San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-08-25
INSANE MILLlONAIRES.
SPECULATION ON WALL STREET
HAS TURNED THEIR BRAINS.


Broker Operates Among Other Patients.
Enough Wall street men to fill an insane
asylum have gone crazy because of the ter
rible strain upon Them" said a veteran
stock broker to reporter yesterday.
A retrospect of a few years showed that
the remark was true. More than in any
other kind of business the slaves of specu-
lation are liable to lose their reason.
Attention was called to the subject by
the case of Broker Dedrick II. Middendorf,
who was found wandering in the streets OF
this city few days ago.
Middendorf was a speculator in a small
way, and when he made a 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, 900 in his pockets.
He was dangerously insane, and bit and
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 En-
change. He was daring speculator, who
had acquired large fortune in few years.
Mr.. Van Setback lived in Orange, n. j.
One evening he went home wild eyed and
crying. His wife was shocked at his ap-
pearance.
1--WE are paupersr" he cried. All 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 rela-
tives, and in it were found 800, 900 in gov
ernment bonds At the time his mind gave
way he WIS worCh close on to $J00,00O but
he imagined that he was Il pauper.
Mr. Van ScIa!cS was put away in re-
treat. Il : said that he mas almost recov-
cred, and may rut in an&ppearanCe in Wall
street again in a short time.
GET READY - DIE"
The case Of Charles Preatiss is still talk
ed of b.. II 'mht?s Of the Stock Exchange,
although il o2,ICYed several years ago.
PrentiSs wis Il sArewd and successful trad
err who had made fortune by constant
application to the business of speculation.
One day he rushed upon the floor of the
Stock Exchange AID mounted the rostrum.
"You have made your last eighth he
shouted to 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. 1t 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 one 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 a
constant strain, and became mere child.
His plying friends had him removed to a
private hospital, where he still remains.
1t is said that he will never recover his
reason Occasionally Johnes imagines that
he is again figure upon the floor of the
Stock Exchange.
"I'll sell 1000 sugar trust at Gv' he
shouts, while he jumps around and Gre
ates CONSERVATION among the other pa
tients by his agile antics.
Johnes had fortune of 100000 when he
became insane. He had started few years
previously as clerk for Charles F. Woeris-
hotter, the most daring and successful bear
operator that Wall street has ever had.
Jay Gould's first partner, Charles NJ.
Leupp, lost 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 bath tub.
Another acquaintance Of Jay Gould is
now confined in an asylum in this state.
This is Col" Wells, who was 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.. Goued 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 Plat was a prominent Wall street
man ten years ago. He was the American
representative of important German bank
ing houses, and frequently swung line OF
$4,000 shares of stock.
The excitement told on him and he 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 F. Stone used to be a prominent
figure on the Stock Exchange until he went
crazy.
Ex-Surrogate Robert Hutchings is an in
mate of q Jersey asvln.ss. de was unluCkY