Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-03
JAY GOULD FAINTS.
BREAKS DOWN AND WeePS At A RAIL-
ROAD DIRECTORS MEETING.
Coliapscs While Making u speech-The Or.
deal He Passed Through Too Great for
His strength-Opposing a Dividend.
New York Ilcrald.l

Jav Gould is q sick man.
His health has not been good for years.
but Is now said to be in more shattered
condition than ever.
FROM time to time reports are circulated
IN Wall street for purely stock -jobbing
purposes that the great spcculator has
broken down, that he is on the point Of
death, sometimes the story even goes that
he is dead. Therefore. when a story Of this
nature Is circulated through the financial
centre the experienced observer generally
regards II with distrust and waits for definite
confirmation. Stories about G0ulds bad health
make their appearance periodically. Some
umes they are bascd on truth, but more often
they have none. There IL reason 10 suspect that
Mr.. Gould himself has sometimes connivcd at
these false reports 20 influence the market.
THIS TINE IT Is True.
II is not surprising that Wal-street mon wore
skeptical Thursday when the Old story camo
around that Gould had broken down again aud
that no was fl bed in his doctors hands II IL
safe 10 say that not one man in ten believed that
there was any other foundation for IL than the
desire Of MIR. Gould and his following TO bear the
price Of stocks.
In the course OF n thorough inquiry into tho
matter, however. i learned n startling story
which seemed to prove that this time at least
ruinOr ha. told the TRUTH
From good auihprity-frOm n gentleman who
was present, in fact-l obtained tho positive dec
laration that Mr.. Gould was seized with q iainting
fit at The meeting of the Missouri Pacihc Board
Of Directors on Wednesday afternoon. The at
tack was uricf, but the scene is described ms
dramatic while ii lastcd. II was told to me
about "a follows:
"All the members Of the board were present
end the meeting was progressing quietly. Tho
Secretary had rcnd the financial report, which
the Hcrod printed this morning, and Russell
Sage hnd made speech udyO nting the pay
ment Of quarterly dividend Of one-half Of per
cent. Mr.. Sage spoke earnestly and cInphati-
cally.
"Mr. Gould, who was seated on the other side
o. the table, ha1 had very litllc to say. We all
noticed that he looked palcr AMI weaker than
usual ana that he was evidently not a. well n
be had e5n. He looked iatigucd rather than
SICK that was my opinion ~ the time
Mr.. GOULD rAINTs
"Mr. Could without rising from his chnir be-
gan 10 speak. opposing Mr.. Sagc's proposition
to pay y per cent. dividend. He spoke ia "a
very low tone, ana after he had said few words
MS voice SANK, his words became iumbcd an
unintciliciblc. AMI a moment later 10 sank back
IA lis chair. covered his face with his handker-
chief. let hs hands drop at his side, and Ionain-
ed mOtionlers
81 think ne had sort Of fan'ing fl. but II
lasted only minute or so. When We spoke 10
Lin he mumbicd something, and don't think
ne was unconscious. Presently, after minute
or so. he removed his handkerchief from his facc,
ana We saw that he had been Weeping. His eyes
were filled with tears and his voice was broker
He said, a nearly as can remember:
TOO GREAT STRAIN.
"'Gcntemcp, yOu must excuse mt. have
been so haTasscI and worried lately, and have
pissed through an ordeal 30 far beyond my
strength mat am physically unable 10 make a
speech IN protest against the dividend
" He gradually recovered himself, and he re-
mained throughout the meeting, which soon
thereafter adjourned. When Mr.. Gould left he
said that he had had M acgravatlOn OF the
stomach trouble which Is his chronicle gilmcnt
DR.. Mum, who * Mr.. GOlld's physician. - a IL
rector In the Missouri Pacific through stock which
he obtained from Mr.. Golld. lie wa- present at
The meeting, and aitor 1t over led h- patient
away.
About ten days ago Mr.. Gould had q similar
breakdown ar "a meeting of the Union Pacific III
IcctOrs, | am told.
Inquiry at NJ. Gouli's Offices yesterday failed
10 elicit anything except "a gtnrfNi denial Of tho
street rurnors that Mr.. Gould was a very sex
man. As 10 the scene 1t tic meeting Of the Mis-
souri, Pacific directors on Wednesday II was
neither affirmed nor denied.
ATHIs OFFICE THE NEXT DAY.
Mr.. Gould WAS AT his Office during the morn
ing yesterday for q snort time ani WAS accom-
panied by his physician, DIR. Mum; but there
was nothing unusual IN tnis. Dr.. Mum fire.
quentiy accompanies his DISTINGUISHED patient
from his rcsiicnc" at forty.seventh street and
Fifih avenue 10 his Office in tho Western Union
building.
Mr. t;opld remained only an hour or 80 down
town. Very few pcraons were ndmitied-tesec
him. H. went homo early, stll accompanied BY
D! Mum.
4 memher of Mr. Gould's family said late yes
feriay afternoon that Mr.. Gould had overtaXcd
his strength and was suffering from weaknc's
There was nothing serious the matter with him.