Studies in American History 
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bash.^°® The Ewings, however, did not show any fight. They 
quit Detroit and St. Louis and gave up their trade south of 
Vincennes.^^® The reason for their retirement is explained 
by a statement of their accounts. They owed Suydam, Sage, 
and Company a balance of more than $150,000 which repre- 
sented a loss on furs, and that firm was pressing for pay- 
ment. This action of the Ewings was coincident with a 
decline in the demand for furs in Europe and with further 
business depression in the United States. 
Under the circumstances, the American Fur Company re- 
duced prices greatly and cut the number of skins purchased 
so as not to overstock the market. The buyers were instructed 
to buy only of hunters or of merchants who traded goods 
for furs and not to buy of other buyers. It was difficult with 
all the buyers out after furs to keep excitement down.^^^ In 
the spring of 1841 the Ewings, who were again buying on a 
small scale, complained of competition in northern Indiana. 
Crooks ordered Brewster to restrain his buyers and the fric- 
tion cooled off.^^^ In spite of all warnings and precautions. 
Crooks declared that Brewster’s men had paid too much for 
furs.^^^ Prices were declining further, and with general busi- 
109 Brewster to Crooks, September 17, 1840, in American Fur Company Letters. 
Agents for Am. Fur Co. Detroit District 1840-41. 
[Indiana] 
G. Franchere, Evansville, Logansport. 
N. D. Grover, Logansport (under Hollister) 
T. E. Phelps, South Rend, 
T. G. Railte (under Hollister) 
J. M. Spafford, Vincennes. 
B. F. Hollister 
A mill man (under Hollister) 
John Fury, Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis 
L. M. Taylor, South Bend 
Blinn. 
Mr. Roberts of Monroeville & south to Ohio 
C. C, Frazier, Maumee & north of Fort Wayne 
W. G. Ewing to G. W. Ewing, New York, November 7, 1840, in Ewing Papers. 
Suydam, Sage, and Company Statement May 3, 1841, Ewing Papers. G. W. 
Ewing put their loss the preceding year at $50,000, September 10, 1841. Ihid. 
“2 Crooks to Lampson, February 27, 1841, in American Fur Company Letters, No. 15. 
“It is really frightful to look at the enormous amounts paid out last campaign 
by your Department for Furs and Skins : and we can not buy them too cheap now.” 
Crooks to Brewster, February 27, 1841, in American Fur Company Letters, No. 15. 
“We are much more anxious to buy at prices that will yield us a profit than to buy 
much.” Crooks to Franchere, December 16, 1840, in Ibid. 
R. Crooks to Brewster, April 2, 1841, in ibid.. No. 16. 
Crooks to Brewster, August 30, 1841, in American Fur Company Letters, No. 17. 
Franchere spent $25,000 for skins around Evansville, most of which were deer and 
raccoon. March 23, 1841. These skins were condemned by Crooks as second quality. 
