The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-02
Jay Gould's Career.

jay Gould's Career.
Jay Gould was born May q, 1886, in
Roxbury, Delaware county, y. Y. His
IN mother died when he was about six years
old. The widower married again, and
w hen he died in 1866 he was mourned by
the plutocrat's second stepmother.
There was good blood in Jay Gould.
lie was an American back TO earliest
New England traditions, Yankee of
Yankees.
When the Crystal Palace opened in
1853 in New York. there was among its
exhibitors a boy OF IL, inventor of
nous. trap President Pierce stopped as
he passed. ana seemed taken with the
youngster whose small statue made him
seem even younger than he was. While
bringing this trap of his through the city
he had it stolen from him by a profes-
sional thief. who was disgusted enough
when lie saw that the snowy mahogany
case only contained n new-fangled mouse
trap Young Gould's persistent chase of
this thief resulted in bringing him TO
justice for other and much more serious
offences.
The incident was almost -Ake-aa alle--
CORY OF the future stock wrecker. and
lad TO III. ID. Lloyd's famous characteriZa-
tion of him as the little man with the
mouse trap"
Jay Gouid's first real attempt at busi-
ness of his own peculiar sort was while
he was in ''Squire" BurhalPs store, near
his own house. \ portion of an estate
which had been the subject of litigation
for years, was about to bj sold, and jays
employer had endeavored TO purchase ii.
There was some disagreement ABOUT the
price. The executor asked 81 500 but the
man for whom you z Gould worked was
not willing to give more than $1,000.
Jaw, of course, read all and wrote part
of the letters that passed between
the two and it occurred TO
him that he might make a strike, He
discovered that the property was worth
at least $1,000 in the market, and under
stood that there was n chance TO specu-
late. Accordingly, without his employ
ers knowledge, he borrowed $500 from
his father and went down to Kingston
where the executor of the estate resided.
He said that he had come down to pur-
chase the land and laid down the money.
The bargain was soon closed, the deed
being made in his fathers name, and in-
side OF two weeks jay sold the land for
$1,000, clearing Sl,500 by the transaction.
This breach OF faith caused separation
of Gould and his employer, and also be-
tween Gould aud charming young
relative of tue squlre's, who might else
have become mistress of Irving on, with
all the comforts and dignity of all en-
press.
Young Gould had always been fond of
IN tthematics, and used TO get up before
daylight In the morning TO study sur
veying before he opened the store. While
carrying on surveys Gould met Col.
Zadoc Pratt, a rich mau and the owner
of one of the largest tanneries In the
country. Gould did some surveying for
him aud IL was proposed that they should
go into the tannery business together
Next day Gould >tarted for Pennsylvania,
found that the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western Railroad had just completed its
tracks and had for sale large tracts OF
hemlock timber. Col. Pratt authorized
the purchase of the land, and with fifty
or sixty mel the tannery works were be
gun. In the course OF time mammoth
establishment was in full blast, under the
firm name of Pratt & Gould.
La er Col. Pratt offered 20 sell TO Gould
for $40 900 or to pay him $4,000 TO leave
the business. Gould was given ten days
TO consider the matter and at the end OF
that time he surprised the Colonel who
had supposed him without ready funds,
by agreeing To purchase the tannery.
Charles leupp, of tue firm of Leupp ~
Lee, then became partner in the busi-
ness, and, as he furnished all the money,
he footed the bills, which came in SO fast
that on the memorable Black FRI
day Deupp a. Lee went to the
wall. Leupp could not withstand the
strain aud he killed himself by sending
n bullet through his brain. Lsupp left
two daughters, and the only thing left OF
the wreck was their fathers interest In
the taunery.. Lee was appointed admins
traitor OF his partners estate, and he
decided to take possession Of the tannery
aud turn Gould out. Lee went 10 Scran-
ton and consulted n lawyer named -NiI-
lard, who advised him TO resort 10 force.
The two went TO Gouldsboro and organ
ized band OF rouRhs, which marched TO
the tannery and took possession.
Gould. hearing the news, came uD from
New York, rallied 100 or more rufiians,
who armed themselves with clubs, guns,
scythes and all sorts OF weapons Gould
hung red flannel shirt on pole, aud
under this banner the force was marched
4 a the fannnrv- and affnr "a aaxara Hnhf