The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-04

How He Got His Second Wife-His Personal
Courage-A Tilt with Vanderbilt.

Courage-A Tilt with Vanderbilt.
Collated from Various Sources.
The second Mrs Garrison, whom he married
in 1873 is daughter of j. al. Randall, formerly
a wholesale dry goods merchant of St Louis,
and the story of the marriage is thus related
How did the aged Commodore get his young
wife2' was asked of an acquaintance.
she whistled and ne came to her, my lad.
was the reply; ''but she didn't do it in the spirit
of the girl in the ballad
Garrison had been for forty years widower.
He was testy old fellow, and had not been sus-
pected of caring rap for women. The posses
sion of somewhere between $40, 000,O 900 to SD,
600, 900, much of it in complicated use for the
promotion of railroad and steamship schemes,
had harassed him all winter and spring, and he
had gone to Long Branch for rest and quiet. He
took suite of the best rooms in the row of cot
tages which are an annex Of the main establish
ment, calculating that he would there be little
removed from the hustle Of the public house.
And it was for few days as he had fondly
anticipated. Then the family of John M.
Randall of st. Louis, took possession
half dozen persons, including whistler
Through the thin partition the Commodore heard
and was annoyed by the whistling. He disliked
it exceedingly. He was driven by it to exasper
alton. There boy in the Randall family,
and to him the veteran attributed the noise
He would not at that time hear the
soft melody of the whistler nor its clever
fidelity to the music which it inter
preted, but simply kept his ears open to it as
torture. Randall was an acquaintance of his,
and one day ne said to him, as they sat chat
ting on the veranda: THAT boy of yours will
be the death of me. John. Won't you plug his
mouth just to please me|
20, it amt the boy" replied Randall. ''but
my daughter. Here Lettia!"
1t was lovely girl of twenty who responded
to the call, and was presented to the Conmo-
dore. She whistled for him that evening to
piano accompaniment and it was no longer irri-
+afi 70 Tboxrx 1o1 fl,no
ing October His wedding gift was 81, 000, 900 in
sound securities. In no season since has any
belle at Long Branch been dressed or diverted
in a more costly manner than the fair whistler.
One day while selling tickets in the Office of
the steamer Conway, he became involved in a
quarrel with peculiarly choleric individual,
who finally enforced his remarks by presenting
pistol through the window full at the captains
head 1t was of the old-fashioned affairs,
looking like Calling gun in miniature, con-
tanning six barrels in one, all of which turned
round in cooking like the chamber of modern
revolver. 1t was before the days of cartridges,
and the barrels terminated at the breach in nip
pies, the charge being exploded by percussion
cap. The Captain had not time to move before
the man with murderous mind snapped his
pistol The cap missed fire. He tried again,
and again there discharge. Captain Gar
rson's pistol lay near at hand and he might have
shot his assailant dead, but he made move
ment in that direction. Keeping an unfinching
eye upon the discounted marksman, he coolly
opened drawer, and, taking out of it a box of
percussion caps, pushed it through the window,
saying:
TRY some new caps; yours don't seem to be
good"
The audacitv Of the performance completely
unnerved the irate passenger. Instead of ac-
cepting the caps he begged pardon for his folly,
was forgiven with hearty ndshake, and for
years afterward was Of the fearless Captains
warmest friends and admirers
few years before the war the Commodore
purchased, with Commodore Vanderbilt a ma
jority of the stock of the line now known the
Pacific Mail. The partners disagreed, and each
wanted to buy the other out At last Commo-
dore Garrison received an offer of several mill
ions from Vanderbilt. Garrison accepted, and
Vanderbilt paid him in notes After the notes
had run for some time Mr.. Thorne, Vanderbilt's
Son-in-law, went to Garrison and said that Van
derbilt did not want to be paying interest any
longer and offered to settle for the full amount.
This was accepted, Vanderbilt sending around a
check for the principal. Commodore Garrison
put it in his pocket and walked down to Wander
bilts Office, Bowling Green.
Look here, Vanderbilt" he said, striking the
check against the palm of his hand. II want
the interest on this money"
DO you?" replied Vanderbilt what will
you do if you don't get it9'
DO? I'll show you what will do" replied
Garrison, closing the door and locking it.
afterward Garrison emerged from the door of
cipal and interest Neither of the Commodores
could ever be prevailed to disclose the secret
Of that interview.