Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-09-19
LIVING AND DEAD.

| tAS NOTSl since 'bldck FRIDAY.
Fortunes acquired by years of patient
toll and rigid economy had beer
swept away in few hours. Men rated
us millionaires yesterday were beggars
to-day. But only those who have
been in the whirlpool OF humanity
| that surges over the floor 10 the Stock
Exchange can understand the full
meaning OF the words, "A panic on
Wall street"
Many OF the Oldest and strongest
houses had gone in the storm, and
there was no prospect OF early relief.
The rate OF interest for money had
been going higher and higher until the
figures reached were almost ruinous.
| and then came the terrible announce
ment that the banks would lend no
more. Money could not be obtained
and the few traders who had been
holding on in a vain hope ofrelIei
from some quarter must now throw
their stocks on the market at great
loss and send pricesd down with a rush.
Men lived years in a few hours, and
strong indeed must be the man. i'm
mind and body, who could stand the
strain.
Among those who rushed to and fro
as II mad, on the floor of the Ex-
change, none seemed better fitted to
bear the fearful excitement than
Phlllp Dryer, one of the Youngest
traders on the street. He had been
a member OF the Exchange less than
year, but in that brief time had
established reputation as a cautious
and skillful trader that was valuable.
He took few great risks and made
money from the start.
Dryer was Il handsome. manly
young fellow and very popular on the
street. He was usually cool and col
lec-el. carefully calculating the chances
o. every deal before lie closed it. but
now he seemed terribly excited. His
tace was pale, his lips drawn and large
drops OF perspiration stood on his
forehead. Anxiously he watched the
quotations on his favorite stock. of
winch he was carrying a large block.
Little by little he saw the price 20
down and down until the limit of his
margins was almost reached Then.
with his breath coming in quick gasps.
ne gathered up hi, last batch OF Sc
curltles and hurried away to his bank
ers to borrow more money.
There was more than the loss OF
- i,Ina q :, ~ Sc Dhilin n-,o,. 80
day. Six months before he had mar
ried the sweetest and prettiest girl in
New York. His bride was the daugh-
ter OF wealthy retired merchant
and she had always been accustomed
to a life of luxury. He had promised
on their wedding day that she should
never know wish unqualified. He
had purchased for her beautiful and
costly home and had furnished it
with everything that wealth and good
taste could suggest. There was bal
ance due on his home and the place
was mortgaged to secure it. Thepay-
ment would be due in few days. A
few successful deals on the Stock Elk
change now and he would have the
money. But the tide had set against
him, the panic came and all his for
tunce seemed about to be swept
away. If he lost on the present deal
he would be penniless, the beautiful
home would be sold and his fair
young wife turned into the street.
No more loans to-day" answered
the cashier briefly to Philip DRYERS
appeal for $4,000 to tide him over
the panic.
Mechanically the young broker
turned and made his way back to
the exchange. 1t seemed to him that
dark cloud had suddenly shut off
the sunlight, but he would 20 back:
perhaps there had been a turn of the
tide. He reached the floor of the ex-
change at last and then as one hears
IN dream, he heard his own failure
on contracts announced and saw all
his holdings of stock closed out at
auction. The hammer fell, the wild
shouts OF the panic-stricken ceased.
The business Of the day was over,
the closing hour had arrived and
scores of pale-faced men staggered
out into the open air to breathe and
think.
Philip Dryer stood in front of the
Exchanged few moments, and then
walked slowly away from the scene of
his ruin. All his surroundings seemed
so changed he did not realize where he
was. As a man in a trance might
walk he went on, not knowing or
caring where his footsteps led. He
turned up Wall street toward Trinity.
The chimes of the grand old church
suddenly pealed forth, but to Philip
Dryer they seemed to be the voices of
demons shrieking in his ears. He
hurried on to the river, and there he
saw the tall masts Of a ship dImly
outlined against the sky. Then he
knew no more. A mist was over his
eyes; he could not see. OF the past
he remembered nothing.
While walking from the Stock Ex-
change to North River the expression