New-York tribune., 1872-03-12
ERIE RESCUED AT LAST.

HOUSE - GOULDS RUfFIANS AND hELsoo
MEN DISPUTE POSSESSION OF THE BUILD
ING-THE POLICE TRIUMPHANT-rHE NEW
DIRECTORY RECOGNIZED BY THE sUPERfN-
TENDENT, AUDITOR, AND OTHER OFFICERS
or THE ROAD-DAvID DUDLEY FIELD AND
THOMAS G.. sIIEARMAN NO LONGER COUNSEL
The hopeful assurances Of yesterday are happily
confirmed to-day, and the rescue of Erie is com
pleted by mastery stroke, cunningly devised and
boldly executed. The rout of Jay Gould and his
faction is oyerw helmingly disastrous; the rghtful
owners of Erie are virtually power in the palatial
headquarters Of the road, and tonight the ring
leaders who robbed them viii probably rest in dun
geons which they have certainly fully earned. The
honest Directors and rghtful owners marched boldly
yesterday into possession. and Gould and his gang,
with their legal prostitutes. Field and Shearman.
who have 40 long lived by the infamy ot the KING
they served were ANONYMOUSLY driven into corner
The story Of the means by which this revolution
has been brought about in the management Of
great railway forms of the strangest romances
Of finance. The Erie Ring which was itself con
spiracy has been overthrown by conspiracy which
has taken mary months Of skillful plotting "a
make successful. The history OF II. III brief
is best begun by recalling the announcement
made in The TRIBUNE Of Dee IL. 1871
to the effect that Gen. Daniel T.. SIckles was re-
tnrning from Spain in the interest Of the English
stockholders Of Erie to make another effort to rescue
the road from the rule Of Jay Gould and Fisk The
announcement then made was generally regarded "a
unfoundcd but yesterday Gen. Sicke- appeared
publicly as the master spirit who had directed the
campaign against Erie and had won it,
Immediately on tbs return Gen. Sckles quietly but
actively began operations. His fist movements
were directed against the legal and legislative
stronqholds OF Erie and these he found very torml-
dable indeed Gould literally owned the supreme
Court and Barnard Ingraban and Canlozo were ms
willing and subtle tools. David Dndlcy fleld and
son and Thomas a. Snrarman had pro-tiruted their
talents 10 his service. and by every qahhie
and subteriuge which they could invent, ara
by every base conspiracy with ih' hIrd
Judges which they could cOntrve. aided him to Keep
his great power and intimidae his associates IN tire
DIRECTORY AS well as the stockholders HIS Office Vas
filed with spies aud special shcr1is, and The Di-
rrcors who were not in his confidence were the OBJ
ects Of their constant surveillance These Directors
we're afraid not merely for rheir liberty and property
but for their lives. Goulds hold on the Legislature,
in spite OF the success If reform. proved to be
very strong. aud Gen. Sckles found himself greatly
embarrassed here The movements against the legal
and legislative sron ghOlds did not, Therefore PROM
ise brilliant Or immediate success When about five
ar >iN We, h ago the idea suggested 10 Gen.
sickle. thst the undermining Of the Ring vas
nuic ker though more dangerous mctIod o. gaining
possession Of the Road.
The person who suggested this scheme Wa young
man formerly q journalist. named Geor9e Crouch
Intimacy with GouG and Fisk. and long service -
der their Ring. had given Crouch evil reputation
less fatteriug perhaps than he deserved. dc WAS
suspected Of being SPY of Gould dummy
of the Ring and generally understood
TO be the mysterious English stockhoder who
.i.l q l-..,4 fN
no matter what hr may have been. Lee has redeemed
much Of lis lost reputation by the thorough aid and
loval assistance which he has given Gen. ookie- II
red,enliug the Road from he highwaymeu who have
So long had possession OF it, and tn, General gives
linn full credit for his part in the work
Crouch represented to Gen. Sickle- that many 81
the Directors Of Erie were antagonistic TO Gould.
though afraid of his er, at power and that major
NV Of them could be induced 10 combine AGAINST
him He di>trusted Crouch At first. but after
ward trusted him fully. and through him and
others interviews were had between Gen.
SickIes and the disaiiected directors This WAS
only accomplished with the utmost difficulty. The
Directors were ~ distwsttul OF Sckles OF Crouch
and Gould. and insisted Oh secrecy in the neeoJla-
t;ons though Gen. Sckles declared his readiness to
| % with any one Of them and face Gould and his
minions and reveal his purpose. But each declared
himself fearful of Goulds power. and the combna-
ton was consequently made with the greatest
| secrecy.
The first tn enter into the scheme was o. II. T.
Archer who was secretly elected Nlce-l'rcsldent of
the road week before Fisk's death in anticipation
Of the atter~ arrest Archer had plainly told Goull
that he accepted the Nice-Pcsdcncy to serve the
interests OF the stockholders, and this made Gould
! dstlustful of him. After Fisk's death, Archer and
Conner. Firk's Private Secretary. discovered aud
,Lvarted cheme of Goulds rob Mrs. Fisk of hall
, million in stock Of the Narragansett steamship
| Companv Archer in great rage. told Gould that he
! constituted himself also the protector OF tlsk's
! widows interest, and this widcned the breach be-
tu cen them Archer was not slow. therefore, IN en-
| fering into General Sickless scheme, particularly
when the General showed him claims against Ere
| for over S23OCOGO, which were good also
agpinst the personal estates of the Directors lie
invited Archer and his lawyer, Mr. Martin. to
! examine his claims and proofs, aud the TWO Mlei
doing 81 pronounced them valid, aud Archer al
once consented, partly for protection. partly from
anmo-ty to Gould. and partly for the general good
| of the Road. TO enter INTO combination "a
| onst Gould Mr.. Hall the next Director
with whom an interview was had through d
| former aide de camp of the General and the same
claims and proofs we're submitted to him. He toe
| consented TO engage in the conspiracy, Tor snch
literally it was but a conspiracy for good purpose
| Homer Ramsdell was next approached, but be "a'
exceedingly timid and il was some time before h'
could he ndnced to enter into conference. Finally
IN this way com bnston Of eleven directors sgains
| four was formed, and the opposing factions stood
thus. - ,,o,-,n
fOR GOCLD. AGAINST GOULD
| , Iav Could Prr.dsut ]. o. II. J.. Archer Vice
| 2 Dr. Edwin ElGridge. PresL+h''
| = Henry shrrwopd 2. John Hilton.
| . E-.tnci, y DRAKE 8. &. X simuns.