A GREAT-SPECULATOR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 514, 23 February 1872, Page 1 (Supplement)

A GREAT-SPECULATOR.

—o — James Fisk—or “ Colonel” Fisk, as he was popularly termed in America —whose assassination was reported by tho last mail, was the greatest speculator of modern times, and is reported to have been the richest man in the United S.atcs. His name will be reremembered in connexion with the Erie Railway affair, which caused some excitement in England about Hirer years ago. and also with the New York gold panic in 1869, when lie and Vanderbilt commanded, the resources of Wall-street, and for some hours held the financial credit of the United States at their will. At the present time the following extract from, the Sydney Morning Herald will be read with interest I —“ Fisk’s last hobby is to have the' finest band in the world, and he has succeeded in securing, among others, the celebrated Levy (brother of the leader in Cagli’s orchestra), the cornet player, as one of its members. Three of its members receive 10,000 dollars (2501) a year each, and six others 5,000 dollars Well, Fisk and his regimental band having turned out among the rest to act as guard of honor to Duke Alexis, and having serenaded Mr. Sothern, retired for a few hour’s rest, when he again took the field with his hand, and “ tooted” under the windows of the Prince until Alexis sent for him and personally thanked him for his beautiful music. Fisk’s reply was characteristic. Utterly unabashed, he said, ‘ Well, Prince, -this is nothing to what I’ll do for yon. I now giyp yo,u the freedom of '.everything-A own- on this continent during f your stay in America. This means free .entrance to the Opera House two threatres, the right to travel free on half-a-dozen lines of railway, in steamboats innumerable, the command of the' finest horses and drag in these parts Ad.”