Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-10-02
JAY GOULD A SICK MAN.
Wall Street in a Flutter Over
His Condition.
he CRIED LIKE A CHILD RECENTLY

Sensational Scene Said to Have Occurred
at the afesting of the Missouri Pacific
Directors Few Days Ago-His Cheeks
sunken and His Step Uncertain.
NEW YORK, Oct 2--Persistent rumors
were circulated in Wall street that Jay
Gould was very sick man. At one time
10 was said that he had been stricken with
apoplexy and this report materially affect
ed the market, but prompt denial brought
the market back to its normal state. The
fact, however, can no longer be disguised
even by his relatives and friends that he
is really very sick man. The nature Of
his ailment Is best described when il is
called mental and physical collapse, and
his best friends fear that a total collapse
In the near future canno. be avoided.
lie Cried Like a Child.
Mr.. Gould's condition was first made
plain ten days ago at the meeting Of the
directors Of the Union Pacific company
when, in the heat OF discussion, he sank
in his chair and in an attempt to hide the
physical agony depicted on his features,
threw his handkerchief over his face
This sad scene was re-enacted at the
meeting Of the Missouri Pacific directors
| Wednesday, He again during the debate
sank back IN his chair, covered his face
with his handkerchief and cried like a
child.
His Step Slow and Uncertain.
Mr. Gould wns seen on the street and
| the reports Of his condition were not be-
lied by his looks. His step was slow and
uncertain, his cheeks sunken and his eyes
dull and lusterless The exeit6hent incl
dental TO a rising market when the Goulds
were on the bear side, the trouble with the
| Union Pacific plan Of taking care Of the
floating debt, the desertion by friends ia
the Missouri Pacific clique when friends
were most needed to help him in the con
summation Of one Of the most gigantic
stock iobbing schemes ever conceived and
partially carried out since the remarkable
BLACK Friday" day, have had their effect.
A Hysterieai Attack.
The attack was OF a hysterical character
II was what his physicians had always
said, that Mr. Gould was particularly dis
posed toward an intensely nervous state
resulting from lifelong mental tension and
imperfect digestion. Mr.. Goldd was first
afflicted by these severe nervous attacks
IN 1854, at the time Of the downfall Of thl
| Metropolitan bank, the Marine bank an,
Grant g. Ward and other startling devel
! opments,
4 The Scene Described.
4 The Missouri Pacific scene is thus dc
i. scribed by one Of the men present: "Ru.
sell Sage had made a speech advocating
the payment Of a quarterly dividend o
one-half Of per cent Mr Gould had ha'
very little TO say. We all noticed that hi
= looked paler and weaker than usual. Mr.
Gould, without rising from his chair. be
+ gan to speak, opposing Mr.. Sage's pr0po
, sition to pay a half per cent. dividend.
after he had said few words his voic
, sank, his words became jumbled and I'M
! Ineligible, and a moment later he sanl
| back Ia his chair, covered his face with hi
handkerchief and remained motionless.
J think he had a sort Of fainting lit. WheI
we spoke to him he mumbled something
Presently, after a moment or SO, he re
moved his handkerchief from his face ant
we saw that he had been weeping Hi
eyes were filed with tears and his yoic
: was broken. He said, as nearly as I car
| remember:
: Gentlemen, you must excuse me.
{ have been SO harassed and worried Lately
/ and have passed through an ordeal so fa
beyond my strength that / am physically
, | unable 20 make a speech in protest agains
the dividend He gradually recovered him
self and remained throughout the meet
ing, which soon thereafter adjourned"
4 4