Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-12
PARrRIDGE's FATE IN THE BALANCE.
Whsa& Bounding Upward While He Hastes
70 Realize On His Securities.

Whsas Bounding Upward While He Hastes
70 Realise On His Securities.
CHICAGO, April l2.-The threat Of . dollar q
bushel for May wheat seemed about to be
realized today. Amid intense excitement the
market suddenly shot up over cents on
top of the recent advance Of nearly - cents
At 80 cente, however, there was q sudden sheer
descent Of cents, followed by q rapid rebound
Of 3 cents.
OF the great plunger, Edward Partridge hung
in the balance, and the feeling Of nervousness
and anxiety was widespread He covered his
enormous short sales heavily yesterday, and the
opening today found every one with whom he
had dealings calling his margins away beyond
to be weakened by the advances in july, as
there was an idea he was short a lot Of July in
addition to his short May. He has been turn
ing securities into money for a week but his
necessities apparently had today only fairly
begun.
PARDRIDoE MAKES LITTLE PROFIT TO-DAY.
Everything seemed to be conspiring with the
big bull clique, headed by the multi-millio naire
pork packers and spectators, Michael and John
Cudahy, to make life a burden to Partridge,
who first achieved wealth as dry goods mer-
chant.
The weekly weather crop bullitins, while
generally favorable to the short side Of corn
and oats were unfavorable on wheat Notwith-
standing widespread storms throughout the
west. Kansas, according to the government
weather map, preserved her drouth practically
intact.
10 make matters worse crop experts wired:
mo Improvement in wheat; not question of
weather; damage done"
With terrific clamor May wheat opened at
80 cents. jump Of 80 cents from last nights
closing quotation. There was a theory appar-
emily that 80 cents would catch the willy little
plunger. but apparently he had pulled himself
together over night. temporarily at least, and
the clique failing in its supposed original pur-
pose began pounding the market back again
and through one OF its best known representa-
tives. Linn.
In less than five minutes the price was back
to "a. A series Of wild fluctuations that drove
that figure under 80 cents ensued but although
the excitement was undated trading exhausted
itself, and at the end of an hour quotations were
figures, though another upheaval was looked for
any moment. The bulls were evidently disposed
to take much May at high prices.
Partridge was on the floor in person. and
Notwithstanding the fire Of his enemies seemed
more himself than yesterday, when for the first
time it is said he was visibly ratified.
He sold July yesterday around n cents and
was taking it back today at a cent or more
profit, a neat flank movement, while apparently
hanging like grim death to his big deal in May,
Hurried perhaps, but not yet ready by any
means to cry quits.
An irrepressible feeling Of admiration and
even half sympathy for .'the plucky little
devil, as he was irreverently alluded to in the
crowded pit. began to spread rapidly. 1t was
the talk that Fardridge had for the moment won
the big battle, but on the other hand there
were whispers that before the deal closed he
would meet his Waterloo.
Nothing was discussed except the affairs OF
the famous "short'' and rib was waiting for the
hour Of II 80 o'clock with ilI-concealed anxiety
After 1890 there was practically no trading in
May and very little in July.
SAFELY PASSED THE CRISIS.
The crisis passed quietly enough, fears to the
contrary notwithstanding, and the market be.
came excessively dull at $40 to IS for May.
July opened about unchanged at 7611, declined
to 1914 and recovered to 751sa76. Corn and
oats opened easier in spite of light receipts.
The talk Of enlarged acreage as a result OF
the wheat failure had a depressing effect, bu,
there was rally later in sympathy with the
frmness in wheat and hog products. May corn
declined nc. and allied e. May oats fell 1c.
and recovered
There was a surprise in provisions. 1t was
expected they wonld be very weak, because
2.000 hogs arrived instead of the $4,000 ex.
pected. But there was pronounced buying and
prices advanced sharply.
Patterson the leading buyer Of pork.
The Fairbank crowd took lard. September
pork opened cents off at 1929, touched
16 40 AND advanced to 16 70