The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-03-13
Col. ScOtt'S BluffneSS.

"Bystander" an Philadelphia Ne'os.
What is now the GREAT Pennsylvania
Nailroad was in I847 an inclpient or
ganization with Colonel William c..
Patterson as its president, that proposed
to build line of rails from Harrisburg
to Pittsburg. J. Edgar Thomson, who
had some progress in life from rod
mar, working on the Pennsylvania Ca
nal for $50 a month, was division en-
gineer in the company's employ. The
grading of the first twenty miles of the
road west of Harrisburg was let on July
16, 1847, and on September I, 184o,
the first division, extending from Har-
risburg to Lewistown, distance of six
ty-one miles, was opened for business
in connection with the canal and turn
pike. A year later, on September II,
1850, the line was opened to the Noun
tain House, one mile east of Holidays
burg, where connection was made with
the Portage road over the Allegheny
Mountains. At this time J. Edgar Thom-
son had become the company's chief
engineer. Talking one day with DIR.
Given, former collector of tolls at Co.
lumbia, and then holding contract
with the Pennsylvania Railroad, he ask
ed if the latter could recommend him a
man to act as station agent at Duncan
Vile, on the Allegheny Mountains, then
the Western terminus of the road. The
station agent was to have charge of the
transfer of passengers and freight be-
tween the cars of the Pennsylvania
Company and those of the State road.
There was young man who used to
clerk for me at Columbia that would
suit you first rate, replied DR.. Given.
whats his name?' asked Engineer
Thomson.
Thomas A. Scott.
Il will send word to him.
And he did, and by telegraph, too.
Mr.. Thomson was sitting in his office
next day in Harrisburg, when in walked
visitor who was a picture of manly
beauty and who bore about him such a
breezy air of independence as plainly
indicated that corporation chieftains
had no terrors for him. His long yellow
hair struggled over his shoulders, wide
brimmed SLOUGH hat was perched on the
back of his head, his pantaloons were
tucked IN MS boots and his hands We're
exploring the depths of his pockets.
young man, what do you want?' in
quired Engineer Thomson, looking
around and gazing on this picture.
Il believe you telegraphed for me,
was the response, in very clear but re-
spectful tone, but with no appearance
of embarrassment.
'What is your name?'
Thomas A. Scott
'Are you the young man DIR. Given
recommended ?
yes, SIR
The chief engineer, after long and
earnest scrutiny of the long hair, the
big hat, the boot-encased pantaloons
and pocket-hidden hands, said sudden
ly and brusquely, Il don't think you
will suit me-.
That doesn't make darned bit of
difference replied the fair young man
with the golden locks, not one whit
abashed, i made up my mind to come
down here anyway and try you for a
month, and if liked you to stay, and
if | didn't would mighty soon tell you
so. Good day, sir
Hold on there called out Chief
Thomson as the young man was walk
ing from the floor, probably demonstra-
ting more quickness of determination
than he ever afterward displayed, Come
back here; guess I'll try you for a
month"; and he tried him for many
years afterward.
What wonderful man he was! Even
to this day-and he has been dead now
since May Fl, IS8I-men discuss the
question of how much money he left
behind him. In some manner that |
never clearly understood, provision in
his will permitted an evasion of the law
requiring an inventory of a decendent's
personal estate, so that all figures as to
the inheritance of his heirs are profile
matical. A few weeks before his death
his intimate friend James Duffy, of Ma
rietta, told me that Colonel Scott, to
his knowledge, was worth ST., 200, 900,
and yet eight years prior to that time
he was a bankrupt. This wondrous
change was brought about by his abid-
ing faith in the Texas and Pacific Rail-
road. In 1873 it had made him bank
rupt; in 1881 it enabled him to foot up
his assets with the neat little sum of
ST, 900, 900. Yet had not his selfre-
lance asserted itself the story of the
Texas-Pacifc enterprise would consist
simply of how a gigantic scheme was
planned and its impracticability soon
demonstrated, for friends with one ac-
cord discountenanced the venture, and
when misfortune came even John Edgar
Thomson, the president of the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company lost faith
in the brilliant daring of his assistant.
Colonel Scott said Colonel Duffy
once when speaking to me in admira-
tion of his friend, throughout his ex-
tended railroad career never made a
single mistake until he went into that
South and West business-if that was a
mistake and later events showed that
it was not, but on the contrary fit to be
the crowning act of brilliant career.
X X X \:
While Colonel Scott was in the midst
of this trouble John Edgar Thomson
died on May 27, 1874, and the execu-
tors of the estate felt themselves some
what embarrassed by reason of Mr..
Thomson's Endorsement of the note for
$500, 900. Under these circumstances
Col. Scott did probably what no other
| man would have done. He felt some
what hurt that anyone should think that