The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-02-09
ABOUT VANDERBILT.
Some Incidents Showing the Char.
acter Of the Man.
His Nickel Plate DeaI-Tlrst Paralysie
Stroke-A Bsby's Internationally
Fair" and Thackersy-A Won
derful M emory.

An interesting chapter in the rail.
road history Of the United States will
rome to light if the story is ever told
Of the inside efforts that were made to
sell Mr. Vanderbilt the Nickel-Plate
Road Is will be remembered that he
held out long time against the threats
and persuasions of the gentlemen who
we're intent upon loading him with their
parallel enterprise. Influences of a
n,ostremarkablech character were brought
80 bear upon him. and it required an
almost illimitable amount of nerve
power to Withstand the pressure even
fOr little time. Wall street was firing
away at Lake Shore and other proper
hes, with the Nickel-Plate for con-
inual bear ammunition. and not day
saborer in his great army of workmen
went to bed any night more utterly
weary and worn out and over-taxed
illan did William III. Vanderbilt.
Finally the fret and worry began 10
affect him perceptibly He grew ner-
eous and moody. His family began to
feel worried: his doctors began to
srince renewed interest in his diet and
habits. Everybody about him grew
anxious Bui still the cloud hung over
him. That parallel object still frOwned
mnappea>ed. He was in daily COM
munica,ion with the Nickel-Plate peo-
pie directly and indirectly. One day
an interview was arranged to be held
at his Fifth avenue home Three gen.
slemen well known iii speculative and
financial centers met with him, and
their purpose was TO try TO convince
him that he must buy up the Nickel
Plate property forthwith or else run the
eisk of suffering tremendously from
new attacks TO be made upon his rail-
road properties in the stock market.
3ay Gould at that time was down in
Florida. ostensibly for his health, but
Mr.. Vanderbilt's visitors made il very
clear that Gould's trip South was not
nuch else than clever trick to cover
up a big scheme in another direction,
and this other scheme was to get con-
frol of the Nickel-Plate. attach it to the
Wabash, and create new trunk line.
They were able to convince MIR. Van
herbilt that what they said was true,
showing him that at that very time
Gould had company of men along
she line measuring it and examining it
preparatory TO scooping it in.
Mr.. Vanderbilt listened eagerly to
every word that was spoken. and when
finally the truth was brought home to
him of this new danger threatened
through the INSCRIPTIONS tactics of
JAY Gould he 9uivered like child i'm q
serrible fright; then suddenly he gasped
conYulsiyely for breath. seemed chok-
ing and suffering beyond expression,
and in another instant fell forward un-
conscious from his chair to the floor.
He lay as one dead. 1t was q similar
scene to that which Robert Garrett wit
aiessed the other day. 1t was a SEM
blance that unnerved strong men,
though Mr.. Vanderbilt ecovered quick
". That was his first parslytic stroke,
the true story of which has never
before been told: the story which in
wolves also the real reason of his then
startling change of base from an ener-
gefic assertion thst,fe would never pay
fribute TO ablackmailersr to a suddeu
purchase of the Nickel-Piate out and
ont.
met one of the old Harlem Roads
conductors ON the evening of Mr. Van
sierbilt's death. He had just heard the
saews. and he was oyerfiowing with
"reminiscences of the dead magnate and
che old Commodore The Commodore,
ne said. was always liberal dispenser
of free passes TO favorite employees for
themselves and families. Whenever
one of them had holiday he was
given passes over the road TO any point
he might desire. He had only to .sug-
gest pass and he got it, and another
Tor his wife and children along with it.
Soon after William II. assumed control
.af the Harlem Road Ais conductor who
gossiped with nae dropped In to see him
40 remark that he would like TO take
his family over the road on the next
zday, and would Mr.. Vanderbilt please
6ll ont a pass.
.Humf, quoth Mr.. Vanderbilt.
s'hunt my friend, deesn t this road pay
vou for YOUR work r.-..-.... ,,-.- .....'e.-.s'
yes. answered the conductor,
amazed at any hesitation, as he remem-
befesl the free-and-easy methods Of the
Commodore. zf..,,,.... - 49,
..And ism { your salary big enoughs"
'I've got no cause TO complsin."
s.Well, we've got a ticket Office and
q clerk in it to sell tickets to lust such