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The topic of the post is the crash of Wall Street on October 24-29, 1929. The Chronicle of the seven October Black Days in the eyes of the NYSE broker.

(The end of the article)

(...)

The day is over.

Ticker shot quotes to 19.45.

Mike brought fresh data on the dynamics of the Dow for the last two days. The eyes were reading, but the brain refused to interpret the numbers.

The total fall of 70 points or 23%. It was later calculated that on October 28 and 29 the market lost $ 30 billion, which surpassed all US spending on the First World War.

Four years and two days.

Just two days.

These and many other figures will emerge later.

And now.

Now, Mike Henry Sloan, junior partner and the successful broker firm Crauf & Sons, looked into the empty exchange hall.

Mounds of paper waste. All that remains of the richest, most bullish market in the world.

Slowly turning his head toward the window, Mike saw Sam Smith from a nearby office on the street. The guy, putting his foot on the footboard of a new car, tried to bail out 100 bucks for it, which was an eloquent announcement.

Sloan grinned crookedly: "In the spirit of Sam ..." Yes, friend, today you must try to sell even such a car for a hundred.

Opening the drawer, he pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. Gratitude from the client for the recommendation to open margin positions. The client said: “Thank you, friend, for good advice!” Due to the dry law, Sloan had to hide the gift away. Mike broke the cork and took a big sip, then another. The sharp Adam jerked sharply up and down.

Usually, he did not allow this to happen, in the workplace. But today it is possible. Today everything is possible.

Crauf &Sons' junior partner stood up, barely moving his chair back. Within a few hours, he had aged 25 years. His eyes were gone, his back was bent, and deep wrinkles lay on his face. Walking has become difficult. Legs filled with lead.

Not paying attention to anyone, Sloan, mechanically taking up his jacket and, now completely empty briefcase, moved toward the exit. Overcoming in ten minutes the way he had spent no more than 45 seconds yesterday, Mike was on the street.

It was getting dark.

After a few steps, he felt a sharp pain on the left.

He stopped.

He looked up.

Something has switched in the brain.

In his head flashed the whole short life.

Difficult childhood. Study at the broker. First successes. The first serious money. Invitation to partners. Marriage. Birth of children. Buying a home.

Everything was going well.

How so…

He glanced again at the skyscraper. High-rise building was very close. Just cross Wall Street.

Mike pushed the massive door and entered. In the dim hall of anyone. Sloane walked up to the elevator. Busy. He turned in search of stairs. Yeah, here they are, to the right of the elevator. “I will not wait. Long”, – he thought.

He went to the stairs and put his right foot on the step. Moved the left to the next.

In the echoing silence resounded the heavy, shuffling steps of an elderly 28-year-old man, struggling to overcome the stairs.

One after another, one after another ...