The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-07-26
SPECULATION ON WALL STREET
HAS TURNED THEIR BRAINS.

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way, and when he made q few thousand
dollars by the rise in sugar trust certifi-
Gates it is supposed his good luck proved
too much for him.
When found he had Is, 600 in his pockets.
struck the officers who removed him to
Bellevue hospital, where he now is.
A few years ago William Van Schaick
was one Of the best known and most pop
ular members of the New York Stock E1
change. He was a daring speculator, who
had acquired a large fortune in a few years.
One evening he went home wild eyed and
crying. His wife was shocked at his ap-
pearance.
I'VE are paupersl" he cried. Gall that !
had has been lost in Wall street,"
His wife was unnerved at her husbands
words and believed them true. Next day
Van Schaick's safe was opened by his relar
tives, and in it were found 100000 in gov
eminent bonds. At the time his mind gave
way he was worth close on to 100000 but
he imagined that he was a pauper.
Mr.. Van Schaick was put away in q re.
treat. It is said that he has almost recov-
cred, and may put in an appearancein Wall
street again in a short time.
GET READY TO DIE"
The case of Charles Prentiss is still talk
ed of by members of the Stock Exchange,
although it occurred several years ago.
Prentiss wa a shrewd and successful trad
er, who had made a fortune by constant
application to the business of speculation.
One day he rushed upon the floor of the
Stock Exchange and mounted the rostrum.
"You have made your last eighth" he
shouted is his astonished fellow brokers.
"Get ready to die, for the Lord Is about to
visit you all with destruction"
Mr.. Prentiss was taken to his home In
New Jersey by his family and has drifted
out of sight. It Is believed that he never
recovered from his sudden attack of in
sanity.
A memorable case was that of dashing,
handsome Charlie Johnes. He was the
life of the board, always ready with jest
and story and the leader in all sorts of fun.
He was a young man, too, and no n in
the entire city seemed to have a brighter
prospect before him. Johnes was the rec
ognized leader of fashion on the Stock Ex-
change, and his mind was particularly
bright and brilliant.
All at once he collapsed because of q
constant strain, and became a mere child.
His plying friends had him removed to q
private hospital, where he still remains.
It is said that he will never his
reason. Occasionally Johnes imagines that
he is again a figure upon the floor of the
Stock Exchange.
"IIl sell 1000 sugar trust at 90f" hs
shouts, while he jumps around and Gre
ates CONSERVATION among the other pa
tients by his agile antics.
Johnes had a fortune of 500, 600 when he
became insane. He had started a few years
previously as a clerk for Charles +. Woeris.
hotter, the most daring and successful bear
operator that Wall street has ever had.
Jay Gould's first partner, Charles M.
Leupp, lost a fortune in Wall street. He
took the profits from his tannery business
and sunk them in stock speculation.
Then he became insane, and cut his throat
while lying in a bath tub.
Another acquaintance of Jay Gould Is
now confined in an asylum in this state.
This is "Col." Wells, who wa for years
anoted speculator. He lost his fortune, and
conceived the idea that his i'll luck was due
to the Vaccinations of Jay Gould, with
whom he had some business dealings.
Wells became insane upon the subject,
and kept sending letters to Mr.. Gould
threatening the life of the little magnate.
Mr.. Gould became frightened at the threats
and called in the services of Inspector
Byrnes.
The inspector watched the mail boxes,
and caught Col. Wells in the act Of de.
posting a threatening letter addressed to
Mr.. Gould. Wells was tried and found In
sane, and is still confined in an institution.
INTO THE RIVER.
John Platt was q prominent Wall street
man ten years ago. He was the American
representative Of important German bank
ing houses, and frequently swung q line of
$1,000 shares of stock.
The excitement told on him and be went
mad. Platt went down to the foot Of Wall
street one afternoon, after the close Of the
market, and jumped off the dock. His body
was never recovered, and is supposed to
have drifted out to sea.
Amasa T. Stone used to be q prominent
figure on the Stock Exchange until he went
crazy.
Ex,Surrogate Robert Hutchings il an In
mate Of a Jersey asylum. He was unlucky
In Wall street, and the disappointment
broke him down. At one time he was one
Of the largest operators in the market.
The friends Of Douglas Green, who ran
off with Mrs. Snell-McC rae, believe that he
u insane. He was q hard worker and took
little exercise, and it Is said that his quee1
actions on the exchange had attracted at
tention long before he INDUCED in his final
crazy action.
Washington Quinlan, the young plunger
who mysteriously disappeared recently and
has never been heard from, Is believed by
his fellows to have become insane. They
say he had been conducting himself in an
erratic manner owing to his heavy losses
In speculation.
Post, the aged broker, who used to eat
sandwiches and pie at q buffet counter and
skip out without paying for his lunch, was
crazy according to his friends.
So was William q. Guion, who had bean
. speculator for many years, and whose
losses are said to have unbalanced his
mind.
There are men in Wall street who assert
that for q week or two after the Marine
bank failure Russell Sage was insane.
There Is no doubt that he was mad. He
lost 100000 by the decline In the market,
and 1t Is said that be was removed 70
Quogue, L. l., where DR.. Mum attended
him. That was how Dr.. Mum became the
private physician Of Jars Gould. His work
With. Mi. Sage was so ~ef1cacious that Uncle
Russell recommended him to Mr.. Gould,
IN whose employ he has evar stnce besn.-
81. Paul Globe. n