Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-12-22
MrERMEWEp Jay GOULD.
How the Railway Nagnass Fooled Col
lection Of Chicago Reporters.

How the Railway Magnats Fooled Cot
lection Of Chicago Reporters.
Jay Gould arrived at the Grand Pacific
hotel In Chicago one Sunday afternoon In
the autumn Of 1882. Twas one Of his regu-
lar tours Of inspection across the continent,
and on this occasion he was In q paFticu-
larly good humor.
A small horde of railroad reporters was
gathered in the corridor awaiting his com
ing, and when he entered and saw them O
merry twinkle came in his eye, and with an
expression that almost approached smile
he said cheerily, ''well, boys, are you wait
ing to see met" The reply came in a cho-
rus of "yeses." Twas member Of that
small horde and was pushed forward 10 act
as spokesman.
There was a furry in railroad circles at
that time, and many stockholders feared
that Gould's tour through the west meant
more than appeared on its face. told Mr..
Gould Of this feeling and urged him to give
the newspaper men an interview on the
general railroad situation. The twinkle in
his eye became more perceptible than when
he first entered.
"Well," he said contemplatively, "if you
will wait until l make short toilet will
come down and see you"
I thought there was something ominous
! in that unwonted twinkle in his eye, and
the older men in that group Of reporters
were astounded. They had never seen Jay
| Gould in such a complaisant mood before
although they had seen him scores of times
r.. Ifxu, cfo oi ooha1rvla q
time and headed the procession to a recep-
tion room in which there was long table.
| Mr.. Gould took the head of the table, and
the reporters surrounded the other three
sides.
Now then, boys, when you're ready
crack away" said the magnate in a tone
! of voice that was as hearty as though he
were really good fellow. Then followed
fusillade of questions that would have
staggered and confused any man but Jay
| Gould. The questions were fired in solid
and scattering volleys, but not one missed
the keen ear of Gould, and the answers
came back as rapidly as the questions were
asked, and each answer was unerringly di
rected to the man who had asked it.
The boys were amazed and delighted
They covered page after page with notes
and thought they were getting the biggest
interview that the "silent man" had evel
given out. The questions and answers
came so thick and fast that they had ne
time to think. They simply put down the
answers and felt that they were good an6
sufficient. At last the firing of question.
became desultory and finally ceased alto
gether. The reporters ammunition wal
= hooly In nj,
chairs and with great beads of perspiratioI
on their faces, but there was look Of JOY
in their eyes. They felt the inefrable sat
isfaction that they had secured the great
est interview ever vouchsafed by tn,
sphynx of Wall street.
"Are you all through, boysW asked Mr.
J Gould cheerfully and looking fresher thai
when he began.
"All through. We thank you, Mr.
Gould"
! The twinkle in his eye was almost a
! scintillant as the evening star as he lef
the room, and there was ghost Of a smil
under his black mustache.
Then we all sat down to compare notes
We went over the questions and answer
, carefully. They were all there, but to tn
J horror of every one the answers" did no
r answer the questions. The notes were gon
3 over carefully again and again, but alway
with the same result. Then it dawned O.
the bewildered reporters that in thei
e haste they had allowed the willy railroade
S to "play them" He had actually not give
: a word of new information. and the mex
: morning there was not newspaper i
e Chicago that had a 'stickfup' of.intervieI
with Jay Gould.
8 All of which accounted for the twinkl
t in his eye.-J. L. Sprogle, Jr., in New Yor
t World.