the Day of the
Panic.
Brooklyn Eagle.

Brooklyn Eagle.
At the height Of the excitement wandered
up to the Wall street door of the Stock Exchange
and attempted to mount to the visitors gallery.
Three policemen and two attendants objected
and l didn't mount Just then. A few minutes
later man whom knew passed me in was
prepared to see wild dregree of excitement ON
the part of the brokers, but was again disap-
pointed. Stocks were selling for all they were
worth, and the din and uproar was almost deaf
ening, but then that is the case nearly every day
in the year. What l noticed particularly was
the extraordinary jolity that existed among
the members despite the fact that they feared all
sorts ofevils and that firms going to pieces all
around them. The older men were quiet and
cynical They talked together slowly but earn
estly, and seemed reasonably good natured, but
the majority of the younger brokers-men like
Frank Ellison, for instance-who were elabrately
dressed and thoroughly at ease, moved about
with great calmneSS in the crowd, and trans
acted their business happily. When one of them
got excited and throw his arms into the air, his
friends rallied around him and sympathetcally
turned up his coat collar. pulled his hat over his
eyes, thumped him in the ribs, picked his peck
cts and INDUCED in other pleasantries, with
faces as solemn as owls. Meanwhile, the broker
paid no attention to them, but
went on hawking his wares After he had
found a purchaser or got tired out he made
feint at the most aggressive of his tor1nenters,
Iearranged his disordered attire, INDUCED in
wild Shrek and turning on his heel, walked off.
Everybody yelled for the fun of the thing but
the appalling and caliope shrek of a red-headed
broker in black business suit and black silk hat
This gentleman seemed TO enjoy himself more
than all the other members of the Exchange put
together. The excitement had an exhlarating
effect upon his spirits. l suppose he was there
on the floor for business purposes, most of
the members are, but to the casual observer
it seemed as though he merely wanted
to have a little fun. He had voice that would
make Pop Whitaker turn green with envy. He
wandered about from one end of the Exchange
to the other, whistling softly to himself and
winking at his acquaintance. AT intervals of
about half minute he would throw back his
head, open his mouth, shut his eyes and send
forth crescendo shrek that sounded like the
mingled efforts of Long Island fog horn and
factory whistle. 1t was the most amazing sound
| ever heard from a human throat The people
in the visitors gallery hung over the railing and
stared at the man with intense fascination, but
the brokers paid no more attention to him than
if he did not exist. After finishing his yells the
broker would open his eyes, tip his hat over his
left ear and walk about whistling softly to him
self again. Then would come the awful shrek
again. 1t is supposed that he did it by way Of
joke.
There was another broker on the floor whose
hobby proved to be an alleged desire to quarrel
with every one he met He did not smile once
during the two hours was in the Exchange and
he seemed to be in a perpetual wrangle with
every man he came across. He wore his hat
damned over his eyes, the collar of his coat was
turned up and the jaw was thrust forward. He
would rush into a group of men who were husy
buying or selling some stock and begin to yell
with the rest of them. The louder they yelled
the louder he yelled, until at last he worked
himself up into an alleged state of wild excite
ment and stood shaking both fists in the face
of some one who was Offering higher bid than
he was Tho others stood around and urged
him on. He would thrash around with both
arms howl malediGtions and excavations On the
head of his opponent and shake his fists
omnously under his nose. Then he would in
vite him to walk outside with a voice heard above
all the din of the crowd He would start off
wildly and run chock- block against some other
member of the board. Then he would square
off and dodge around his man with face indica
tive of murderous intentions. All sorts of queer
characters we're to be seen on the floor Only
small percentage Of the men seemed at all earn
est in their work. or in the least bit frightened
1t was only when the chairman raped for
attention that the fact became evident
that it was an unusual day in the
Stock Exchange. He would pick up his mallet
and rap loudly once or twice, when the most as
tonishing change would come over the crowd
The hundreds of men who were shrieking at the
top of their voices, bowling like mad men or hop
ping about the floor of the Exchange, stopped as
though paralyzed. and then ran on tipt0e and
gathered around the rostrum. Messenger boys
stood as still and noiseless as statues. The at
tendants almost held their breath, and the 81
lence was SO oppressive that nothing could be
heard save the click of the telegraph instru-
ments in the further corner of the room. Then
the chairman would announce a failure and drop
his malet again. There would be a moment of
silence then a light buzz of comment. followed
by the unearthly shrek of the redheaded man.
and the din of the Exchange went on as before