Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-04-27
PINNISG A RAILROAD FLEA.
HOW TWO BUCKEYES OUTWTTTED
COL. JAMES FISK, JR.

COL. JAMES FISK, JR.
might Scene at the PavOnia Ferry-Tuo Buck
eyes with a Black Carlet-bag- 900. 600
So 900. 900 Laid at the 1dmiraI's Feet-The
Colonel NonpluSSed-HoW TO Dispose OF an
UnWeleOme Visitor.
On Tuesday night. two gentlemen ar
rived in Jersey City, by the Erie Rail
road. They were country men, from
Ohio. They wore old-fashioned hats,
black, bag " p~antaloons, antiquated fob
chains, and broad, thick-soled boots.
Full boards, slightly sprinkled with
grey, graced their chins. They might
have been taken for either drOvers or
country bankers. They walked upen
the ferry-boat Susquehanna, carrying a
well-worn black travelling bag between
them. Walking to the second compart-
ment of the ladies' cabin, they dropped
the bag on the floor, ran their umbrellas
through its handles, took seats back OF
it, ard gravely crossed their legs. There
was nothing about these gentlemen to
attract attention. Several Jehus, how
ever, spotted them as rustics, but re-
tired, unsuccessful. The strangers only
blinked in the gaslight, and ground their
umbrellas through the carpet-sack with
greater energy.
THE COUNTRY MEN IN THE CITY.
As the Susquehanna struck the slip,
at the foot of Chambers street, the rural
gentlemen withdrew their umbrellas
from the travelling bag. Each seized it
by the handle, and passed from the
ferry house, brandishing his umbrella,
and fighting Off the hoarse, hungry,
eager-eyed hackmen who waylaid them.
They then walked up Chambers street,
to broadway, and across the Park to a
point opposite the San office, where they
took a car. Then they rode up TO the
Westmoreland Hotel. The taller gen.
{ eman of the two released his hold
on the bag, stepped to the desk, and
wrote his name in the register thus :
Joseph Perkins, Cleveland, Ohio"
He then relieved his companion of the
sack. The second and handsOmer gen.
tleman of the two next took his dash at
the register, inscribing thereon, the
words "Junius Dana, War en, Ohio. ,
He then resumed his clutch On the old
black bag.
OLD GEORGE ROBERTS,
The proprietor of the hotel, was quietly
repoSing in an arm chair behind his
desk, and smoking a Connecticut seed
leaf. When the two gentlemen called
for the keys to their room, his curiosity
was excited. He arose, rubbed his bald
head, and approached them. b coun-
try men glanced at GeOrge'sfac and then
clutched their black sack more firmly,
one of them placing his hand on his
inside coa pocket, as though something
mor interesting than the carpet-bag
was concealed therein. Mr.. Roberts in
formed the gentlemen that it was wet
weather, and asked a few questions con-
corning the Ohio crops, after which the
guests went to their room.
"Well," said George, turning to his
clerk, as Messrs. Perkins and Dana dis
appeared, "that was the most dilapi-
dated old carpet-bag that l ever saw.
l thought, first of, it was old Horace
Greeleys; but hang me if l don't believe
that it was worse han Horace's."
"They are taking mighty good care of
it, at all events replied the clerk.
A bystander then rehashed the stories
concerning the rebel hotel-burners who
came to the city, in 1864; how they all
had old black travelling sacks filled with
birthstone and phosphorus, and how
they all took rooms, and set every hotel
in the city on fire. the three hairs on
George Roberts head stood on end
instanter. As he was about to rush out
and consult with Paran Stevens, Bill
Burroughs, Warren Leland, and Chris.
Conner. concerning the impending dan
ger, one of the rustics returned with the
carpet sack. He handed it to the clerk,
saying:
"Be kind enough to lock that up in
your hotel safe until l call for it. 1t
contains valuables that / prefer not to
have in my ROOM" Here he looked at
the ancient Roberts, and Immediately
added, al hope you will keep your safe
locked" and departed, murInuring to
himself, 1 don't like the looks of that
old bald-headed fellow"
THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTRY MEN.
Old George Roberts was dumbfounded.
While he was conversing with his clerk,
a Sun reporter entered b hotel, and the
venerable Roberts explained the case 10
him. On glancing at the hotel register,
the reporter recognized the name of
Joseph Perkins as that of an old ac-
uuaintance. He quickly e m his card
up to Mr.. Perkins room, n o after
followed the card. As he entered the
room, Mr.. Perkins grasped him warmly
by the hand, and introduced him to Mr..
Junius Dana, who was seated at q small
liable, busily writing, In answer to he
reporters questions, Mr.. Perkins told
the following story:
Six months ago,James Fisk, Jr., Jay
Gould, James M'Henry, and two Ohio
gentlemen, proposed to sell the Niles
& New Lisbon Railroad to the Cleve-
and and Mahoning Railroad Company
for 81. 100000.
Reporter-what is the Cleveland and
Mahoning road?
Mr.. Perkins-It is a road running
southeast from Cleveland, striking the
Atlantic and Great Western at Warren
Junction. 1t has been leased by the
Atlantic and Great Western road.
Reporter-What is the Niles and New
Lisbon rOad7
Mr.. Perkins-It runs from Niles,
on the New Castle and Youngstown
Railroad, south TO New Lisbon. The
New Castle and Youngstown Railroad
is really a continuation of the Mahoning
branch, beyond the line of the Atlantic
and Great Western road. connecting
within the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne,
at Rochester. The Mahoning road is
straddled.
Reporter What do you mean by
straddled?
Mr.. Perkins-Why, ii was originally
a narrow gauge, but the Atlantic and
Great Western, after leasing il, laid down
an extra rail, so that it is both broad and
narrow gauge. The Niles and New Lis
bon road is solely a narrow gauge, and
| opens the Ohio coal fields down in Col
umbiana county. Well, Fisk, Gould,
and M'Henry, six months ago, proposed
to sell the Niles and New Lisbon road
TO the Mahoning Company for 81, 100000
and in addition to effect the sale and
reorganization of the Atlantic and Great
Western road; and re-rent b Cleveland
| and Mahoning road and its branches, at
| the rate of S400 600 a wear. The money
for the New Lisbon road was 10 be paid
on the 2lst instant. Such were Fisk,
Gould, and McHenry's terms. The
stockholders of the Cleveland and Ma
honing road held a meeting and in
structed their officers to accept Fisk's
proposition. We are here now, prepared
! TO plank down our 81, 10000 o for the New
Lisbon road The black carpet-bag, that
old George Roberts is so much excited
about, contains 81, o 200 bonds of the
Cleveland and MahOning load, S26,6O7
cash, and 81, O43, 200 stock of the Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio Canal Company, in all,
:. O7O,3 0T, this being the consideration
embraced in the arrangement. The bag
also contains papers essential to tender
the same to the parties Of the first part,
in fulfIlment of the contract by the sec
Ond party.
REcoSSoIrERING THE ADMIRAL's POSI-
TON.
R~eporter-Col. Fisk, of course, will be
glad to get your money and turn the
New Lisbon road right over to yon.
Mr.. Perkins-It may be, seeing he has
been so successful in purchasing the
Atlantic and Great Western road. and
that he and MHenry are such warm