The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-05-24
OUR LETTER FROM BRoADBRiM

l -
The Financial Crash-D0wnfali of u Nice
Young Man-sympatlly for Gen. Grant
and his sons-Gratifying Result of Two
Frials-A Brace of Precious Villains, Etc.
New YORK. May II. 1881.
EDITOR GHIEFi u
When wrote my letter of last week /
thought that the failure of Grant T. Ward
| would be one Of those twenty-four hour
excitement- that Would blow over and be
forgotten in day Or two, but it is not so.
1t is not every day that the press has such
a sweet morsel to roll under its tongue,
and the metropolitan dailies are disposed to
make the most of it. A day or two ago and
Mr.. Ward was very mild d-mannered young
man, who fraquented the clubs rarely; who
never played poker, baccarat or seven up;
who went regularity to church every Sunday
with his wife, end though he never rose to
the dignity of passing around the plate,
when it cams his way he generally dropped
in it shining gold piece or a new crisp
five dollar bill; and this, taken in connec-
ton with the fact that he was good for
cool hundred for Q missionary collection
or a Sunday School picnic, settled the
status of Mr.. Ward among the yirtuous
citizens of Brooklyn, every one of whom,
from Mr.. Beecher to Mayor Low, voted
Mr.. Ward very promising young man,
and one whose chances of salvation were
moderately good, as Wall street brokers go.
But you must recollect that this was at q
time when Mr.. Ward stood at the head of
the firm Of Grant, Ward IL Co.; when he
was paying on Investments sixty per cent.
per annum, and was supposed to be worth
in his own right ten or twenty millions.
He is another example Of the aspiring
young bear who was going to knock Jay
Gould out. Now, Jay, physically, weighs
just one hundred and two pounds five
ounces and three quarters; that is, after he
has eaten hearty dinner, which consists
Of the half of "a soft boiled egg, "a small
slice of toast and q cup OF weak tea; but
financially, he tips the scale at fifty mill
ions of tons. He is so big that You have to
hoop him in to hold him. Jim Keene tried
it, and all that remained of him after the
battle was over were his hat and his boots
and these were so badly used up that they
were Of no account, even at a pawnbroker' g
sale. Henry Willard tried it, but got
knocked out on the first round, and has not
been heard of since. Now cometh Mr..
Ward, The street that took off its hat
to him q week ago and turned up its eyes in
admiration at his wonderful genius, energy
and pluck, is now pelting him with DOR
hicks. saying, 81 told you so. Pshaw, I
knew all about it months ago. Why, a
man with half an eye could see it, and
other like refreshing remarks. Wall street
reminds me of a school of porpoises at sea.
If You strike one with q harpoon and draw
blood, the whole school jump ON him at
once and kill him. Mr.. Wards great sin is
that he was lucky from the start. He never
felt the sharp pangs of adversely; and at
the time when most young men are strug-
Cling for respectable clerkship at salary
of $1,000 a year, Mr.. Ward was playing
battledore and shuttlecock with millions.
1t was clear case of nice young man
with a head too big for his hat. 81
There are lots of Wards on Wall street.
They only want finding out. There are
bank presidents, cashiers and trustees
living here to-day on the fat Of the land
and paying for it with other peoples
money; meaner thieves than the rascals
who pick your pockets in street car, or
the rufian who breaks into your house at
midnight. Great sympathy is felt for Gen
eral Grant and his boys. They have done
all that honest men can do, and hope and
trust that it is true that Mr.. Vanderbilt re-
fused to take from Mrs. Grant the sacrifice
of her house to redeem her husband q
honor. If it is true, set up white stone
for William H. The devil is not quite so
black as he is painted.
Two interesting trials ended this week
satisfactorily to the community-the Irving
and Hinsdale trials. Jim Irving was king
of the Bowery roughs, and if there ia any
thing rougher or tougher, don't know it.
He led band of Thugs to the late war,
and came back to his native city after brief
service to enjoy the honors and emoluments
of distinguished military service. He be-
came Tammany magnate: to be mag
nate of Tammanyin those days was worth
a Princes ransom. Gold from Ophir, and