The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-09-30

from SduoT DOy-WdS OdliSO
Gould's Bodyguard.
Giovanni p. Morosini, the well known
banker, who recently died at his home
in Riyerdale. n. Y, was at one time
closely associated with the late Jay
Gould, through whom he built up a
fortune estimated at several millions.
In Mr. Morosini New York has lost
one of its most picturesque figures. lie
was born in Venice, Italy, in 1892, in
the stirring times which led to the
formation of the present kingdom. AS
a boy he was an actor in some of the
hazardous events of the revolution. He
was follower of Garibaldi.
Mr.. Morosini owed his first step on
the road to fortune to his courage and
strength in defending in the streets OF
New York boy attacked by a crowd
of toughs. He owed his later acces-
sion to fortune to his fidelity to the
late Jay Gould i'm the latter's fight
against being ousted from the control
of the Erie railroad. OF late he had
been seen little in Wall street, but had
devoted his wealth and leisure to the
acquisition of an art collection at Elm
hurst, his Riverdale home.
Mr.. Morosini's father was a Vene-
tan officer Of Montenegrin descent,
and his mother was a noted beauty.
He was educated at the Austrian Mill
tary and Naval college Of Venice and
distinguished himself by proficiency in
languages and military science. When
the revolution against the Austrian SUI
premacy broke forth in 1913 Morosini
was boy, but he joined the patriot
forces and led a battalion of national
guards which he had raised at the
siege of Malghera. He was struck
down by a shell, which left a scar on
his head.
For a time the Austrians conquered,
and with many other young Italians
Morosini had to fee for his life. First
he went to Corfu and then to Misso-
longhi, Patras and Smyrna. There he
was almost induced to join the Turk
ish army in Albania when a lucky
accident brought him to the notice of
the American consul By his advice
he decided to come to the new world,
and in 1850 he landed, a penniless
stranger in Boston.
The California gold fever was then
at its height and MorOsini at first
planned to try his fortune in the land
of gold. but Garbaldi was in Staten
Island and attracted to his side the
young adventurer For a time he work
ed i'm the patriots candle factory, and
when that was abandoned he followed
Garibaldi on his voyage to China and
England. He was only a sailor before
the mast. but in London he attracted
the attention Of MazZini and was pick
ed out from all the crew by him.
Garibaldi went to Genoa and Morosi-
nj came back to New York. He was
still only common seaman, and it was
a mere accident which saved him from
the life Of a hand before the mast
One night as he was going home along
one Of the streets near the water front
he heard a cry of distress from Il group
of boys. He saw a boy on the ground
and others beating him. He broke
through the crowd, flung aside those
who were tormentlng the boy and up
braided them for their cowardice. Not
man came to his aid. The gang, re-
covering from their establishment,
closed in on him. He struck out right
and left, felled four or five and drew
his long sailors knife. Then with a
rush he drove his assailants back and
got the boy away from them.
He still expected to go to sea again
until. to his surprise, a day or two later
he received visit from the boy he had
rescued He turned out to be the son
of Nathaniel Marsh, secretary of the
Erie Railroad company, and he came
to bring Morosini to his father. Mr.
Marsh at once offered to help the
young sailor and found him place as
Office boy with the Erie company at n
salary of $50 a month
Mr.. Morosini entered on his new EN-
ployment on May %, 1855. He was far
too well educated to stay long in a
subordinate place. In a few years he
was appointed general auditor Of the
Erie railroad and its leased lines.
This brought him into contact with
Jay Gould. He first met him in 1863
great fight for the control of the Erie
began. he threw in his lot with the
financier. 1t is said that at the height
of the struggle the party at the head
of which was General Daniel Sickles
offered Mr.. Morosini 100000 for a
transcript of certain parts of the rec
ords of the railroad. Mr. Morosini re-
fused the offer and thus enabled Mr.
Gould to retain his hold upon the road.
But when the Bischoffsheim party
obtained control the general auditor
found his place most unpleasant. At
length President Watson called upon
him to either give up his allegiance to
Mr.. Gould or leave the company. He
chose the latter alternative and from
that hour was known as a trusted fol-
lower Of the 6nancier.
Wall street regarded Mr.. Morosini