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JAMBB FISK.
The Story of His Life as Told by One of
Fisk’s Intimate Friends.
To the Editor of the World. :
Sir —ls we may trust the assurances of
those who knew him best, there proba
bly never was a man who was more gen
erally misunderstood by the public than
James Fisk, Jr. He was a man who had
a great abhorrence of all hypocricy, and
whose theory of life it was to Bhow to
the world his worst side, and to conceal
very carefully all his good qualities from
tne public knowledge. He was ostenta
tious of his faults, and never could be
persuaded to do anything in public, ex
cept on rare occasions, such us that of
the, Chicago fire, which would lead the
public to believe him to lie the generous
and large-hearted man he really was.
During the last four or five years'of his
.ife, in which it has been generally sup
posed that he lived in a style of "unex
, ampled luxury and spent enormous
amounts on his personal enjoyment, the
truth was that except his four-in-hand
and his box at the theatre, and one or
two matters of that kind, which all the
world knows about, he lived in a much
more simple style than three-fourths of
the persons who have his income. At
the time of his death, and for a long
time previous, he lived in a little two-
Btoiy house of the plainest kind—rather
dilapidated—occupying only two rooms
in it, and the only real luxury in which
he indulged was the luxury of unusual
cleanliness. He waaprobably one of the
most scrupulously neat and clean per
sons that ever lived. His personal ex
penses were, at a liberal estimate, not
one-fifth as large as the amount which
he spent in providing for persons in
whose affairs he took a kindly interest,
who had seen misfortune in life, and
whom lie felt to be dependent upon him
for assistance. He gave away constantly
enormous amounts in still more direct
charities, concerning which he rarely
spoke tq any one, and it was only by ac
cident that even his most intimate
friends found out what he was doing.
He supported for some years an entire
family of blind persons without ever
saying a word about it to his nearest
friends. He was particularly generous
towards actors and actresses, who, when
ever they suffered from misfortune,
would always appeal to him.
■ r - Fisk s early career has been set
--10*12. m vr- .irnorei aiVa fj*m very lrequenl
ly, and hardly needs to be recited- here.
It is not, however, generally known that
he was left in charge of a good old far
mer and his wife in the town of Pounal,
Vermont, when he was quite a little
child, and remained with them until he
was a well-grown-up boy. When James
was five years old, his guardian sent him
to a district school, where, after a few
days, the school-master thought it ne-*
.cessary to punish the little fellow for
some misdemeanor, which went so griev
ously to the heart of the old farmer that
he never would send him to school again;
so that James grew to be ten years old
without knowing how to read or write.
His father then caused him to receive
some little education ; but this, of course,
was very imperfect, and he soon launched
into life for himself. He was a peddler
in Massachusetts and Vermont, and the
old ladies of Western Massachusetts
often .speak of the handsome four-horse
team which he used to drive, and the ex
cellent goods which lie brought round to
them, very much superior to anything
which they cotild obtain in country
stores. After this he settled in Boston,
and received his business training in the
house of J. M. Beebe & Cos., who at that
time were the most noted dry goods deal
ers in that city. Mr. Fisk used often to
tell with gusto how Mr. Beebe, when he
had $20,000 to raise for a day’s payment,
would, in those early days, devote a
whole day to it, and with what awe the
clerks would listen to the sigh of relief
with which their good? chief announced
that the day’s labors had been success
fully concluded. Twenty thousand dol
lars in those days were as much thought
of as $1’,000,000 would be in these. Mr.
Fisk then entered the establishment of
Jordan, Marsh & Cos., and very soon, by
his remarkable abilities, commanded the
entire confidence of the house, and was
taken into partnership. Up to his death
they were liis warmest friends. He was
sent South by them during the war, and
landed in New Orleans with General
Butler, passing through many remarka
ble adventures with the army, which he
frequently accompanied on its expedi
tions. At the close of the war he dis
solved partnership with Jordan, Marsh
& Cos., and came to New York, where, as
a protege of Daniel Drew, he set up
business in partnership with William
Belden. ,
The firm of Fisk & Belden made many
large ventures, and did also an immense
commission business. Mr. Fisk has
been heard to say, in illustration of the
equanimity with which he was prepared
to endure any reverses that might after
wards befall him, that one Monday
morning he opened business with a bank
account of SBOO,OOO, and on Saturday
night had lost every dollar of it, and
that he slept just as soundly that night
as he had done on any night of his life
BANNER OF THE SOUTH lAND PLANTERS’JOURNAL.
He very soon reviewed his losses and
became known as a successful operator.
Indeed, the firm never failed upon the
street. It being the object of this nar
rative to mention incidents about Fisk
which are not generally known, it is not
necessary here to refer particularly to
his advent into the direction of the
Erie Kailway Company or of the Narra
gansett Steamship Company.
AST INCIDENT IN HIS LIFE.
James Fisk, Jr., oonceived and execu
ted a brilliant stroke at the close of the
late war between the States, the particu
lars of which have never yet been pub
lished. With that sagacity which dis
tinguished him in all his career, Fisk
saw that when, on the 2d of April, 1865,
General Lee was driven from Peters
burg, his surrender could not be far
distant. He immediately went to Bos
ton, consulted some of his financial
friends, and made them partners in his
scheme. This was to get the news of
the surrender of Lee and collapse of the
Confederacy for use on ’Change in
London in advance of the mail. It will
be remembered the Atlantic cable was
not then laid. A small, swift steamer,
formerly a blockade-runner, was pur
chased, fitted out, and sent to Halifax in
ballast. Neither the Captain nor the
officers of the steamer knew her destina
tion. The secret of her mission was
solely confided to an agept of Fisk, who
was the only passenger on board. I
Steam was kept up day and night, and
everything was in readiness for a start
across the Atlantic. Days went by, and
still the steamer lay quietly in the har
bor of Halifax awaiting thp expected
message from Fisk. At length it came.
If James Fisk, Jr., had tried his best
he could not have indited a shorter dis
patch. It was dated at Boston, signed
Fisk, and contained but one word—
“ Go I” The blockade runner started for
Queenstown immediately, and got there
two days ahead.of the mail steamer. The
agent speeded across Ireland to London
and commenced his operations. Before
twenty-four hours elapsed he had sold
“short” (that is, sold what he had not
got), $5,000,000 in Confederate bonds.
He had orders from Fisk to sell as long
as he could get buyers, but was restrain
ed by a partner of one of the Boston
men, who was cursed with prudence.
But the operation was pretty successful;
the “'syndicate,” the story goes, divided
between $3,000,000 and ’54,000,000, the
preweeds of the “speculation.” This
was n lift for James Fisk, Jr., which
was vary welcome.
EDWARD S. STOKES.
Edward S. Stokes, who htfs obtained a
degree of notoriety by his cowardly as
sassination of James Fisk, Jr., which
he could not have otherwise hoped
for, was born in Philadelphia in
the year 1841, and is consequently
in his thirty-first year. His parents,
who were possessed of a moderate for
tune, and moved in the best society,
removed to this city in 1850. He deceiv
ed an excellent classical and English ed
ucation the Philadelphia High School.
He required knowledge readily, but was
especially noted for his fondness for
athletic sports, in which he always ex
celled. From early youth he is said to
have exhibited a fierceness of passion
and ungovernable temper amounting nt
times almost to insiuiity. Always sensi
tive to insult, and (juiek to resent an in
jury, lie lias frequently involved himself
in serious difficulties. He began life as
a clerk in his father’s provision establish
ment in Chambers street, and showed
considerable business tact and ability.
Stokes is five feet nine inches high, and
weighs about 140 po inds. He is slight
ly built, but is very viry and active on
his feet. In conversation he talks quick
ly and to the point, and harries his
affairs through as rapidly as possible.
Stokes is a man of hie appearance, of
a dark complexion, with piercing black
eyes and regular fe.tures. His hair,
which was jet black \ couple of years
ago, is now partly gra;, and were it not
for his active movemeits he would pais
for a man forty-five isyrs. Mr. Stokls
married a lady of gooi family some tin
yiars ago, and has by-jer one child -fa
very beautiful girl of nine years of agl.
In June of last year Mrs. Stokes, w»
was in bad health, visited Europe fp
seek some benefit from the mineral sprinls
of Central Germany and when iJtt
heard from, as late as December 3, \«s
in Paris. f
The family, while in New York, iml
an elegant suit of apartments at Ijbe
Worth House, corner Fifth avenue m
Twenty-sixth street. These apartnn iti
were furnished with every article ;cf
luxury and refinement that taste co ill
devise or that money could buy.
Nearly two years ago Stokes be® sc
acquainted with Fisk, und engaged \ th
him in various business enterpri ”s.
Through Mr. Fisk he formed the ac
quaintance of Helen Josephine M in
field, the oi-devant wife of an actor. An
intimacy sprung up between the »c,
which has just resulted in the ti gic
death of Mr. Fisk.
The suits and counter-suits bet Ben
Fisk on the one hand, and Mansfielc ind
Stokes on the other hand, have occn lied
the courts and filled the columns oi the
newspapers for a Wear past. Stokes ac
cused Fisk of endeavoring to deprive
him of property tq the amount of $200,-
000, which he hail accumulated in the
oil-refining business. This charge was
repelled by Fisk, qho wrested Stokes on
a charge of fraud, J The fraud not being
proven, the lath f was released, and
brought suit agaihrtt Fisk for false im
prisonment. The! litigations growing
out of this itiuivtfraier causes have con
tinued without interruption for nearly
twelve months past\
These expensive proceedings have rap
idly absorbed the remfftiMer of Stokes’
fortune, and it is said tW he would not
have been able to maintain the fight
longer from the lack of fi Ads. He has
expended nearly forty tho\V' un d dollars
in lawyers’ fees alone in theAope that he
would recover ten times thVt amount
from Fisk. The quarrel has undoubt
edly been stimilated, «nd tliel fuel in
creased, by Mis Mansfield, who was
herself pecuniarily interested in \ the re
sult of the proceedings. —Eetd York
Star.
FOSTER BLODGETT’S PETITION
FOR PARDON.
The text of the petition of “General”
Foster Blodgett for the exercise of clem
ency by the late Acting Governor, here
with subjoined, discloses a remarkable
plea for pardon.' So far from pleading
guilty, Blodgett says he has done noth
ing wrong—committed no crime—in fact,
he has been the party wronged, and not
the State—and Anally, that having done
nothing for wliich pardon should be
given by Royal Executive clemency,
nevertheless he should bo pardoned for
“ alleged violations of the criminal htws
of the State,” as “the only mode of es
cape from an unjust judgment” which
may follow the indictment against
him by the Grand Jury of Fulton
county. He states that he only under
took “the public and political man
agement of the State Road,” and
that it was expressly understood that
Fatty Harriß, the übiquitous and om
nipotent Master of Transportation, equal
ly skilled in purging a Legislature and
influencing Governments, was to do the
financial matters. Re urges further
that bankrupt as he utterly was before
he assumed the role of “ political and
public General, Superintendent” of tho
State Road, he is poorer than when (I)
lie wont into it, and that Bullock
and Kimball, cowardly carpet-baggers,
having run away to escape justice, he is
made the scape goat for their crimes;
and finally, he is particularly entitled to
pardon because he could not get justice
done him in the Fulton Circuit, over
which Hopkins—a Radical Judge—pre
sides, and it is impossible for him
to get a fair trial before any jury in this
State, not even in the over
whelmingly colored and Radical. These
are the “causes thereunto moving,”
which touches the tender heart of the
acting Governor.
Atlanta, January 5, 1872.
Ills Excellency, Uenjamln Conley,
Governor : »
My Dear Sir —You arc probably aware
that indictments have been found
against me in the Superior Court of Ful
ton county, in this State, for alleged
violations of the criminal laws of this
State, in connection with the manage
ment of the Western and Atlantic Rail
road.
When I took charge of the road as
Superintendent, it was at the request of
Covernor Bullock, who informed me
that I would not be expected to give
much attention to the running or finan
cial management of the road, but that
would be attended to by the Master of
Transportation and Treasurer, and that
I would be expected to manage only the
public and political policy of the road.
Under this arrangement I gave but little
attention to either the financial or run
ning part of the business.
I made no profit except such as was
legal, and retired from the office poorer
than when I went into it. If any acts
done by mb under the direction of the
Governor have resulted to the public
injury, I assure you they have uot re
sulted to my personal or pecuniary bene
fit. If the late Governor were here I
am quite sure he would admit the truth
of this statement.
Under these circumstances whatever
may be the technical legal effect of the
application I now make, I feel in my
heart that I have not in fact violated the
penal laws of my State. But your Ex
cellency i3 well aware that I have taken
a prominent part in politics as a Re
publican in Georgia, and on that ac
count there exists much bitterness
against me in the public mind. This,
however, is not all.
The course pursued by Governor Bul
lock and the Messrs. Kimball in leaving
the State, while grave charges were pend
ing against them, has settled upon the
popular mind the conviction of their
criminality, and as they are gone, and
my name has been constantly used in
connection with theirs in the newspapers,
in file anxiety that exists to punish some
one I am settled upon os the scape goat
to jear off the sins of all who are ac
cusid.
Ii consideration of these facts, and of
theexcited state of the popular mind, I
umfully satisfied it is impossible for me
to get a fair trial before a jury in tips
Strte.
as the jury boxes are arranged, I
■slunk! be tried by political opponents
wlose verdict of guilty would be made
uj before hearing the evidence in the
case. They would feel that popular
clamor and party necessity demanded
my conviction, and my trial would be a
simple form of placing on the records of
the eikirts a decision dictated by preju
dice and passion, and demanded for po
olitical effect. Indeed, friends in whose
judgment I have confidence, who have
mixed with the people and heard their
comment, inform mo that the verdict is
already made up before the trial, and ad
vise me that the only mode of escape
from an unjust judgment, rendered upon
a mock trial, is to uppeal to your Excel
lency to interpose in my behalf.
I, therefore, most respectfully but
earnestly ask that you grant me a full
and unconditional pardon, which will
protect mo against the popular demand
that I be victimized to serve party ends,
and appease a morbid desire for public
vengeance upon someone connected
with tbe late unfortunate administration
of the affairs of the State.
Hoping your Excellency may feel it
your duty to afford me the protection
asked,
I am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, Foster Blodgett.
The National Bank System Insufficient
lor the Wants of the Country.
In his late report, the Superintendent
of the Banking Department of the State
of New York discusses the National
Bank system, and advocated a return to
tho State Bank system :
Tho condition of the country, at the
time of the passage of the law taxing
the circulation of the State bunks, need
not lie referred to, as it is familiar to all.
The imposition of th(Aax was regarded
by many ,iu ■ a > i nsli 1111 1 1 1 1 iinii
measure to enable the to
carry out its financial policy, ana
funds to conduat the war in which it was
then engaged ; but may it not now be
said thut the necessity no longer exists
and that muny who then regarded it as
a necessity are now of the opinion that
a repeal of the tax at this time would
aid rather than retard the government
in its present effort to fund a portion of
its debt? Another forcible argument
for the repeal may be found in the fact
that the new lines of railroad completed
in the last few years, and the various
lines liotv in process of construction,
penetrating tho interior and remote por
tions of oifr State, and furnishing facili
ties of communication to hitherto isolat
ed regions, have created and will further
create, at various points along these
lines new business centres, revolution
ize the methods and necessities of busi
ness, multiplying the number and en
larging the magnitude of legitimate
business transactions, requiring for their
accommodation and successful prosecu- |
tion financial facilities such as banks
alone can extend. Conditions like these
of growth and expansion and change,
the national banking system is power
less to -meet and snpply ; but that of
our own State, once revived and opera
tive, would, judging from the past, meet
every emergency thus unprovided for.
Another consideration that may be
urged in favor of revising and extending
the banking system of our State, is to be
found in the arbitrary limitation of the
national banking system to conditions
os they existed at tho time it was in
augurated ; a limitation having inyiew,
at the adoption of the system, considera
tions of an entirely different character
from the ordinary business wants of our
people, and in fact leaving them almost
entirely out of sight. This naturally
arose from the importance of the great
questions then engaging the public
mind, nearly to the entire exclusion of
other subjects. It i3 unnecessary for me
to express my opinion as to how far the
national system then adopted was calcu
lated to meet the wants of the people at
the time, or to refer to the inequalities
of the distribution of banking facilities
then made. My present purpose is an
swered by saying, that it lacks the first
and chief requisite of a true national
system of finance, in the rigid inflexibili
ty of its methods, in its lack of adapta
tion to the business wants of a growing,
diversified and changing population,
witli new and ever varying conditions,
wrought out from experience incident to
great resources apparently dormant and
undeveloped, awaiting a growing popu
lation and concentration of capital to
transform and utilize them, and thus
fails to reach and supply the wants of
our people.
I think it will be conceded that the
tendency of things the past few yeans
has been towards the concentration of
the business interests of our people in a
few hands, which has heretofore been
regarded as prejudicial to the interests
of the masses ; and few will bo found to
doubt that the centralization of power,
either political or of a business cliarac
ter, is contrary to the spirit of our re
publican form of government, and det
rimental to the well being of the masses.
The fostering and encouraging, as far as
practicable and consistent by legislative
enactments, of the varied industrial pur
suits of our people, seems almost de
sirable ; for the more diversified such
pursuits are, the less liable we are to be
seriously affected by the financial changes
and revulsions with which we are so fre
quently visited, and from which' we h:. /e
no reason to expect immunity in the fu
ure.
[Prom the New York Bulletin.]
New York Dry Goods Market.
Tho market is quite well stocked in
first hands with all kinds of desirable
fabrics. The stock of cotton goods is
not extra large, but the mills working on
standards are mostly running full force.
Agents are firm in prices. As compared
with this time last year, even at the
present late advance, cotton fabrics are
low, in proportion to the price of the
raw material.
In reference to foreign goods, Ihe
market possesses some features of in
terest. From buyers who have visited
personally most of the large manufac
turers pf silks, velvets, linen goods, and
the finer makes of worsted productions,
and from private letters just received,
we learn that the above-mentioned goods
will be Bomewhat higher this year than
last. When the war broke out between
Germany and France, it was the deter
mination of holders of all kinds of fab
rics to dispose of them au soon as possi
ble. Large sacrifices were made, and
goods found their way here and to other
places in large quantities and at low
rates. Tho consequence of this was that
these fabrics, many of them the finest
and best productions of the two coun
tries at war, were sold at lower prices
than they can now be produced for. The
men who made these goods were called
into service. Mills wore stopped, and
many of them destroyed.
The raw material was not produced;
manufacturing languished in all its
brandies, and workmen were destroyed.
The war is now over, but the trouble of
disorganization among the manu
facturers of these large producing
nations still exists, and the consequence
is that goods nowgoughl after cannot be
obtained except at »n advance of from 10
to 15 per cent, aid some styles and
particular makes eahnot be got at all.—
Then, ngain, while the war lasted nearly
all mills were tumeß to making army
goods; different machinery, different
looms, Ac., wero plkced in them, and
owing to all this change much time must
elapse before the offi order of things
prevails, and fine fanrics can again be
made as before. Uitil this order is
again established ma*y articles of im
ported goods must corfmand no advance.
There will be lers adwuicc in price on
medium gros grain blink silks than on
other makes. The higher prices on fine
linens have been notifiable for some
time ; on damasks, Ac.,tthe advance is at
least from 7j to 10 pfc cent. Labor
commands a highcrpriciin Europe than
before.
BLEACHED AMD BBOWI BHIBTINGS.
These goods are verykrm. The rise
in catton in Liverpool his the effect to
stiffen prices even still mire, but no ma
terial advance has taken nioce. Jobbers
do not seem inclined tdlniy at pres
ent advanced rates but Icry sparingly.
Bleached are in more ilemand than
brown, and fine goods in loth than low
er grades. At present thile seems to be
no inclination to odvancl the price of
cottons any higher.
BLEACHED AND BROWN MEETINGS. '?
These goods are about in the same
proportion, as regards pridps, as shirt
ings. Prices are higher tlfcn the same
time last year.
Chapter for Lovees of “ bWt” Brandy.
It’s a venerable story, but it mW as well be
told again. Somebody in Con icticut sold
a bottle of the best brandy, an Prof. Silli
man, of Yale College, having i lalyzed the
same, finds in it alum, iron, sul ihuric acid,
Guinea pepper, burnt sugar, led, and cop
per, with a basis of whisky. Tis is the de
licious though somewhat
ture which, by the aid of a prettajj#’!
a little sealing-wax on the \
Old Hennessy, London Dock, W 1 1
Seignette brandy. The marvel W I \
does not instantaneously kill tlm LJ- ,
luded wretch who swallows a nm M m
it; and in some cases, perhaps, if m t ■
better if it did. It seems to be abs X ’
established as most things in this IX 1
nobody drinking spirits of wine m
of their purity. The imbibo# . ®J
mouth and shuts his eyes, as W i
in the nursery play. If \wM
lyze what we eat and drinks# ,ti
3