The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-03
VANDERBILT AND GARRISON.
Reviving the Story of the Signing of a Con-
tract at the NIuzzle OF Pistol.
Washington UaraId

INC otOtJ VI tiO VI n NNH-
tract at the NIuzzle of "a Pistol.
Washington Herald.
learn that the long-standing difference
between the Vanderbilts and Garrisons has
at last been settled. The story of this feud
and its origin has never been told before In
print. 1t commenced in 1S49. That year
captain, now called Commodore Garrison,
went from the Mississippi river to New York,
having had difficulty in 1913 which result
ed in his killing his antagonist. The dead
tsd many friends, and William c. Rail-
Ston, his clerk, persuaded Garrison that his
life would be constantly in danger II he
stayed there, and therefore he had better
quit the Mississippi river for good. Having
quite fortune Garrison took the advice,
and went to New York to begin anew. At
That time Commodore Vanderbilt owned a
line DISABLING vessels from New York to San
Francisco. Garrison proposed to buy out
this line, and after some negotiation a price
and terms were agreed upon. Before the
first payment was made gold was
line at once became enormously
valuable, and Commodore Vanderbilt,
though he had made a contract, fatty re-
fused to conclude the sale and turn over the
property. Garrison did all he could to get
possession but to no effect. One morning
he went TO Vanderbilts Office, and, laying
down the sum agreed upon as the first pay
ment and the contract asked Vanderbilt to
take the money and sign the contract. He
refused to do so in rather harsh words. Gar
rison deliberately went to the door OF the
room, locked it, and put the key in his
pocket. He then drew six-inch Derringer
pistol cooked it, and said: Commodore
Vanderbilt it is now five minutes to IL by
the clock on your mantel. | will give you
five minutes in which to sign that contract.
If it is not signed when that clock strikes IL,
at its last stroke, by the God that made me,
T n IL =
floor" Tick, tick, went the clock. Garri-
sons pistol, with its huge, yawning, black
nuzzle was within eighteen inches of Van
derbilt's brain. He could not move,
for Garrison's eyes were as cold and
hard as those of Atropos, the pitiless fate.
A motion would be certain death within
the instant with no one near to help
him. 1t was four minutes, three minutes,
then only two minutes before he had to die.
When 1t was thirty reconds to IL Vanderbilt
picked up his pen, took the paper signed it,
blotted it, and handed it to Garrison. As the
latter took it the clock struck the first stroke
of IL. Garrison unlocked the door and went
away. That afternoon the news of Wander
bits capitulation caused much wonder.
Garrison was asked how it had happenad.
"Oh, l suppose the old man saw he had been
wrong" was all the reply he ever made. The
episode of the pistol and the dramatic Incl
dent attending the signature Garrison never
spoke OF. Twenty years after it occurred,
Commodore Vanderbilt himself told the
story. For years every thing Vanderbilt
could do was done to thwart the stout old
Commodore who had compelled him to do
what he had promised But Garrison throve
wonderfully in California. He made the
house o. Garrison, Fritts 81 Rallston power
on the Pacific slope. His old partners are
dead and he is fighting disease with an
indomitable courage, Garrison has lived
years and years longer than his family could
have hoped for. The loss of his eldest son
few months ago grea thy shocked him, and in
his last days he has forgiven all his enemies,
and, as 1 hear, there is peace between him
and his great rivals family at last.