Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1894-12-05
THESE ARE LIVELY.
MESSENGERS WHO ARE NOT OF THE
SLOW PERSUASION.

They Wear Diamonds Because They he
proye Their Opportunities of the
wall street Mercuries Have Access to
Valuable Information.
"Of course you know those chaps do
not live ON their salaries, said wall
street broker few days ago. pointing
to one of those speedy messengers that
are seen daily just before the close OF
the exchange flying frantically along
the street.
"Just notice the next one that comes
along" the broker continued. 1T IS III
to | that he wears diamonds. 1t he does
not, he is ignorant of the business
At that moment one of the "messen-
gers, I" having performed his speedy and
merourial duty, passed by on his way
back to the Office Sure enough, on the
hand with which he mopped his per-
spring face there glistened two carat
diamond.
Its easy enough, said the broker
philosophioally. land it cannot be help
ed. Many of these messeng gers are con-
fidential'-that is, in the hurry OF the
closing moments of the exchange they
receive orders of the most important ma
ture that are simply written on an open
sheet of paper. Many of these messen'
gers are frugal and quick witted fellows,
who are ready to take advantage OF op-
portunities as quick as flash. So far
as l know, they do nothing absolutely
dishonest, although in many cases such
thing would be possible.
Every often when they are given Or
ders to convey to brokers they digest
them thoroughly, debate the chances OF
success and act accordingly. If they
think the order a good one they rush
around to some bucket shop and buy or
sell, according to the tenor of the order.
That is why they wear diamonds. 1t is
an easy thing for messenger for firm
like that of Conner & Co. or Cammack
to make money. All they have to do is
to follow their opportunities. Go over
to the Consolidated Exchange, and you
will see them.
The broker was right. While the
bulls were believing and the lambs
were bleating around the big railing
two or three messengers who happened
to have nothing particular to do were
hanging around watching the market
with feverish anxiety. Pretty soon they
were REINFORCED by new arrival. He
rushed up to the railing and shouted
frantically to young broker on the
floor whom I happened to know. A
whispered consultation took place, and
then the broker diyed into the melee
and began to bid on stock until he Sc
cured the proper amount, when he
emerged flush and perspiring.
cts pretty hot work in there, isn't
it?' asked.
ST should say it was" he replied,
especially when nobody wants to sell. "
"Who was the young man who gave
you the order a few minutes ago?' IN
quired.
fHe's a chap that works for the firm
of - & Co.,, }" was the reply. "He's
a shrewd boy, too, and it is seldom that
he is wrong on the market. ~
Perhaps he has exceptional oppor'
tunities, suggested.
81 suppose that is it. It's no business
of mine, though. He has an account
with me, and it is never overdrawn.
In fact, it is constantly increasing. l
got my start in the same way, and, in
fact, great percentage of the brokers
in the street were once messengers OF
one kind or another
aelznd ola b-.olzo- who lad grown
gray in the street what he knew about
speculation among messengers, He said:
SIT has increased wonderfully during
the last ten years. In the old days, when
speculation was heavier, it took far less
to sway the market than now. Then
the messengers speculated at their own
peril. The turns and changes were far
more quick and decided, and it was an
almost sure thing that the small specu-
lator would be wiped out in day or
so. Not half so many men are living by
speculation in Wall street as formerly,
and many of those who dabble in the
street do so merely for the fun of it.
Consequently they do not guard their
tips as closely as in former years.
''Not long ago went into belmont |
co.'s for dinner, and sat down at a table
opposite young man whom | recog-
nized as a messenger for prominent
Wall street speculator. would be will
ing to take an oath that his salary is not
over $15 a week. Yet there he sat- with
diamonds Oh his fingers and in his shirt
front, eating pate de foie gras as though
he had lived upon it all his life. sup
pose he had made a lucky stroke on
some tip which his employer had sent |
to his broker, and which he had taken |
advantage Of
Most Of the Wall street brokers seem |
to regard this sort Of speculation among
the messengers as ''smart" ard legiti- |
mate. There are several large bucket |
shops along Broad street which are re-
sorted to by messengers of low degree |
who have 'tips," but no money to |
plunge with. In some of these bucket |
shops you can make a deal with $40. |
Most Of them, however, will not touch /
anything below 100 shares.
''I'hefe ia no messenger speculation III
this place, said Mr.: Henry Clews. 81
have never yet seen messenger who
could afford it. Some Of them have
come in here with orders from reputable
firms, which have been honored by me,
but I would not allow any messenger
employed On the street to open an &C
count with this hrn, you can depend
upon it. In fact, do not relieve al
these stories about messenger Specula
ton.
Several Of the messenger tribe deal
with mp town bucket shops in order to
keep their situations ip Wall street.
the business is a very inter
esting one, and to many Of those having
inside information it is vastly profit.
able -New York Herald
A Kind Girl.
"Haye you gqt any waterproof pow
ler?" she asked the druggist in Whis-