The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-17
rs THIS JAY GoULD's WORK9
The Despatch that Falsely Announced the
Death OF Commodore Vanderbilt.

At about 10: so Yesterday morning q
despatch, signed X" Rev. Charles F. DEEMS" was
received at the headquarters Of the Associated
Press. from the Western Union operator In the
New York Hotel announcing the death OF Conn
modore Vanderbilt. The spurious news soon
afterward appeared on the newspaper bull
lotin boards IN startling capitals, and on It's
announcement In Wall street the Vanderbilt
stocks began to fall New York Central
dropped from lC2 20 l0lS, and then TO l0lB,
Lake Shore from Sos TO 5A, Western Union
from n to IN. Delaware. Lack savanna and
Western from ~ to ~, and Pacific Mail from
% TO H's. There had been an air OF mystery
about the corners OF the stock Exchange, where
Comm odore Vanderbiit's favorite stocks are
dealt IN early In the day aud they were notice.
ably weak at the opening. few minutes he
fore the despatch announcing the death Of the
railroad monarch was received these stocks
were froalv offered down, aud rumors we're cir
cuiitod that Vanderbilt was dead No one at
ntst doubted the truth OF the despatch until
about lli5. when Charles Bytin1c, we'll known
sporting man, offered to bet odds that the Com
modoro was not doad. quarter 81 an hour
later II WAS whispered around that tho telegram
was canard, ana thcn the depressed stocks he
gan TO rally, and soon, except New York Cen
tril. sold above the opening pticcs. Inc qucs-
tion was ~ len9th set at rest nv the publication
modorc's Wen street biokets.
In many months. &. NANDERrtT.
The despatch having hecn read to Mr.. william
II. Vanderbilt, he teicguphed to Mr.. william
Orton, asking that an Investigation OF the origin
~ the false report he made. Nr. OtOn rephcd
that the investigation was glrcndy on foot md
that 1t would PROBABLY be- plHicr to nnd the per
pctratO, than to punish MIN. Tue CommOuoro
laughed. ana then said that II was probably an
attempt To hear New York Central. as the quar-
tery dividend OF That roau, amounting to
s2W00O0, was due, and to be paid yesterday
morning.
DR.. Deems, whose name had been forged was
apparently the most astoniahed person OF all.
lie sad, after langhingly proving an alui.
About noon thought woull call In ana soc
met Elliot shepherd. VINO SAID 10 NE;
well. Doctor, You've raised the town this
morning"
care sUid !, for thought " was joke. Then
he told me about the despatch. l went into
jOkingly said. Now you've got a responsible
man. " Nell.' sad 1, laue ming I've got a
IN the Western Union, and you've been sending
n bogus despatch and getting my name signed
loh. It's evidently an attempt to bear New
York Central on'inued the Doctor. tecau g
there II t2,WOUl u Iartcriy Dividend to be y id
this mornins; but guess every man who went
to tue ofhco to-day got hts money, aud the rest
OF us will get ours. rne most | care about 1t IL
to think that ANYBODY should have supposed
that would shell minutes minnits' as IL was
ia the original copy Of the despatch. Then, TO
think that many men have probably lost nun
dreds Of dollars oy this. and 10 have INV name
a Door inonens,Nc minister OF the gospel, who
has nothing to do with such matters mixed up
with It,"
Dr. Deems added that he immediately went
TO the New York Hotel and looked az the
original despatch. which was Ia uncouth CHI
rography, aud read "a follows:
n associated Press, Nsio Fork
COmmodOrc Vanderbilt died this morning at tw y
mnnits aiter ten Reporter esptcia. qncst d not
TO call At the house PARTICULARS Will be given TO the
pres. REV. CHARLks L. DkFMs.
The operator at the New York Hotel slys that
the message was left by a - strict telegraph
boy, aud It IL believed that the author Of tue
canard stopped the boy Ia the street and eN-
pioyed hun to teke the despatch To tha New
YORK Hot l, giving him the money to pay for IL.