The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-09-09
FERDINAND SCHLESLNGER.


aud his history early and late is being
written up. The following scrap is
clipped from the Chicago Post:
Eight Or ten years ago there appeared
in Milwaukee hatchet-faced, keen
eyed little man named FERDINAND
Schlesinger. He found employment in
n rich family as tutor for two lads.
The little professor had modest
chunk of money with him and being of
a speculative turn hc caught the iron
mining craze, which was raging at the
time and turning Wisconsin inside out.
He found ex-Mayor j. NJ Stowell, now
the mogul of the Colorado Midland, u
pleasant man to do business with, and
in few months he was stranded--hat
broke. He made raise somewhere and
journeyed back to Germany, returning
q few months later with couple of
patents of milling machinery. The
Cookie Separating Manufacturing
Company and the Superlative Purify
ing Company were organized, and these
together with the York Iron Mining
Company, established by him on the
occasion of his first visit formed the
basis of banking credit in small
way. He began manufacturing his
milling devices and for two or three
years did some curious and wonderful
shining for funds to keep himself 60
ing. He early mastered the mysteries
of "kiting" checks and paper between
banks, occasionally varying the
programme by drawing on relative in
New York who always accepted" the
drafts with the sang froid of mil
lionaire.
About five years ago ferdinand again
disappeared for two or three months.
On his return he called at the Van
Dykes (J. H., the father, and his two
sons, G. ID. and w. d. principal own
ers of the rich Chaplin iron mine, and
asked them what they would take for
that property. They knew all about
Schlesinger and almost kicked him out
of the office. Their visitor was
persistent and after labored effort
persuaded them that there might be
something IN his claim that he was
commissioned to negotiate for the
mine. They finally said they would
take 81 100000 for the control of the
mine, $800,000 and the balance in
ninety days, secured by the stock. II
will take it. The property is worth it.
L have had experts examine it careful
ly. step in tomorrow and you step
out. cash and accounts to remain as
they are now"
The Van Dykes were thunderstruck.
They thought the little man had gone
crazy, but being committed to the
they could not back out,
and told him to come around the next
day at IL o'clock prepared to fill the
contract. ferdinand was on hand at
IL o'clock sharp. The owners had the
paper ready to deliver. Heres the
stock, now where's your money? said
the elder Van Dyke prompously. "How
do you want it?" asked ferdinand.
In currency or something that will
fetch the curi ency on sight" / will
lraw you check, then, and suiting the
action to the words he pulled out a
nice new check book and drew check
On the Plankington bank for $S00,000
Then the Van Dykes knew he was
crazy. They had only surmised it be-
lore, now there was no escaping the
;he conclusion, he might as well have
made it $S,O00,00O.
Noticing the sensation he had caused,
5chlesinger asked if they would prefer
,he currency. Never mind" said the
elder Van Dyke, Il will run over to
he bank and get the check certified"
glad of an excuse to escape the
presence of madman who might sud
lenly develop homicidal tendencies, and
1t the same time conscience-stricken
because he had left his two sons behind.
But he had no difficulty getting the
,heck certified, for Schlesinger had
hat morning deposited drafts on
Landenburg, Thalman & Co., Of New
York, for 81 100000, who in response
o telegram of inquiry FROM the
wired FERDINAND
,chlesinger's credit is unlimited"
He at once entered into possession of
he Menominee mine, now known as
he Chaplin, said to be the greatest iron
nine In the world. He branched out
n most extraordinary way, buying
mining property right and left, build
ng railroad through the Menominee
.ange and establishing or buying
plants all over the
to make an outlet for the pro-
lucts of his mine. He bought one of
he finest mansions on the Mob hill Of
Milwaukee and installed as its mistress
,ne of Cincinatti's star beauties. Mr..
md Mrs. Schlesinger have been at the
,op of the social heap for two or three
years. Nothing has been two dazzling
or FERDINAND and his young wife to
Undertake in their social way. They
lad Milwaukee at their feet.
Not long ago the dispatches an
1onnced that the North. Western Rail
.oad Co. had attached one of the
5chlesinger mines at Negaunee for
SIC, 900 freight bill and soon thereafter
/ was reported on the exchanges from
,ne end Of the country to the other that
he @Scblesinger syndicate had failed
'or $40, 900, ,O0O." The Bouton Foun-
Try company, OF this city, recently, ac-
luired by ferdinand, promptly sus-
pended, and an immense sensatIon
seemed imminent. ,
Suddenly the reassuring voice of the