The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-07

panies on the English market he mao
millions of dollars behind him.
There was undoubtedly a market here
for such a venture MET. Ernest Terence
Hooley had already broken dazzling
bribble of London, which had despatched
the names of many peers of the realm
Why could not Mr.. Whitaker do the
same?
English peers are always ripe for the
foreign ventures The kingdom is choked
with the estates of ancient families vii
ling to risk all upon the turn OF card
in a gambling game to recoup their van
ished fortunes.
Mr.. Wright appeared to know this. He
set about his scheme with greaat adroit-
ness He elsa blished magnificent house
in Park Lane, furnished it grandly. He
Uttered it with objects of art and peopled
it with servants.
Here was the groundwork Of his venture
his methods, first and last, We're all well
thought Of It was necessary to inspire
the public with confidence. He schemed
right and left to obtain the name of men
high in the affection and regard Of the
British pepole. He lost no opportunity to
of the London and Globe Finance Cor
poration-the name Of the company which
he had formed on paper.
The MARQUIS Of Dufferin-greatest of
England's dinlomats-was made chair
man of the company. Lord Loeb. one Of
tho best known noblemen of England,
followed the lead of Dufferin and took
stock in the enterprise. Other men of
high rank jumped in and the scheme was
upbuilt upon a foundation Of names which
were synonymous with all that is square
and honorable in a business sense.
About this time there blew breezily into
London one Joseph Kaufman, a mine
exploiter from Australia. He, too, had
hoated many mines and had thrived there
by. Whitaker Wright fraternized with
him and it is said they became bosom
friends-one in every business intent and
purpose.
with a score Of solid names behind it
the London and Globe Corporation took
on an air of prosperity. 1t rented pre-
tentions and important Offices and its
fame was bruited about the London Stock
Exchange. As yet, however the general
public, dealing ever through the big brok-
eragc firms, kept aloof.
The scheme needed one additional touch
to make it a success. This touch was
impaired by Mr.. Wright.
The great plunger bought steam
yacht called the Sybarite, since chartered
by George Gould of New York City.
lie cruised about the Clyde and the
Mediterranean. making friends and per
fecting his plans Such strlngpuning and
stone-turinig had not been seen in Eng
land in many a day.
One evening off Cowes Mr., Wright stood
at the gangway of his yacht waiting for
King Edward, then Prince of Wales. TO
some and sup with him.
The following day all England knew
that King Edward had visited the Austria
liam fnancier on board his yacht. That
was enough for English investors. To
plunge into Whitaker Wrights schemes
became more or less a fad with the Lon
don spectators.
The Duke of Connaught, 4 brother of
King Edward. bought 1,250 shares and set
the ball fairly rolling.
The Right Hon. Arthur Balfour, Prem
Ter of Great Britain. was on Wright's list
for !, 600 shares. Other notable subscribers
were:
The Hon. Allwyn E. Fellowes, NJ P,
600 shares.
Hon. Alfred Lyttleton, II. p, 50e, shares.
John Penn, NJ. p, 1000 shares.
Walter Chamberlain, 625 shares.
Earl of Warwick, 25,010 shares.
Sir James Reid, 700 shares
Lord William Beresford 1880 shares.
Count Gieichen. 20 shares.
Sir Edawrd Colebrook, $50 shares
Viscount Churchill 1000 shares.
Lord Edward Spencer Churchill, 100
shares
There was no imitation Of Mr. Ernest
Terence HooIey's methods by Mr.. Wright.
lie understood what was good form and
what was bad form in speculative finance.
Mr. Hooley in his day had considered it
necessary to have a large secret press
fund and to buy up city editors and pro
fessional blackmaileTs.
Mr. Wright was less vulgar in his
relations with the financial press
In addition to the London and Globe
Corporation. the great company. with n
capital of 100000. Wright formed tire
West Australian Exploring and Finance
Corporation with Sl,00O000 capital
These he consolidated and increased the
capital 100000 \ wing was added on
each side. There was the Standard Com
pany with capital OF S7,5oo0oo and the
British-American Corporation with an
other $75O00O0. In rapid succession Mr..
Wright then loated the following new
companies:
West Australian Exploring ........S1, eo0o0o
Austin Friars. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 525 o'o
Paddington Consols................- $4,000