The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-04-13


| n. rr,s War. why II began and new lis.
aBurleish," the New York correspondent
Of the Boston Journal, gives the following
.ke.chsof. tie history and status of the great
| Erie Railroad war, which has the merit of
being much more ineligible, and probably
. trathful, as any before published:
aFor many years Vanderbilt and Drew
have been fast friends in gigantic operations
that have laid out the street /; they have been
allies. Their first quarrel was about the
Harlem. Vanderbilt won, and Drew paid
heavy sum for selling short. At the last
election of directors for the Erie road, Mr..
Drew was left out. If men make money on
the Erie, they congratulate themselves; ii
thay lose they curse old Drew, as he 10
called. The usual cry of mad dog was
raised, and Mr.. Drew was left out in the
cold. He went To Vanderbilt and explain
ed. He said he could not afford to keep off
the board of directors, aud Vanderbilt said
be should be put on. At the next meeting
of the board the commodore, true to his prom
Use, ordered one of the directors to resign,
which he did. Now, gentlemen, said the
autocrat, elect Mr.. Drew q member of your
board II was done. Now, gentlemen,
elect Mr.. Drew your treasurer. The gen
tlemen 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 this monopoly.
He made arrangements with some roads out
| west to Law third rail to secure a wide
gauge track to the Mississippi. Vanderbilt
sent an imperious order to Drew to desist,
| telling him he was poaching on his manor.
| Drew said be should not withdraw. In his
doric style, Vanderbilt said, "Then I'll make
| you.n So the war began. Except as he is
backed by the Erie road, Mr.. Drew is fight
| ing this battle alone. To sustain himself, he
threw the larger part of the stock overheard.
| 1t did not do what he expected. He simply
| PLAYED into the hands of his enemies, for
Vanderbilts friends bought it up as fast as
| he offered it 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 he could secure to Erie heE
share of the Pacific railroad business. Then
came iniunctions. contempt of court, orders
for arrest and other proceedings, that have
employed so many eminent lawyers, and to
whom it is said no less than $250,0O0 will
be paid in counsel fees. To escape from
close confinement in Jail, Mr.. Drew fed t.
New Jersey. That little state is with him
in the fight so is Albany and central New
York. Foremost in the fight is the commo-
dore himself Over seventy, he is the nigh
test man in New York Daring, resolute
tefiaut, few can match him. He would no,
stop at twenty millions to carry his point
Terrence, his English son -in-law, has beer
called home from London to aid in the bat
tie. Osgood, the receiver appointed By
I'D porparl 10 ok la S0 y
Horace F. Clarke, the leading counsel
Richard Schell is Fanderbilt's confidential
broker Indeed, all the brokers are dowr
on Drew, for all have lost money on the Erie
and blame Drew for it. No stock issued
since the It'll of March is received by the
brokers. John Morrissey is Vanderbilt!
right hand man. While at Saratoga he haC
n fine horse that Vanderbilt wanted. Fl,
said TO the agent: "My horse is not 70
sale If he was, Vanderbilt has not none
enough to buy him. He added: "If th,
COMMODORE will accept my horse as present
he is welcome to him. From that hour hi
fortune was made. He is about to give al
the business of gambling, so he told bank
} er the other day. He is worth over mill
ion. For himself he expects nothing, bu
he means to save his son. he says. and brinl
him up in q respectable calling.
! Judge Barnard is ready to clap Mr.. Drev
into Jail. He is one OF the smartest anC
sharpest men in Nv York. he has tn
courage of lion !; he belongs to the club @
which Vanderbilt and his sons in law ar
members. The appointing Of Osgood az re
ceiver by the judge Is thought to indicat
that should Mr. Drew get into his hands h
viii be certain TO receive no more favor tina
the law allows. 1t is confidently believes
that plans are laid to catch Mr.. Drew an
bring him to New York. The sum of SIS
600 is the amount pronis ed for the body c
the absconding treasurer We have hun
dred men in New York who would do it 70
half that sum and be glad Of the chance
Low, black looking crafts, late at night ar
: said to be lowering about Jersey City
Squads of special constables are being swor
in, and soldiers are under arms.