Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-08
A VALUABLE HORSE.
How Vanderbilt Repaid q Friends Mag
unanimous Generosity.
IN Timeaf

How Vanderbilt Repaid Friends Mag
unanimous Generosity.
N. 7. Times.I
In the old days when the lately bank.
rupted Henry II. Smith was one of the
an incident occurred which goes far to
show plainly one or two of the personal
characteristics of the railroad magnate.
People who bear in mind how Mr.. Smith
was credited couple Of years ago with
having heeced one of Mr.. Vanderbilt's
sons out Of some millions in a stock specu-
lation, and who recalls also the theory
that was current not long ago that Smith
owed his late financial disaster to VEN
geance wreaked upon him by that young
mans father-peopIe who remember those
things remember too that the time was
when Henry N. Smith and William II.
Vanderbilt were almost inseparable COM
panions. What one enjoyed the other
shared; where one went the other at.
tended.
On nearly every pleasant afternoon they
were to be found at Fleetwood Park enjoy.
ing the cream of life behind horsefesh that
would have driven all Arabdom mad with
JotiOuSy. OAc udy III oAASA oPPCdi GU
with new horse-spirited, handsome and
fast beyond anything on the track. Mr..
Vanderbilt's eye was taken at once. His
heart went out in one big dash of affection
for that animal. He must have it. What
ever the cost he would pay it for such a
treasure, and he made a point-blank de-
mand on his friend at once for transfer
of ownership. Smith wouldn't listen to
such talk. He had bought horse for his
own use; it wasn't for sale. The animal
was after his own heart; no money would
tempt him to part with such jewel
81 will give you ten thousand dollars for
him just as he stands" said Mr.. Wander
bilt.
ooh, no, you won't, retoited Mr.. Smith.
"Twice that sum wouldn't buy that horse.
don't want to sell anu don't intend to
SELL"
"I'll give you fifty thousand dollars"
'Look here, William" quoth Mr.. Smith,
81 tell you this animals not for sale. That
settles i. like him. l can afford to keep
him, and Pm going to do just that same
thing. So, William, be a gentleman and
shut up"
That ended the talk. Henry N. drove
one way, William H. drove another. They
didn't address one another during that af-
ternoon. 1t was very evident from his
manner that Mr.. Vanderbilt had been
deeply offended. So much in love had he
fallen suddenly with the coveted steed that
it seemed to him only the EXTREMIST mean
ness that would deprive him of the prize.
He was amazed the next morning when he
- =. L,
stood in one OF his stalls. 1t was the very
animal that Henry N. Smith had re-
fused q small fortune for less than twenty
four hours before. He summoned his sta
bleman, and was told that MIR. Smith him
self had brought the horse over TO the sta
Bile and left, saying merely: ''Tell Dir.
Vanderbilt that the horse is his, and that
he is welcome to it, The nillionaire's de-
light was almost boundless. Such good
fortune he had not even dared to dream
about. If he had been little Billy Wander
bilt in his first pair OF red-topped, BRASS
toed, high boots he could not have been
one whit'happiel. That evening he met
his friend.
"Ah, Henry, see you finally came to my
terms he calculated. "Well, fifty thou
sand dollars is pretty big price for horse,
but you're welcome to it, old fellow, you're
welcome TO it,"
"Your fifty thousand dollars be blowedr ~
retorted DIR. Henry n. Smith. 81 don't
want your money. When l told you
/ wouldn't sell that horse, l meant it.
But if your heart is sst On him Pm not go
ing to let such thing come in between
our friendship, SO give him to you"
William II. Vanderbilt stood as one
stupefied"-say the Wall street man WHO
tells me the story, and vouches for it's
truth - and then there was, he says,
such supper as only Dslmonico carte
blanche can provide. And before that
evening wa over William II. Wander
bit had taken Henry Smith into Lake
Shore stock deal, from which profits fell
into Henry N. Smiths pockets to the tune
of over a million of doltars