New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-02
is JAY GOULD A SICK MAN?
HE Is SAID TO HAVE BEEN STRICKEN WITH
ACUTE NERVOUSNESS.
AN EXCITING SCENE AT THE MEETING OF THE
MISSOURI PACIFIC DIREcTORs-DENIAL
OF THE RUMoRS.

RumoB about Jay Gould's health were again
rife yesterday, and were intensified by Mr.. Goulds
appearance at his Office closely attended by his
physician, DR.. Mum. II was said that at the
meeting Of the directors of the Missouri Paclilc
Railroad on Wednesday Mr. Gould had been
stricken with an hysterical fit of some kind, when
he was in heated argument with Russell Sage OH
the question of passing the Missouri Paclhc
quarterly diydend that he sank back into his
chair, half sobbing, half laughing, and finally
weeping like child that his astonshed colleagues
called in his physician, who he's been his
faithful attendant daily for several weeks, and
that finally Mr.. Gould explained the attack away
on the plea of nervousness, saying that he had
once before suffered from o somewhat similar at
tack at a meeting of Union Pacific directors
Naturally those present at the meeting have shown
no tendency to talk about the incident, and the
rumor was a full day in gaining any kind of
definiteness.
There was tendency in the Street to accept
the story as, in large measure at least, a true
one. Mr.. Gould's condition at times when busl-
ness pressing and the money situation crltl-
cal has been anything but reassuriug to his friends
His nervous and haggard appearance at such
times has been strongly in contrast
with his naturally buOyant air, which
had thrown off the cares of business and retired
to his country home at Irvington The rumor
that he had been so severely attacked on Wednes-
day was denied at Mr. Gould's Office. Such men,
bers OF the Missouri Pacific Board as were seen
on the subject pooh-poohed the story in an
evasive way, but did not deny it.
II is well known that Mr.. Sage was the only
member of the Board who opposed the passing OF
the quarterly dividend after the president, Mr..
Gould, had read his annual report This report
is looked on as decidedly unfavOnble, and IL
caused q, drop of about per cent
in the stock yesterday under heavy selling orders
Mr.. Sage however, pleaded for at least dividend
Of 1-2 per cent in order that the cOmpany's stock
might not be debarred from the list of available
securities for the investment of the funds OF
charitable and other institutions such as savings
banks and trust companies, that cannot hold non
dividend paying stocks.
After a motion that no dividend be declared
had been passed Mr.. Sage asked for a reconsdera-
ton of the question. Then il was that Mr.. Could
who had previously had some sharp debate with
Mr. Sage on the subject, arose in his anger Ills
words rumor has it, were incoherent and after
few sentences he fell back into his chair. covered
his face with his handkerchief and cried like a
child. When he had somewhat recovered
he apologzcd with the explanation that both his
nervous system and his stomach out of order,
and that he had had similar attack in meeting
of Union Pacific directors some years ogo. AS
soon as the excitement was allayed, so the story
goes, George j. Gould turned upon Mr.. Sage with
sharp rebuke. .
Goulds reported illness, declined to say anything.
referring inquirers to George j. Could. At Mr.
Gouds office the fumOrs were emphaticaliy denied.
Others who were present at the meeting of the
Missouri Pacific directors declined to talk about
the incident, but did not deny the runner.
One man. who is an insider' in the Gould in
terests said that he did not think Mr.. Gould had
been any more i'll on Wednesday than at any time
in the last three weeks. Mr.. Gould in that time,
he added, has been constantly attended by his
physician, who has been with him constantly at
his office and elsewhere.