Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1868-04-30
The Erie WaF-Why 1t Begun
IL and How It Is. I. y

SOB anu How III ISs ic n
"Burleigh,'' the New York cores
pondent of the Boston Journal. gives the
following sketch oflthe history and status
of the great Erie railroad way, which
has the merit of being much more intel
ligible, and probably as truthful, as any
before pubilshed<
"For many years Vanderbilt and
Drew have been fast friends; in gigantic
operations that have laid out the streets
they have been allies. Their first quar-
rel was about the Harlem. Vanderbilt
won, and Drew paid heavy sum for sell
ling short. AT the last election for the
Erie road, Mr.. Drew was left out. If
men make money on the Erie, they con-
graduate themselves if they lose they
curse E" Old Drew" as he is called. The
usual cry Of 'mad dog" was raised and
Mr.. Drew was out in the cold. He went
TO Vanderbilt and complained. He said
he could not afford to be kept off the
board of directors, aud Vanderbilt said
he should be put on. At the next meet
ing Of the board, the commodore, true to
his promise, ordered one of the directors
to resign, which he did. "Now. gentle
men," said the autocrat," elect Mr..
Drew a member of your board'' Il was
done. SHOW, gentlemen, elect Mr..
Drew your treasurer" The gentlemen
did it. So far, all was peace. The next
step on the part of the Commodore was
to monOpolize the travel to St. Louis.
Mr.. Drew attempted to head off his mon
opoly. He made arrangements with
some roads out West to lay third rail
to secure a wide guage track to the
Mississippi. Vanderbilt sent an impe-
riOuS order to Mr. Drew to desist, telling
him he was poaching on his manor. Drew
said he shonId not Withdraw. In his
DOric style, Vanderbilt said, Then I'll
make you. So the war began, Except
as he is backed by the Erie road, Mr..
Drew is fighting this battle alone. To
sustain himself, he threw the larger part
Of his stock overheard Il did not do
what be expected. He simply played
into the hands of his enemies, for Wand
erbIll'S friend bought it up as fast as
be offered 1t for sale. Mr.. Drew then
issued the new stock, of which so much
has been said, He did this to buy Up
the lines Of road by which alone be could
secure to Erie her share of the Pacific
railroad business. Then came lnjunct-
ions, contempt of course, orders for arrest
aud other proceedings, that have employ
ed so many eminent Lawyers, and to
whom it is said that no less than $3.50,
600 will be paid COUNSEL fees. To es.
cape from close confinement in Jail, Mr.
Drew fed to New Jersey. That little
State Is with MIN in the fight; so is Al
bany and central New York. Foremost
in the fight is the Commodore himself
Over seventy, he is the mlghtiest man
in New York Daring, resolute, defiant,
few can match hIm. He would not stop
at $50 900 to carry his point. Terrence,
his English son-in-law, has been called
home from London to aid in the battle
Osgood, the receiver appointed by Judge
Barnard, is also a son-in-law. So is
Horace +. Clarke, the leading counsel
Richard Schell is VanderbiIt's confden-
tial broker. Indeed, all the brokers are
down on Drew, for all have lost money
on the Erie, and blame Drew for it,
No stock issued since the 9TH of March
is received by the brokers. John Nor
rissey is Vanderbill's right hand man.
While at Saratoga he had a fine horse
tha! Vanderbilt wanted. He said 10
the agent: My horse is not safe: if he
was, Vanderbilt has not money enough
to buy him." He added, "If the Com.
motore will accept my horse as a pres
ent, he is welcome to him." From that
hour his fortune was made. He is worth
over a million. He is about to give up
the business of gambling, so be told a
banker the other day. For himself, he
expects nothing, but he means to save
bis son, he says, and bring him up to a
respectable calling.
Judge Barnard is ready to clap Mr..
Drew into Jail. He is one of the smart
est and sharPest men in New York. !
He has the courage of lion. He be-
longs 10 the club of which Vanderbilt !
and his sons. in-law are members. The !
appointment of O$good as,receiver bv the |
Judge is thought to Indicate that should |
Mr.. Drew get into his hands he will be |
certain to receive DO more favor than the |
law allows 1t is confidently believed
that plans are laid to catch Mr.. Drew
and bring him to New York. Tie sum
of S25 600 is the amount promised for
the body of the absconding treasurer.
We have hundred men in New York !
who would do it for half that sum and |
beglad of the chance. Low, black look
ing crafts, late at night, are said to be
lowering about Jersey City. Squads of
special constables are being sworn in,
nd snldiers ara nndar arma