Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-04

! him. He Immediately dispatched
! secret agent to New Orleans, who qu'etiy
boughtup The stock Of the new gas IN
pany until he got tha cpatroilihS IN
terest. but without any ones suspect. Hs
/ who furnished the money. Then an asses s.
mont of 40 per cent. was laid upon
the remaining stockholders, who, as was
intended. became alarmed, and SOLD out
/ their stock as fast as they cOuld. Gatfl-
/ sons agent clutched it all, and when
4 everything was in his hands the TACT was
allowed to leak out that tue C0mmodore
/ owned the new gaslieht enterprise, ana
I meant TO push it through. Ihls news lell
upon the old company Ike trip hammer.
Their stock dropped from 100 to about oO,
and there was terror among tue stock
holders. A desperate onslaught was
made upon the Commodore. lie was
called the enemy and destroyer OF the
widows and orphans who had put their
money into The old gaslight company.
Garrison remained perfectly calm,
''Well, gentlemen" he said, "Pll elther
buy out your whole concern NJ par Tue
stock Of the old company amounted 10
about $1,000 OGO), or I'll add Sl,UO0,OOo 10
your stock and we'll consolidate. Take
your choice. Otherwise shall go on ana
construct my works"
The old company thought 1t better to
have such a man for an ally than a rival,
aud they accepted his Ctfer TO increase
their stock ana consolidate. The agree
ment was hardly concluded before the
consolidated stock ran up TO 1870. Garri-
son made a million or more, and the per-
Z sons who had undertaken TO use MIN Tor
their advantage saw HIM reap all the
benefit Of their scheme.
The Commodore had some peculiar
a, ersons. He did not like man who
wore a red crayat. or one who parted his
hair or his name in the middle.
At the United States Hotel, in Sara
tOga, the Commodore Was prominent
figure. Although occupying couage,
he did not care to dine in private like the
other cOttagers. but invariably ate at the
table d'bOte, while more pretentlOus peo-
pie Of less means dined in private. with
his family he occupied a table in the CEN
tire ot the long dining room, where his age
and imposing presence made him the OBJ
served of all observers.
The Commodore was man Of fine social
qualities, a good story teller, an enter
tanning cOnYersatiOnalist. He won many
firm and devoted friends, and kept them.
He was conspicuous figure in business
and club circles. His tall form, long
white hair, Roman nose, and well-cuC
features made him well known in the city.
IN private life he was plain and unosten-
tatious. His son and his daughter Mrs.
Van Auken. lived III fttth avenue. w nen
the old Commodore was asked why ne
lived in his modest Park avenue home. he
replied: 81 like the street because it is
out OF the way. l love to be quiet and
live IN quiet neighborhoOd."
The Commodore, like the late CommO-
dOre Vanderbilt, was a famous card play
er. His propensity for hlutflng was well
known. He has been known to bet $40, 600
on two aces. When it was reported that
he was to be married some of his old
friends chatfed him on the affair. "Gen-
tlemen," he said, "haye you ever heard
of the man who offered 500, 900 for a glass
of wat just before he was hanged? l
think that man was sensible person."