Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-01
50 G0FF IS DEAD,
AND DEAD WITH HIM IS BIS MIGHTY EX-
PORT COMPANY.
4 Big Scramble for ths Assats-Ths Treasurer
Grabs the Office Chalrs-A Man Who
Wosked tho Republic Of Ecuador for
all That 1t Was Worth.

New York, May 31.-Edwards H.
GOff, a man who enjoyed and deserved
the reputation of being able to raise
more money on wind than any man in
New York, died on Thursday at his
home in 135th street, and with him per
iShed one of the Smartest schemes Tor
getting rich easily that even his fertile
brain ever euvolvcd.
Goff was the head of the American
Export and Trading Company, con-
cNn about which great deal OF int0r-
nation was given late in December last
TNiS corporation was organized two
years ago, as its charter says:
For doing general commission ex-
port and import business in manufac-
tured and manufactured goods and
merchandise between the United States
of America and the Spanish American
republics, Brazil, West India Islands
and other countries; for obtaining
rights, contracts, franchises in such
countries, and selling same or pro-
noting separate companies for exploit
ing, developing, utilizing and market
| ing the same, which companies shall
be subsidiary to this parent company.
1t has been great promoter OF re
ciprocity," and Goff fondly believed
when he was stricken down ten days
ago that he was on the eve OF making
a sudden fortune by deal which he
had completed with one South Ameri-
can republic, while he had negotiations
under way for still more profitable trea-
ties with other governments below the
equator.
According to the statement OF gen.
/ tleman who say the correspondence Il
| few days before Golf'S death, private
commercial treaty had been made by
! that ambitious individual with the Re-
public OF Ecuador, the terms OF which
| awarded to him or his company mo-
nopoly of all the trade that passed
through Ecuador's custom houses. In
| other words, as the letters specified and
Goff explained, the Government OF
| Ecuador bound itself to refuse admission
at its ports to all goods from the United
States which did not bear the stamp OF
the American Export and Trading Com
pany. The reason which was TO be
| publicly given for the granting of
this tremendous concession was that
the poor people of Ecuador
had been grievously Swindled by Amer
! lean traders: that goods sold there by
| sample did not prove TO be OF the quail
ty represented, and that there was no
way TO protect the purchasers exceptby
establishing some sort of guaranteeing
! bureau in this country. This duty OF
stamping its approval upon all goods
destined for Ecuador, the President and
his advisers decided TO place in the
hands of Gof's company. 1t was FUR
ther understood that the duties upon
these goods bearing the stamp of the
American Export and Trading Company
would be made the subject OF careful
consideration by the officers OF the
EcuodOr Government, and that they
certainly should not be higher than the
duties upon similar goods imported
from other countries.
"Of course" explained tho gentleman
who had received the details of the
scheme from Mr.. .Goff, "the couces-
sion was made solely in the interest OF
the poor, swindled people of Ecuador
with an expressive wink, and the
President aud other officers of the
southern republic were not personally
to profit in any way (another wink by
the valuable privilege which they gave
to Mr.. Goff There was another pecu-
liar and liberal feature of the deal,
which shows what generous people
these EcuadOrian officials are. Goh
had completely exhausted his financial
resources in organizing and doing the
preliminary work of his great
scheme. He hadn't money
enough left to pay thr office
boy in his elegant quarters at Bowling
Green. SO he had to call on his Ecuador
friends for fresh capital with which they
had given him. They agreed to send
him $40, eco and he told them that he
had received telegram ten days ago
saving that the money was on the way.
II will reach here tomorrow or next
dav. but the deal will never be carried
out, for Goff alone was the An erican
Export and Trading Company, and no.
body but he could put the things
through"
1t was said further that most OF the
negotiations for the granting OF the eX-
traordnary concessions to Gotf's COM
pany were made with the Ecuador Off
cials through the COnsul-General at this
port, Mr.. Domingo L. Ruiz.
But the deal with Ecuador was by no
means the only great scheme of the
same nature which Golf had on hand.
He expected 10 make very advanta-
ceous arrangement with Chill as soon as
the cruel war is over down there. The
Consul General of Chilli, Federico A.
Beelan, is one OF the directors in Goff's
American Export and Trading Com
pany, and he was expected TO use some
Of Goff's telling arguments with the
winners in the fight in order to get
another big concession for the company
in which he is director
Right here it is interesting to quote
few words from man who as much as
ANYBODY was in Goff's confidence, and
who is well informed on what his plans
Were and what had already been accom-
pliShed.
Edward Fl. Goff, was the smarteSt
business man in New York" he declared
With great emphasis, Ii he had lived
oven a month longer he would have
made the biggest success on record
considerjng the amount OF money in
vested. Some Of his deals would have
bren brought 10 Successful issue WIN
in tbat time. and then his profits would
rav.' 'haan enormous. He was in IN aw-