St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-14
PICTURE OF HUTCH"
Tow the Great Wheat King
Made His Ten Mill
ions.
Not a Bold Spectator in the
Past, but a
SealpeP.
&c Lives at the Century Club,
and Goes to
Market.
a Night in His Carpet Store
With "a Very Heavy
Jag On"
Chicago Letter.

Chicago Letter.
The man who was responsible for the
big corner i'll wheat is one of the quaint
est, ruggedest. most successful and
richest operators on the Chicago board
Of trade He is worth a round Sl0,O0O,-
900. His name is Benjamin p. Hutchin-
sou. but nobody thinks of calling him
ANYTHING but odd Hutch He has
rather Youthful look and Sprightly step,
although he is over sixty years old.
He is tall. JrOad-ShOuldered and stall
Wart. plain and almost shabby in dress.
He is democratic in his manner, and
will stop in the street to talk about the
matter with the shabbieSt spectator on
the open board. In the summer he wears
an old brown straw hat. This he eX-
changes when the frost comes for big
sOmbUeTO. rusty and dusty. Sometimes
he refuses to take his hat OFF in places
where the Usages Of society call for
barred heads. and it Is even alleged that
he usually uses his big hat for night
zap.
His son. Charles Hutchinson. is still a
is president Of the board of trade and at
the head of the rich Cotton Exchange
bank. He is also a patron of art and is
president of the Chicago Art institute.
But the old man doesn't believe in art
He even SweaTS at art as ne SWearS at
anything else. He was a much dis
guSted man when he heard that Charley
had paid 81 200 for picture Of three or
four sheep by Rosa Bonheur.
Like many OF the successful business
men of Chicago. Hutchinson came from
New England. After leaving his bench
in LYNN. Mass. he started a dry goods
store. but was caught in the panic of
1857 and knocked out. with $4,000 LA
bilities and small assets. He came I'M
mediatelv to Chicago and began
specializing on the board. In two years
ne paid OF his debt down East and at
the beginning of the war was free from
Embarrassment. Ever since he has
been growing
RICHER AND RICHER.
He has not been bold Spectator
heretofore. He has avoided big deals
and corners. and has made it point to
show profit at the end of each days
trading. He is a s@alper. and no one
knows better the value Of One-eighth of
per cent multiplied by millions OF
bushels. quickly turned and on the
right side OF the ledger. He likes to
Jump iD quick and out at the first Opp0T-
tuuity, showing a profit. He hates
loss worse than poor man does, with
all his stake. ana has been known to
load up with million OF wheat and
then close out on decline OF =. lie
dabbles in real estate on the same plan.
He will buy a tract Of land for 100000
and sell il the next day for Sl01. 600. II
mo aqp trnT Ha mazda On Ouph ont Of
put and call business that the other fel-
lows had to stop that business. For a
violation of the rule the old man was
suspended from the board for ninety
days.
-iF. Hutchinson is very Secretiye. 1t
is said that once he voluntarily sent
$4,000 to a friend. who was in trouble
out of pure gratitude. The man told
about it. This 50 angered the old man
that he has not spoken to him since.
Mr.. Hutchinson lives in the
CENTURY CLUB.
in the fOur-StOry brown mansion lust
across from the board of trade. As he
takes most Of his meals there he recOg-
niZes the value OF economy in every
department. and. constituting himself
as pemmissarv-gen he hangs mar
ket basket on his arm and stalks among
the commission merchants of South
Water street. From them he asks and
gets bottom figures. for he will stand
no tritiing. When a hucksteT tries TO
get another nickel for his potatoes the
old mans face changes to an apopleetic
hue and he denOunces the ''rObber'' on
the spot.
This Century club. by the way. is like
Mr. Blaine'S truStS-iargely a private
affair. The few members on its rolls
are choice spirits who are willing TO
Join in a friendly game OF whist or
poker with Mr.. Hutchinson. Mr.. Hutch
inSOn's drink is whisky. This story is
told OF him: The Chicago CaTpetcOm-
pauy occupies the northeast corner of
Monroe street and Wabash avenue.
Mr.. Hutchinson has a large interest in
the firm. and. rs he likes to inspect mis-
property in his own way and at his own
time. he has a key to the store. The
show window is a very elaborate affair.
The sOftest and richest rugs are
thrown upon Il hardwood floor: hand
some draperies form a tasteful back
ground. and a couch
FIT FOR 4 QUEEN
finishes the picture. One night. so the
story goes. "Old Hutch ''had lag
on as they say in the untutOred West.
and he concluded to 90 to the store.
He looked through the stock TO his sat
isfacti0n, and then was about to leave.
when his eye caught the great window.
He felt tired. and in an instant after.
as he threw himself on the couch. he
was fast asleep, and there he was, hat
and all. when he was discovered early
in the morning.
The wheat deal iuwhich ''Old Hutch
has been engaged Is in many respects
the most important operation Of his life
1t presents him in new light. and a
glimpse OF a new phase of his many
sided characteristics IS given. He is
not seen this time as ScalpeT, working
Tor quick and narrow margins. lie mas
been master OF the situation throughout.
and he knew it.
Most of Mr.. Hutchins0n's money is in
the shape of quick assets. and when he
has bought large line of stocks he has
always paid for it in cash He has
never been a man TO attract q loyal and
Steadfast following. being almost too
volatile. While lacking IN tenacIty of
purpose. he has more than made up for
1t in quickneSs of perception and accu-
Tacy of Judgment. He has, of course.
met with losses. but they have been few
and small in comparison with his sue
ceSSeS.
Episcopal Incomes.
Chicago Tribune.