New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-01

viii hlNt 10 De sod. TO T1IdT
operators looked for an effect on prices, Out the
amount thus likely to come upon the market was az
mtted 10 be matter of mere gnesswork; MS nn ",
the brokers expressed the fear that Mr. heene
would not be able 10 make settlement that "ouiu
cover much Of his liabilities
INCIDENTS IN NIX. KEENES CAREER.
MS CALIFORNIA sPECULAnoNs-wHKAT AND olL-
EXPERIENCE ON THE TURF.
James r. Keene came to tins country from Ens-
land when a mere lad and went to California 10
seek his fortune When he was nineteen years old
he editor of Democratic paper at shasta ID
the mountain districts of California. He first came
into notice through sharp personal contest which
he had with Charles 4. Washburne, subsequently
Min stcr to Para suay After running his paper Tor
n while he went to San Francisco and became II
speculator. He was bold to Tecklessness, but was
successful and soon accumulated fortune. When
he came to this city In August, 1875
his wealth was estimated at s., j,000,000. large
part of this money he made by singularly bold
operation in mining stocks in California. When
the mining fever at its height and crown
Point and other stocks were selling at from 5000
to $500 a share Keene was a persistent bear on
the market. 1t was SAID afterward that he had III
some way come into possession of accurate know-
edge concerning the real condition of the lower
levels of the Mines at a time when
number of men directly concerned in their manage
ment lie put all the money that he could raise
into the opcration and sold the stocks " short III
the midst of the upward movement. HIS Judgment
or information turned ont To be correct, and he
made an immense sum by the subsequent decline.
HIS first large operation in the stock market IN
this city was in connection with the securities OF
the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Company. At
the time it was said that lac was antaconizine Jay
Gould and was doomed to failure but Mr.. hecne,
nevertheless. made a snug sum out Of the tranSac-
tion. In March, 1879, a forged telegram purportng
10 be from Mr.. Kcene caused the Chicago grain
market to fall heavily In 1850 keene really ana
come down on the Chicago grain market and
made things exceedingly Lively tlerc. He. Jesse
Hoyt and some dealers in Chicago formed a syndi-
cate and made more or less successful corner in
wheat Most of those in the syndicate lost but
whether Kecue made or lost one was ever able
10 determine with certainty. 1t was said at tie
time that he was a loser. I'm ms testimony before
the state Committee on corners and futures in De
cemhcr 1872. iir. Kccne testified that he could not
rcmcnherabout the transaction 1T was so long ago.
Mr. Kccne was actively interested in the organ
zatiou of the idewater Pipe Line Company, aud
was reported a year ago 10 be a large holder of
is stock. About that time he figured as the cham
pion of the old Board of Directors, of which he was
a member against an alleged effort of the Standard
Oil Company to get control of tho pipe line.
which is the most formidable competitor
that the United Pipe Lines have.
The validity of the election at which Mr.. Ke,uc's
hoard WIS chosen was tested in the courts and the
result was the victory of the TidewateT directors.
His activity in the affairs of the company did not
extend much beyond tins transaction. however, and
of stock was offered to him not
long afterward and he declined 70 take it., ~,
vrps - Of f.
ropoitan Opera House Company, and during the
season owned box No II, the eighth box from
side OF the house looking toward the stage
His ncigbbors were Henry Morgan on the left and
Cornelius Vanderbilt on the rGlt lie was not
constant attendant ON the performances, ana sell
dom. even " hen there succeeded III banIshmg the
look of absorption in Thought which was habitual
with him. II was noticed tbat he was not in his
box AZ Mr.. Abbevs benefit and that II Occu-
pied bv Nine. PattL who bought II at the sale.
soon after he came to Ncw-lork MIR, Keene took
Gne thorouch'rels His Speudtlritt was a colt Of
Uncommon merit and his victory in the
Lorillard Stakes at jerome Park in 1879,
was extremely brilliant. Spendthrlit won mum
her Of rich stakes, but was beaten in the TraVcrs
aud kemer at Saratoga by the famous talsetto.
Ia the iol owing year Spendthrit with Lord
Murphy and some other horses belonging 10 Mr.,
Kcrne was sent 10 ngl1nd, but he fell sick there
and dad nothing note Orthy. Mr. kcenc,s career on
the English turf was not remarkahle IN ahv
way until the mighty fONhall, the best of the sons
of King Alfonso, and universally acknowledged
one of the best rlce-hor>eS Of any az, began his
series of victories. F0Vhail did not Distinguish HIM
self ae two year-old. but his Grand Prix AZ Paris
and his double victory IL tne great Edgllsh autumn
haudicaps the CZaTcwI'ch and CmbndgcShire.
made hlu noted all over the world. FOXhall is now
used for breeding purposes in England. He Is ; i'll
the propcrtyOf Mr. Keene. Since the day Of Fox
halls prime Mr.. Keenc has not been fortunate
either on The English or American turf. He ran q
number IF hor-c> on both SIDES of the water last
year with small success. The best horse that lie
now has III training is Blue Grass, fOur-yeaT-
old in Fngland lis American stable Is at Sleeps
head Bay and probably the best animal in " Is
ulch Roller, who is not likely TO win any geat
races. Al his horses both sides of the ocean
Suuhl not probably now fetch az auction more
than $50 O0O though Foxhall might
bring $4,000 Of that MIR Keenc
made some ATTEMPTS at breeding, buying
thc celebrated Derby winner. Blue Gown, for big
sum although the horse was far advanced in years.
lie died on the voyage 10 America
In tho ddys Of his prosperity Mr.. Kccnc
bought Ire Matthews villa at Newport and
spent his summers there. This was destroyed
bv fire and never rebuilt. Mr.. Kceue-
owned httle real estate beside his Newport prop
crty aud that WAS heavily mortgagcd. He al one
time owned some costly paintings. Jay GOnld took
the best Of them Rosa onhcur. on his hands at
price much less than Mr. Keenc paid for 1t, and It
now adornS Mir. GOuds parlOr in his Fifth
Avenue residence, where II has often re-
minded Wall street visitors with a fancilul turn of
mind of the Indian custon of exhibiting the scalp
of vanqulshed foe in the most conspicuous
place in the wlgwam.