Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-08
GOLD HUTCH'S' DEAL.
THE TRUE fNWARDNEeS OF HIS
GREAT WHEAT CORNER.

GREAT WHEAT CORNER.
PERSONAL Traits of the Noted Chicago Spec
ulator-How He Came to Study tho As-
ricultural Condition of the Two Cent?
nents-The Outcome.
The attention Of two continents has been
recently centered on 3. p. Hutchinson-"Old
Hutch"-of Chicago, the man who has, single
handed and unaided, conducted the great
wheat corner The commercial world is ia
mifiar with ''Old Hutch" as Spectator and
merchant New England claims him as her
offspring, taking cognizance Of lin at the
time when he began his career in North
Reading, Mass, forty-six years ago, when he
was In the employ Of Edwin Foster, coun-
try merchant, at 500 year. When not
otherwise employed it was young Hutchin-
sons duty to mend children's shoes in the
rear of the store. AS Ben did not receive
sufficient salary to satisfy him be obtained
permission to open boot and shoe shop in
his employers shed Hero he first evinced
his talent for trading, always managing to
get ahead Of the boys who started even with
him. In 1850 he found that there was money
In the commission business, aud took hand
In it on Pearl street in Boston. he remained
there two years and removed to Milwaukee,
and from there he came to Chicago With
his commercial history from that time to the
present every Chicagoan is familiar. With
his personal characteristics, his peculiarities
and his oddities his own city is not entirely
familiar, as the subjoined stories win show:
There must be something in the character
Of B. P. Hutchinson which people do not un-
derstand," said to man who has enjoyed
the friendship and known the peculiarities OF
Mr.. Hutchinson for quarter of century.
Tell me something about him if you can
that the public doesn't know; something
about him as be sees himself, for no man can
be anything, either honest or knave, without
knowing in some Of the hours Of his existence
his true character"
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.
''To be BRIEF" said the gentleman, "the
character of Mr. Hutchinson is Kaleidoscope.
1t is difficult to understand such compound,
l admit 1t requires personal acquaintance,
business acquaintance, and cursory ac-
quaintance to form an opinion of such
man.
shall not undertake to quote all the Ian
guage of the gentleman who talked to me
about Mr. Hutchinson. From the converse
ton l make the following estimate:
Mr. Hutcliinson's foundation Characters
tics are untiring activity, scrupnlous fidelity
to men whom he trusts, fortitude and sleep
less determination. Ee is intuitive. Some
months ago, when he was confined to his
home by an accident. he made q study of the
agricultural condition Of the two continents.
Most men in the sick room employ their
time trying to make others about them mis-
cradle. Ir Hutchinson protited by his mis-
fortune That is characteristic of him. TIE
day came fer him to get out of the house
He came to the Corn Exchange bank, and on
meeting his son 'Charlie," said to him:
''The world is short of wheat" He is al
ways sententious, SO that this created no
marked impression.
He went over to the Century club, sat
down and sent one thumb whirling over the
other, as he often does when he is thinking,
and said: 1.-The world is short of wheat"
The remark did not create any comment
there. He went over on tho board and met
the breathless confusion of that place. In a
fatherly tone, he said: ''Boys, the world is
short of wheat"
The surging sea Of speculation kept surg
ing The old mans voice had no effect upon
the storm Let me quote the informant:
UNDERSTOOD THE SITUATION.
''He had studied the situation He knew he
was right He had sounded the alarm.
Grange to say, there were men who knew
him as well as who heard him say this, and
they knew he was no alarn1ist or croaker,
and yet they paid no attention to him. It is
my opinion that the old man felt piqned at
this apparent disregard Of his forecast. BE
is one Of the most sensitive men [ ever knew.
That is something which most men will
laugh at But it is fact l have known
him to be stung by some light aliasion in tho
press to his personal appearance, habits or
characteristics Some of the pictures that
have been made Of him and printed as carl
cat,.res have caused him pain. He was SEN
sitive, I think, that his remark on the condi-
ton of the worlds wheat crop did not cause
any activity He moped about it for two or
three days and then repeated the remark
with anplihcation. He said, virtually: The
crop is short; you had better buy now; I am
going to run it up"
Strange characteristic Of the human mindi
It loves to take chances All men are gam
blcrs. They prefer to take circuitous routes.
Hr. Hutchinson showed these men where
they could make fortunes, and they doubted
him because be was frank.
The informant continued: "When the old
gentleman saw that they didn't heed him,
having given them every opportunity, he
went on tho stage, rung up the curtain and
said. Let the play begin
The old gentleman Is human like other
men. He was hurt to think he was doubted.
He didn't know why he should be, and when
the rains came and the winds Blew and there
was devil OF time he folded his arms and
looked on from a secure observatory. That
is all there is to this wheat corner It is the
alpha and omega OF the whole business. II
you care to look into it you viii find plenty
of filing, plenty Of sido shows and branches
and all that sort Of thing. But you have tho
start Of it and the end, 60 far as be is con-
ceTned. "-Chicago Times.
Population OF Et. PeeersBurr.