Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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