Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-07-30
What Came of Holding Yanderbilts
Horse.


. cASyoung man from an adjoining State,
who has recently been rescued from a
score of hungry creditors, and who still
has a credit at his bankers of about $780,
900, but who not long ago was in reduced
circumstances and Obliged to live in re-
tiremenf on Staten Island, makes the fol-
lowing solution of his sudden acquisition
of a competency The gentleman-Holt
by name e-was residing in one of the fash
ionable hotels on Staten Island. He was
extremely edown-hearted. This was the
reason Of his low spirits: About two
years ago he had married very handsome
woman, on whom he fairly doated. At
that time he had $4,000 in cash. Soon
after the nuptial ceremony, Holt removed
to this city, and became broker on Wall
street. He was too honest to succeed
there. The bulls and bears gored and
tore observation-disclosures in less than, a
twelve-month he had not dollar left.
Disguised, he retired with as good grace
as possible, leaving his cash to fulfill its
mission. With wife and child he went to
the country, and finally, as before stated,
settled down in hotel on Staten Island.
His wife had some means, and she gave it
freely for the support of the family.
- About two weeks ago, late in one hot
afternoon, gentleman drove up to the
hotel where Holt was living, and gruffiy
asked whether there was boy there who
could hold his horse. "I will do it sir"
said Mr.. Holt, and he did hold the animal
during the time consumed by the elderly
gentleman in obtaining his dinner.
A few days later, the same gentleman,
driving the same horse, stopped at the
same hotel, and hunted for boy to hold
his horse. No boy being present, Holt
again volunteered. He held the horse till
the hostler came to take the animal to the
liable, and then retired within the hotel
30 'dressf for dinner. Mrs. Holt had way
Of making her husband get himself up very
respectfully at least once each day, and
that was for the dinner hour. Generally
tune, and since his financial f0Sce had
really become seedy. When Mr.. and Mrs.
Holt entered the hotel dining-room that
evening Mrs. Holt was resplendent. Her
husband was at least dressed in gentle
manly style At an adjoining table sat
the elderly man whose horse Mr.. Holt had
ron wo4different occasions the pleasure of
holding. The eyes of the elderly individ-
ual were observed to dilate considerably,
in fact, he stared at Mr.. and Mrs. Holt.
But he said nothing at that time. After
dinner, however, he sought out Mr.. Holt,
and bluntly asked his name. "Holt, sir,
at your service" ,"And who do you think
Iam?" again asked the elderly person
age "Oh, you? You are 'old' Wander
bilt! know you, and the horse l have
held Is Mountain Boy, an animal any
man might be proud to draw rein over"
Instead of taking offense at the epithet
:" DID," Mr.. Vanderbilt-for it was the
Z tCommodore--seemed to like it, and he
made some inquiries about Hollis ante
cedents, took fancy to him, and peremp-
torily ordered the young man to make his
appearance at his uptown Office on the en-
suing forenoon at precisely II o'clock.
, Holt promised to obey, did so, and had an
interview of over an hours duration with
the millionaire. What was done or said
on that occasion no one has ever been able
to learn. But few days later Holt made
his temperance in Wall street and spec
ulated strongly and successfully in a GER
tain line of stocks known to be mostly
control He'd by Commodore Vanderbilt. So
well did he work his card with the in
structions undoubtedly obtained from the
Commodore, that in a few weeks he
cleared over 100000 in cash, which he
deposited with prominent banking house.
whose vaults are protected by burglar
proof locks, and who keep day and night
watchmen expressly paid to see that no
unauthorized person tampers with those
safeguards Two days ago Vanderbilt
sent for Holt again and said to him:
So" Young man, hear you have made
some money. / am glad to learnt. Now
just take my advice second time. Never
put foot in Wall street again. You are
not suited for that atmosphere. Shun it
as you would the devil, You've got
enough. Keep what you have and be
contented."
. Holt now shuns Wall street as he would
a pestiience.-Nete York San, July %.