The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-03
IN WALL STREET.
A Popular Game, and story of Fisk
and Gould.

and Gould.
From the New York Press.
There is so little to do in the street at
the present time that the brokers invent
all kinds of amusements to pass the drag
ging hours. The most popular game is
''nigger up and niger down" A and b
pull their chairs up to a window over
looking the street and bet drinks cigars,
dinners and 10-cent luncheons on the pos
sibility of a negro walking up or down, it
having been agreed upon before hand
which should have the up end and which
the down. 1t is said to be the only honest
game in Wall street, the idea being that
no broker can count on negroes direction
of walking. Every time a negro passes
the window, going up the street or down.
the loser sets up drinks or cigars. have
seen as many as twenty idle brokers play
ing "nigger up and Niger down. in one
Office the loser being obliged to treat the
entire crowd.
The game of "nigger up and Niger
down" continues until called off by mutual
consent. l have known it to last half a
day One of the brokers was exceedingly
lucky for long time, and his opponents
determined to have revenge. News of a
negro funeral had reached them, and they
took up a position in Broadway window
a few minutes before the procession came
in sight, the lucky man taking "nigger
down" and winning every time until the
approach of the hearse. Then retribution
was awful. The conspirators counted
seventy three negroes, including, Of
course him in the hearse, and Mr.. Lucky
Man had to treat the crowd for every one
that passed. 1t took all his profits for the
month of August to settle.
Willie X Vanderbilt borrowed 100000
in Wall street last week to bolster up Lake
Shore, thereby helping in his small way
to prevent a panic.
Fisk liked a joke on his partner better
than anything else in the world Gould
kept a balance of some 10000 in the Tenth
National Bank, for his personal account,
household expenses, etc Being called
west on a mission that lasted several
weeks, he left his check book locked in
the safe drawer, TO which Fisk had key.
In the Office was clever young clerk
whom Fisk had caught in the act OF i'm
itating his and Gould's signatures, the
imitation OF Gould's being a fac-simile
Within an hour after the Wizards depart
ure check book and clerk were together
under Fisk's supervision and at his insti-
cation. More than a dozen blank checks
were signed with the name Of Jay Gould,
and in the course of month the $50, 900
had disappeared, Fisk being at that time
in the extravagant clutches OF Josie Mans
field on the very day of Gould's return
the bank sent a notice Of overdraft. The
little man nearly tainted. He had several
fits. His excitement was intense. He de-
clared that there was a conspiracy to ruin
him He FASTENED to the bank and they
showed him his checks. signed by himself
they did not doubt, and he raved and tore
his hair. Nor could he doubt the sigma
ture. 1t was genuine, even in his own
eyes. A rigid Investigation was started,
which Fisk put an end to by informing
Gould. with many poke in the ribs, that
he had drawn and used the money.
Ibid Fisk make good?" an innocent
asked, when the story was told.
Return the S3OOO0?" was the reply. IF
Fisk had returned 1t Wall street would
have cried.'