Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-06-04
HE CONQUERED GOULD-
JAMES M'HENRY, THE DEAD
FINANCIER,

Ousted the Wizard from Erie's Control
Was a Second Warwick--Put Alfonso
on the Throne of spain-Pfincely Bene-
factions to His Friends.
The death OF James MeHenry from
bronchitis, which was announced by
cable from London, created profound
interest in Wall street. Mr. McHenry
had lived so long abroad and had pro-
NOTED and financed so maiy foreign en-
terprises that most people supposed him
to be an Englishman. He was, however,
essentially an Americans; for, although
born in Ireland, he was, while an infant,
brought to this country by his father,
well-known physician, who settled in
Philadelphia and practiced there for
many years Ii was In the Quaker City
that young McHenry was educated and
it was there that he began his business
career
At the head of the English investors in
the Erie property, who owned what was
OF the bonds and shares, McHenry un-
dertook to turn the plunderers out OF
power. The amazing condition of the
judiciary of Ibis city, as well as of the
municipal and State governments, at
that time is matter of history. General
Daniel +. Sickles, on behalf OF the own
ers of the Erie property, sought to re-
gain control of it through the Legis-
lature, and the judiciary was worked by
means of suits brought by the Attorney
General, the late Francis c. Barlow
1t was in vain Backed by the treas
ury of the Eric Company and the power
OF the ring in the city aud State, Gould
and his associate, Fisk, seemed to be in
vincib e. At this iuncture Mr.. George
Crouch went TO London and laid before
Mr.. McHenry and Mr. Bischoffsheim a
plan for deposing the precious pair
through a revolt of their own directors.
The scheme was adopted, and after a
series OF exciting and nearly incredible
incidents, which assumed almost the
aspect OF civil war, the struggle ter
minated In the ejectment OF the plum
derers and in Mr.. Gould ultimately Civ
of securities, which are credited to-day
on the books of the Erie Company as his
restitution fund"
In his way McHenry was Warwick,
a king-maker, for he was instrumental
in putting Alfonso on the throne of
| Spain, and was prominent In project
! for placing the hapless Prince Imperial
on the throne of France. Mr.. Nc
Henry's splendid mansion, Oak Lodge,
Kenslngton, just back OF Holland Park,
is well known to thousands OF Ameri-
cans who were entertained there with
I almost rosol- splandnr
Notwithstanding occasional reverses
OF fortune, he appeared to always have
had in. reserve the means to keep up this
establishment The house was filed
with the richest furniture and the
choicest works of art IL was In this
mansion, with Mr. McHenry and his
wife, that Isabella, the ex-Queen oi
Spain, with her son Alfonso, so.ourned
after she was deposed. 1t was there
that the young Prince made his home
while prosecuting his studies as cadet
at the Woolwich Military Academy, and
It was there that McfIenry and his asso-
ciates perfected their plans for raising
the funds which were successfully used
In placing the young man on the throne
of his mother.
When Napoleon and Eugene sought
refuge in England they, with their son,
were the guests of Mr.. McHenry, and Il
was at Oak Lodge that the Prince I'm.
peral lived for years while attending
Woolwich Academy, just as Alfonso had
done years before. occupying the same
suite of rooms. History came very near
repeating itself in singular manner, for
/ In the same house financial arrange
ments were made and plans perfected
! for placing the Prince Imperial on the
/ throne formerly occupied by his father,
| just as Alfonso had succeeded to Isa
bella's. These, however. werc doomed
to failure.
The prncely style IN which he used
the great fortunes he accumulated az @6nr.
nishes many Interesting uuecdotes. The
late s. L. NJ. Barlow, of New York, was
Mr. McHenry's counsel in connection
with Erie. On one of his visits here Mr..
McHenry happened TO visit with Mrs.
Barrow and others an estate at Glen
Cove, L. l., which was on the market
The day before he sailed for England
Mr. McHenry presented Mrs. Barlow
With the title deeds of the property,
which was valued at several hundred
Thousand dollars. After the Erie vic
tory Mr.. Crouch, who had been literally
compensated for his services In tha
campaign, dined one evening at Oal
Lodge. AS he was leaving Mr. McHenry
handed him an envelope with the re
quest that he would peruse its contents
at his leisure. It contained the hosts
personal check for 100000