The New York herald., 1876-10-17
Commodore Vanderbilt'S Death Announced
by a Bogus Telegram.
EXCITEMENT IN WALL STREET
DR.. Deems Name Forged to
the Despatch.
WHAT THE PATIENT THINKS.

portion OF the city considerably excited by the
posted the different newspaper bulletins that
Commodore Vanderbilt had died short time previ
ously-at twenty minutes after ten O'Clock The
despatch conveying tho news, which was shortly after
ward proved TO bo false, received ut the Lranch
office OF the Western Union Telegraph Company at the
New York HOTEL Marcus Holm, tho operator at this
station declares that he received tho despatch at
about twenty minutes before eleven O'Clock, and
that, having q press or business, he did not send
II until nftynve minutes past ten O'clock
having merely counted the words and charged the
boy who brought tho despatch fortycght cents. The
boy who presented tho despatch paid tho money and
was dressed In tho uniform OF a messenger OF the
American District Telegraph Company The operator
remembers that, In the hurry of the moment there
not, is usual. any book presented by tho mes
hts signature OF tho time of tho receipt Of
tho despatch. Tho message to tho operator read AZ
iollows:-
THE bogus MESSAGE
NEw YORK. Oct. 10. 1870
Commodore Vanderbilt died this morning at twenty min
ns alter Reporters especially requested call At
the house. Particulars win Is gwen g ns Prss' DEEMS
On receipt Of this despatch the Associated Press bo
levng 1t to be genuine, sent tho following private
despatch to edtors:-
TO EDITORS.
We received following despatch Rev. DR..
..Commodore Vanderbilt died this morning twenty
call at tbs house Particulars win be given the press
This despatch followed shortly after by another,
as follows:-
we informed that despatch about vandcrbiits
death is bogus" Please hold until hearing fartnsr from
A third despatch read-
wc are informed that Commodore Vanderbilt we'll
| ~ ever NJ noon to-day. y. X y.
| These conflicting served for over hours
to confuse the minds Of business and the stock
brokers did know how to take the matter, though
few days previously any Of them would havo
declared that Mr. Vanderbts probable death had boen
discounted long ago. and that the effect would be
hardly felt in tho market The bogus despatch OF
yesterday, however, served test the pulse Of
Of the stocks In tho street.
HOUSE.
reporter OF the HERALD called at tho house of Mr.
Vanderbilt. No. 10 West Washington place, and found
q man with a wagon removing trunks from tho house.
II not yet known whether the report of the Com
modore's death was true or not, generally speaking,
but few people who had heard Of the rumor
in the neighborhood gazing vacantly 1t the house,
and ous-looking person became apprehcnsivs
that the undertaken had already been sent into tho
house Tor the usual mournfui purpose ring at the
bell brought the pleasant faced girl the door, and
she wore smile which did not indicate any serious
grief, 1t became at doubtful that the Commodore
had gone the way OF ail clay In answer to inquiry
Dr. Lnsy, one OF the attendant physicians, who has
been with Mr. Vanderbilt during his illness, appeared
.Doctor," asked tho reporter, 'is It true that Mr.
vsndorbt died this morning, the Associated Press
| has announced the fact 2"
| DIR. LrNsLY SPEAKS
'Nyhy, there is no truth whatever the report Mr.
| Vanderbilt has not boen well easy q month
as he IL this morning." answered Dr. Linsy. ~
think he has improved pcrccptiby, and under
stand how such report could have originated
SEQ what u was done Tor. Mr.. Vanderbilt Is in excel
lent spirits this morning and the report afforded
| him considerable amusement" Here tho physician,
who IL quite venerable looking gentleman, OF tail
form and white hair laughed the kind Of laugh which
Ia only known TO physician having long continued
practice in good society.
Al this moment the Rev. DR.. Deems, whose name
had been forged Uy the "unknownn came down
from Commodore Vanderb!it's room ard in his genial
way explained the matter TO tho writer.
STATEMENT
"lcame here" remarked Dr. Deems, whose name had
by that time bcen transmitted TO Australia, Canada,
ior tho announcement Of Commodore vanderbit's
death, 'at seventeen minutes O'Clock totally
conscious OF the report OF Mr, Vandcrbin's death,
having Just from the bedside OF sack person
who had been visiting and was met in the door by
way, doctor, I'm afraid you have aone the business
this time and killed the Commodore, aud then
w,. NV 20 me .sns 10 c, e
astonisncd al tue news, but at tho samc tinie
said how easily II might be believed and spread
abroad. as II IS quite well known that the spirit
ual adviser OF the Commodore. passed up STAIRS at
once and found Mr.. Vanderbilt In most excellent
Spirits aud no ut once In playful way began rail
mo, saying, Ah, Doctor, we have sot the culprt
last You are the responsible person Tor all this
| trouble We have you now and shall that you
wei punished for this crime OF forgery and
continued IN tho same pleasant vein OF bad for
mouore enjoy himself with more sprits before But
IN the meantime think II only risnt that tho perpe
caught, investigated and punished. DO no. sec
wnat the object OF such joke could be.
hQ N bufxn Sralo od
Joke MIR. Vandcrbht has iccgraphed to Wall street
OF has existence lar, and 10 Mr. ORION, the president
oil the Western Union Telegraph Company, TO nave the
matter investigated IL would be seuseless lor 10
ask 10 have tue reporters absent themselves from
the house ON receipt OF tue ncws OF Mr. Vandcrplrs
death. such a request ON the iace oil IL would look
suspicious, and the reporters would be certain
tend IN large numbers despite of such Improbable
! request on my part ] nave vainIy Tried 10 iathom
the OF such falsehood ami forgery, and DO
not why II done, unless that IT was intended
TO Affect stocks 1t was forwarded imne ediatey alter
the Stock Board opened It's session. Then there Is
another theory | bcheve that this Is the
| day October i6) that tho quarterly dividends ON
| the New York Central stock PAID two per cent
Tor the quarter eight per cent Tor the year az the
olico oi the company. Now, understand that those
who own stock, and who livc at distance, when tho
day to have their divdenos pad, simply notify
the company by mail OF tho stock they aud their
dyidends are sent to them by mail IN return. ns
paying out OF quarterly dividends, you viii perceive.
Involves disbursement OF large sums money, and
those who have caused this paipabc forgery may
desired to create pane among stockholders. This
merely offer Us theory, as 40 not know what II was
graph operator the New York Hotei and ascertain
| IRON him what can in regard 10 tho forgery
| In an interview with the operator, Marcus Helm. n
rather bright looking young fellow, Br. Deems stated
that he never signed his name '.Cnasn instead Of
"Chares r. Decmsn and he stated thar tho tho
"Rcv." being prenxed 10 his name on the despatch
which gwen him TO copy absurdisy that no
never could be guilty ol.
now ruiz TRICK WAS DOME
Tho quick eye OF Dr. Deems also noticed that the
word '.mnutes' was improperly spoiled smtDnits -
as il given already the despatch above
The caligrapEy Is that OF boy who had long
TO school, ana is quite wsvering and uncertain. Tho
person who wrote the despatch was evidently but an
instrument or dupe Of some cooler head who hoped
make thousancs Of dollars ia stock gambling
On inquiry ut the American District Telegraph Offices
In Broadway, near Fourth street. and at Tenth
street, AN investigation OF the books
places anu the reporter ascernimcd mat dospsl