The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-03
SOME ODD STORIES.

The Story of WcIl Known Stockbroker
Who Was Suspected of a Terrible Crime.
The Mystery of Secret Chamber In His
Elegant Fifth Avenue Home.
copyright, 1893, by American Press Assoc1a-
tion.1
He is dead now, but the secret of his
ltrange and remarkable behavior remains
h mystery to many who knew him well in
life and transacted business with him on
the street. Perhaps the attempt at disguise
may seem superficial, but rather than give
pffense to any of his relatives or friends
shall call him Martin Rowe, which was not
his true name.
Rowe was most successful operator in
stocks at the time when Jay Gould was in
his prime and was astounding the world by
his daring and nervy deals. Like Gould,
Rowe had risen from the ranks of poverty,
and at one time it seemed that he might
make reputation for audacity and success
equal to that of the s'wizard'' himself. But
q great shadow came over his life, and his
later years were clouded and unhappy, al
though his domestic relations were most
satisfactory.
heard Rowe's story from the lips of one
of the most successful lawyers of New
York, who was the brokers' legal adviser,
and l give it, as near as possible, in the
lawyers words:
'sFor some time / had heard rumors
about Rowe's singular actions, but was
so busy paid little attention to them. 1t
was said he was troubled with strange
lapses of memory, and that at times he
would be seized with fits of trembling,
evincing every symptom of mortal terror.
Whenever these trembling fits came upon
him, he dropped everything and rushed
away home as fast as steam and horsefesh
could carry him.
But this was not all. 1t began to be
ru1nored about that he had caused secret
chamber to be constructed upon the top of
his elegant Fifth avenue residence. Ac-
cording to gossip, the door to this chamber
was of iron, riyeted and bolted and pom
derous to move.
What this chamber contained no person
on earth could say except Martin Rowe.
After the hanging of the iron door he
alone passed beyond it. To all but himself
the door was locked and immovable. His
servants were forbidden to approach the
chamber, and his wife and daughter were
warned to keep away from the iron door,
LAS may be imagined, the knowledge OF
this mystery caused great deal OF specu-
lation. It was limited that the secret hid
den behind that ponderous door would ruin
and iInprison Martin Rowe were it known
to the general public. Whisperings of an
unexplained crime were to be heard now
and then, and men began to shun the sue
cessful fnancier, whose hair was whitening
with unnatural rapidity.
"As have said, paid little attention to
these stories until at length the actual ex-
istence of the mysterious chamber OF the
iron door was forcibly brought to my notice.
within few months Rowe had changed
from man of middle age, vigorous In body
and mind, to what appeared man OF adj
vanced years, doubtful and uncertain, verg-
ing on the decay of his mental powers. For
several days he was so i'll he did not attend
to business, and he finally sent for me to
come to his house.
$40 my surprise, found him dressed and
seated comfortably in his library, appear
ing better than he had for some time.
"sGraham, he said, I wish to make some
alterations in my will. l have been con-
templating such a move for some time, and
as I am liable to die suddenly l will have
it attended to at once
"sBosh, bosh, Rowep cried. Liable to
die suddenly! Why, you are looking bet
ter than have see you for months
"'We may any of us meet sudden DEATH
was his retort, and then we got down to
business.
s'All at once, as we were in the midst OF
our work, heard Rowe breathing heavily,
as if with difficulty. Looking up, to my
horror saw he was deathly pale and shak-
ing like man with the ague, while his
ewes rolled from side to side. His lips
moved, but he uttered no words.
"sGreat Godi What is the matterF
gasped, leaping to my feet,
He did not reply, but arose to his feet
and staggered from thereon. Unconscious
ly I followed, ready to catch him should
he fall. He hurried up the stairs, and some
thing seemed to drag me after him, al
though was quite unaware of my action.
up the three flights he went, clutching
at the rail and breathing like an oyerdriven
horse all the way. 1t was dark away up
there at the top Of the house. but heard
his shaking hand fit a key into a lock. Then
he vanished behind closing door that gave
out sullen clang,
.In a moment I remembered all the
strange stories had heard about this man
and the mysterious chamber, and l knew
there had been truth in the tales. Ileaped
| forward and tried to pull open the door,
| but it was immovable.
mot till that moment did realize what
| had done in thus following him there.
But the fascination Of the spot was SO
| great that could not tear myself away,
End leaning against the door listened
| .sSomewhere I heard the mufaed whil
Of machinery interningled with a clock
like ticking. Then I fanoied could dis
t;nguish smothered shrieks and shouts, and
nv blood ran cold in my body. Filled
| with a great terror and nameless horror,
CROPPED my way down the stairs. sinking
| into chair In the library.
"A full hour passed before Martin Rowe
returned, but when he came slowly down
the stairs and entered by the open door hi
was calm and courtly, although still re
markedly pallid. with one or two sligh
| abrasions on his face. Not word of ex
| PLANTATION did he give.
ssWhen I left that house, it was with th'