The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-04-04
The Erie Wnr-Why it Began and
How Ii Is.


ent of the Boston Journal, gives the fol-
of the great Erie Railroad war, which
has the merit of being much more in
telligible, and probably as truthful, as
any before published:
"For many years Vanderbilt and
Drew have been fast friends; in gigan-
tic operations that have laid out the
street they have been allies. Their first
quarrel was about the Harlem. Van
derbilt won, and Drew paid heavy
sum for selling short. At the last cleo
tion for directors for the Erie road, Mr..
Drew was left out. If men make money
on the Erie, they congratulate them
selves; if they lose, they curse 'Old
Drew, az he is called. The usual cry of
mad dog was raised, and Mr.. Drew
was left out in the cold. He went to
Vanderbilt and complained. He said
he could not afford to be kept Oft The
board of directors, and Vanderbilt
said he should be put on.
At the next meeting 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
Il member of your board 1t was done.
Now, 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 mo-
nopOlize the travel to ST. Louis. Mr..
Drew attempted To hsah off THO nh"uVP-
oily. He made arrangements with some
roads out West to lay third rail to Sc
cure wide guage track to the Mlss's-
sippi Vanderbilt sent an lmperious
order to Mr.. Drew to desist, telling him
he was poaching on his manor. Drew
said he should not withdraw. In his
Doric style, Vanderbilt said, Then I'll
make YOU So the war began. Except as
he is backed by the rieroad, Mr.. Drew
is fighting this battle alone. Tosustain
himself, he threw the larger part OF his
stock overheard. 1t did not do what he
expected. He simply played into the
hands of his enemies, for NaDderbllts
friends bought it up as fast he 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 he
could secure to Erie her share of the Pa
cific railroad business. Then came in
| iunctions, contempt of court, orders for
arrest, and other proceedings, that have
employed so many eminent lawyers,
and to whom it is said that no less than
S250, 900 will be paid in counselfces 10
escape from close confinement III Jail,
Mr.. Drew fed to New jersey. That lit
tie State is with him in the fight; so is
Albany and Central New York. Fore
most in the fights the Commodore him
self. Over seventy, he is the migbtiest
man in New York. Daring, resolute,
defiant, few can match him. He would
not stop at twenty millions to carry his
point. Terrence, his English son-in-
| law. has been called home from London
to aid in the battle. Osgood, the re-
ceiver appointed by Judge Barn
ard. is also son-ln-law. So
is Horace F. Clarke, the leading
counsel. Richard Schell is Vanderbilt's
confidential 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
Morrissey is Vanderbilt's right hand
man. While at Saratoga he had fine
horse that Vanderbilt wanted. He said
to the agent: "My horse is not for
sale; if he was, Vanderbilt has not mon
ey enough to buy him." He added {:
"If the Commodore will accept my
horse as a present, 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 he told banker the other
day. For himself, he expects nothing,
but he means to save his son, he says,
and bring hin up to respectable call
ing.
| 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 belongs
to the club Of which Vanderbilt and
his sons-in-law are members. The ap-
pointment of Osgood as receiver by the
Judge is thought to indicate that sheuld
Mr.. Drew get into his hands he will be
certain to receive no more favor than
the law allows. 1t is confidently be-
lieved that plans are laid to catch Mr..
Drew and bring him to New York. The
sum of S.. 900 is the amount promised
for the body Of the absconding treas
urer. We have hundred meR In New
York who would do il for half that sum
and be glad of the chance. Low, black
looking crafts, late at night, are said to
be lowering about jersey City. Squads
of special constables are being sworn
in, and soldiers are under arms.