Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-01-28
Amusing "Reminiscences OF John w.
Jarrett.

Amus.nb hVuihiscthce Oi JOHN wa
Garrett.
The death of John w. Garrett, OF the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. brings W
an amusing "reminiscences. Garrett ane
Colonel Harry McComb, OF Credit
Mobilier fame, were fast friends, though
often on the opposite side Of the fenc,
in railroad projects. McComb used te
stop at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, while
Garrett divided his time between the
Brevoort and the Brunswick. Some
where along about 1880 or 1881 the
Delaware Legislature had finally con.
sented to charter rail line across iti
territory, placing a short cut withir
reach of the Baltimore & Ohio through
to Philadelphia without obeisance to the
Pennsylvania. But the new charter
was in McCsmb's hands. The Pennsyl
vania people were cooling at his elbow,
Whispers from Baltimore way had &c
be most appealing. So President Johp
w. Garrett journeyed over TO see NC
Comb. The old gentleman proposed
TO talk business to McComb for all he
was worth and bridge over, il pretty
propositions could do II, little differ
ence of a million or so. John w. got
into New York two or three hours ahead
of time. He was in musing mood and
not too proud to walk. Up Broadway
he sauntered leisurely, bound for the
Brunswick, where he was to turn on
the foodgates of his eloquence. Tic
was lust opposite the Fifth Avenue,
when along BY his side strolled robust,
clean-shaven, smiling man, looking
enough like McComb to be his twin,
The magnate from Baltimore didn't
hesitate. Out went his hand with
greeting more cordial than anything
Manhattan Island had witnessed In
fortnight. Something like an express
sion OF establishment came over the face
of tho new arrival, but Mr.. Garrett,
swept on in his eloquent protestations Of
Joy at the meeting.
1--WE will run right over to the Bruins
wick and lunch" he calculated. HI,
friend didn't object. To the brunswick
they went, and they dined in princely
fashion for an hour or more. kigbi
along had the fascinating accents oi
Mr.. Garrett flown. He had no desire ts
rush directly to business. Enough foi
the moment was 1t to tell all about how
he loved Colonel McComb and whist
gracious things he hoped some time te
do for him. And the Colonel, bsped ht
nothing. In silence he ate ara in 81
lence he drank; only the sparkle OF an
appreciative eye told how he @'Ioyeo
the good things of this life as the '1alti'
more & Ohio's President was able 10
dispense them. a..
..How long do you remain in the cltyP
quoth MIR. John w. Garrett.
Champagne had evidently bubbled NJ
into the region of the Coloncl's BRAIN.
"I'm d-dashed if / know" was the
rather inarticulate response OF the mar
who for the first time had broker
silence. "Tm d-d-dashcd if l know.
Fac is, old man, fac is, I'm just back
from the island to-day, and life is tit
tie, Just little, kind o. shaky for TEL
low when Cap'n Williams is down on
him."
Mr.. John w. Garrett stared.
Then his companion wanted to CLINT
mn on the table and make speech. a
lackey interfered. For the hrst lime
MIR. Garrett gave searching look ~ into
his companions countenance. linen
the only reason he didn't faint was DO
cause he didn't know how. There are
times in this life when even railroad
presidents show a little feeling. This
was one OF those times for MIR. John
w. Garrett, of the Baltimore q Ohio.
He was on the verge of saying some
thing right to the point in an incisive
MARYLAND way, when new face peered
in at the dining room door. And this
new face was the face of the real Col
oncl McComb-the faco of man who
enjoyed good joke, and was not SO
ascetic as to refuse n few condiments
while he promised not to dwell too often
upon some of the embarrassments Of
true goodness in a wicked world.
But to the day of his death l think
Colonel Harry McComb was little wor.
ricd because this second edition OF him.
self was in circulation. On railroad
train one day, when he was in good
humor over the success of one OF his
financial strokes, he told me the story
himself.
"But it's rather tough" he said, t.
think that you've got double, par
ticularly when you discover that the
double is West Side sharper aud .
bunko man."
never heard it minated that MIR.
Garrett was employing missionaries to
retail his little experience. Z.
Times.