Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-02-17
BEiNG A TRUE STORY OF FERDI-
NAND WARD.

Marine bank precipitated the crash that
followed in Wall street. on Wednesday
May II. 1t was a terribly exciting time
that morning. The Metropolitan bank,
George l.. Seney. president, suspended,
and was Immediately followed by seven
old and well known brokerage firms.
There were runs on other banks, particu-
iarly the Second National and the Phoe-
nix. John c. Emo, president of the former,
made away with over s3,0O0,0OO of the
funds of the institution. which would have
gone down but for his father, Amos r.
Emo, making good the deficit
"Wall street was a sea of moving. yell.
ing, cursing humanity. The crowd OF
mad. excited people who saw their saw
tngs of years disappear rushed hither and
thither with irresistible fonce, gaping,
hooting and swearing at the bolted doors
of the firms whose suspension was an
nounced. Ten thousand people tried to
force their way into the galleries OF the
stock exchange-morbid curiosity hunters
making the thick iron girders creek. The
floor was restless eddy of heads. and the
almost deafening hum that arose from
LOO lusty threats threatened to raise the
roof from its anchorage. Spreading
through closed doors and narrow hall
ways. It spent its force upon the angry
multitude without and startled Secretary
EoIgcr from his troubled smile as he stood
in a window of the sub-treasury looking
he1n
"a narrow stoop marks the entrance to
the Metropolitan bank and when the
heavy doors were closed and barred the
mob rushed for them fiercely and desper-
ately. The ten stone steps were quickly
packed, but the crowd pushed on until II
spread across Broadway against the iron
railing of Trinity church yard and ex-
tended up and down the street Tor DOCKS.
"Ward has been arrested at last and
locked I'D in Ludlow street Jail in default
of $500, 600 bail. 1t now appears that MS
transactions upon the good name OF Gen
eral Ulysses S. Grant, eX-president OF the
United States, amount to some $4,000
OOO."
Shortly after banking hours, on the
18th of Febriary-three months before the
failure of Grant e. Ward-an office boy
announced to the young Napoleon OF
Finance" as the ex-presdent called him,
that a stranger waited in the anteroom to
sec him.
Who is he? What is his name? What
is the nature of his business! asked
Ward. who, grown nervous with juggling
millions and seeing the terrible catastrophe
ahead, trusted no stranger.
ssHe called to sec General Grant, said
the boy, land when l told him 1t was too
lote, he said he would like to talk with
Nu."
Ellis name?"
"He rufeses to give it to any one ex-
Sent you He looks like a countryman
from the Southern Tier. ard is eveidentiy
afraid of being buncoed."
Ward smiled sardonically. "Oh, well, let
Aim come in, but tell him 1 am exceed
tngly busy"
He was actively signing documents and
pressing buttons for office attendants
when a farmer from Cattaraugus county,
walked in. They shook hands warmly.
ward pulling up chair and asking MS
visitor to be seated. The latters age was
about S. his manner brusque and prompt,
his name johnson.
$50 you are Mr.. Ward partner of the
Eineral?" he said interrogatively. 'Ferdi-
nand Ward? 'Tain't a bad name"
Fright you are, SIR laughed Ward,
cheerily. Nothing wrong with the name
go far as I'm aware. No excuse for
changing it, What can l do for you, sir?
The general goes home about o:3O. sorry
you missed him."
$50 'em I, powerful sorry. l fit under
the gineral all through the war. and amt
laid eyes on him since. But I've read a
lot In the papers about you and him, how
ffch you are gettin and what pile OF
good you and him are don' for your Gus
TONERS I've got a sort of idea I'd like
to take flyer myself"
With customer in view Ward became
affable The time had come when it was
neck or nothing. The street already sus-
pected him, and deposits were scarce.
81 am sure the general, who, as you
saw. does all he can for his old friends,
would be delighted to open an account
with you" he remarked beamingly. I'm
his absence you may rely upon me to
serve one OF his veterans to mutual ad-
vantage"
81 know that would be all right young
man." said Mr. Johnson, warming up. II
amt got but a minute or two to stay. Go
in to take the o'clock train for Buffalo.
Since the war I've been saving little
now and then, here and there, and it's
Jest layin' round dom nobody any good.
/ thought 1t liable that you and the gin
eraI would use it in some of your transac-
lions and make the pile a little bigger.
What do you say? Can you do it?''
s'You may rest assured we will do as
feIl for you as we could do for our
belves. Couldn't expect more, Mr.. John
Don, eh? When will you be ready 10 open
tour accountT
"Well, I'm business up to the handle.
Ain't no time like the present. Mr.. Ward
Ii you are ready, here's the money"
When he unrolled 100000 in cold cash
Ward, being an excellent actor, did not
show SURPRISE though he had expected a
deposit of $500 or possibly $1,000 Sum
moning a clerk he said carelessly tossing
the bank notes into his hand:
write out receipt for this. The name
Is Mr. Alling Johnson" Then, turning to
his visitor and holding out his hand, he
auded: "Goodby, Mr.. Johnson. Drop In
when you feel like 1t and see how things
are going"
As he settled back In his chair and
busted himself with papers. the farmer
gazed at him IN admiration. 1t was re-
violation to see a Young Napoleon OF
finance at work. When the receipt was
handed to him he departed with this In
junction:
ats all in your hands and the gin
erals, Mr.. Ward. / believe in you be-
cause trust him."
On April % or g. about three weeks be
fore the failure, which scattered so much
ruin in the street, as the clock in Wards
office struck 4, caller was announced
The Young Napoleon went through the