San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-17
TWO BIG CHECKS.

Mr.. Rockefeller's was for Million,
but Jay Gould's was for Two.
New York World.
The largest check ever given in
this country was that given by Jay
Gould to Thomas Allen for the Iron
Mountain. He paid s., 200, 900 for it,
and handed Allen a check for that
amount upon his acceptance of his
offer. Allen looked at the paper that
represented this vast sum aud said:
"Isn't this good deal of money for
one man to have in one bank ?n 81
don't know" replied Mr.. Gould,
perhaps it is. Let me have the
check Allen then handed the
check back to Gould, and he han ded
1t over to his office-boy, saying,
Here, boy. take this check to the
bank and have the cashier certify to
it," And the boy went out and did
it.
Rufus P. Ranney, of Cleveland, one
of the most distinguished lawyers in
this country, once told me of a check
for $1,000,OO0 which was given by
John d. Rockefeller. 1t was drawn
coal-oil millionaire, and was accepted
by Andrews only because he was too
proud to refuse it. Rockefeller and
Andrews were poor young men in
Cleveland together twenty or thirty
years ago. In connection with Flag
Ter and others they organized the
Standard Oil Company, and at once
began to make money and grow rich.
Rockefeller in some way got the start
lof Andrews, and Andrews was very
Jealous of his growing power and
wealth. He tried to outshine Rookie
Teller in everything ne did, and when
Rockefeller built big house in Cleve-
land, Andrews put up a bigger one,
bringing artists from Italy to do the
fine work in it and making one of the
finest residences west of the Allegha-
MES. The Rockefeller bought q
country seat near Cleveland and An
drews bought another, and 30 the
strife went on. When Rockefeller
was made President of the Standard
Oil Company, Andrews became very
jealous. and in order to show his own
Importance he came in one day and
asked Rockefeller how matters were
getting along. Mr.. Rockefeller said
everything was going on right, and
Mr.. Andrews asked for look at the
books of the company.
"You can't see the books just now"
said Rockefeller, "but if you come in
a day or two will have a statement
made out for you"
A few days later Sam Andrews
came in again and asked for the
books. In reply he was handed q
long sheet of paper covered with
figures which he was told was the
statement of the condition of the
Standard Oil company. He looked at
it, and as he did so his face got red |
and his eyes grew angry.
"This is not what want, Mr.. Rock |
feller," said he. II want to see the |
books of the company, If 1 can't see |
the books want to sell my stock.n
"What will you take for your |
stock?" replied Mr.. Rockefeller, very
cody reaching for his check book.
~ want just 81 100000 cash." said
Andrews.
"All right; you shall have it," re-
piled the president of the Standard |
Oil company, and he thereupon wrote |
out check for 81, 0O0, 900 for Mr.. An
drews. Andrews had to take it or |
back down. He was ashamed to re-
fuse, and he had for the next few |
months all he could do in trying to
invest that million dollars. He put, |
i think, $500, 900 in government bonds |
and scattered the rest here and there,
DnrTru nN nN0rn CrTr -