The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-16


age Of nineteen from the modest Maine
homestead. He tried clerking as gro
Gerry boy, got an offer OF partnership
in the store and had no accepted 1t
might have settled down to an income
OF $500 per year. But he declined and
went west, naturally to Chicago.
He held the surveyors chair when
the route of one OF the roads, afterward
merged into the Chicago & Northwest
ern, was laid out. In that way he got
down to bedrock in railroading, and
also saw the immense possibilities OF
the west as grain growing country. In
Chicago he became one OF the boldest OF
the grain operators, but his opinions Of
the market were formed at frat hand.
He could take a lot OF weather reports,
few reports OF acreage in seed, and
form his own, and correct, notions, too,
OF the crop output. On this knowledge
he operated and won.
FLooRED BY WAR.
War knocked him out. The Crimean
war it was, for it ended short Off when
the market expected it to keep up.
Prices fell, and Rufus Hatch, as mem.
Der Of the firm OF Armstrong & Co., was
bankrupt He did not clear off by
the bankruptcy court method, but as
sumed every penny OF the firms debts
and paid every one in full, with in.
terest.
He came east with full knowledge OF
western affairs, and with Henry Keep
started in to bull Northwestern and
made fortune. The panicky times of
1869 found Mr.. Hatch bear, but he
waited too long, went short too far, and
failure met him in 1873 with balance
OF nearly q million against him. But
he was a leader in speculation and was
soon up again.
The Northern Pacific was then going
on, and booms OF every sort were ramp
ant. Mr.. Hatch went out to see the
land, struck the Yellowstone Park, was
entranced with its beauties and its pos
sibilities, and set about securing it, A
spur OF the Northern Pacific was to run
down into the park, aud, with the ex-
elusive rights granted, the park com.
pany would practically have supplanted
the United, States in the ownership OF
the park. An opposition headed by
Senator Vest, OF Missouri. was started,
and Rufus Hatch was ousted from the
park on the ground that he wanted it
really as an exclusive grazing ground
for his own herds in the then BOOM
ing cattle ranch trade. 1t was
about this time, in 1883, that he
undertook to reach British capital
through the British stomach. lie
went to England and organized party
OF explorers. including titled CORE
spondents Tor the large London dailies.
They came prepared to be Toasted and
were disappointed. They got to the
park after visiting Niagara, Chicago, st.
Paul and other cities en- route, had a
high old time, and were rolling on
grandly when news came OF the Viii
lard crash Of 1888 in Northern Pacific,
and Rufus Hatch was again q ruined
man. He got the Englishmen of his
hands as soon as he could, and they
went home mystihed. declaring this was
a great country, but with no very clear
idea OF what had happened. That was
the last failure, and from 1t Rufus Hatch
has not recovered. lie went out OF the
stock exchange, out OF the produce ex-
change, and took membership in the
consolidated, which he now holds.
PAIR OF HOBBIES.
He had two hobbies, music and
books. Away back in his Chicago days
he played the organ in the Rockford
church, and in his palmy days sup
planted the wheezy instrument by a
$4,000 grand. In this city he was head
OF the music committee of Christ
church. He paid good part OF the
bills, and enjoyed the notoriety OF the
effort. When the Yellowstone trip was
made he took along concert singers, and
lately he found his greatest consolation
in the very rich musical alcove Of his
library.
When he was managing director oil
the Pacific Mail Company he gave an
other exhibition OF his skyrocket ways
Of doing things. The two steamers, City
Of Picking and City OF Toxic, had just
been built by John Roach, and their
trial trips we're hummers. One went to
Boston with several hundred excur-
slonists baoard. The other went to
Newport. Delmonico did the catering,
Gilmore furnished the music, and what
With the President, cabinet, congress.
mon, and such on board II was worry
distinguished party indeed.
Mr.. Hatch had special facility for
getting into lawsuits, Gould mover liked
him, and frequently warned those In
deals and pools TO keep Hatch out,
since there would surely BIO trouble II
no wero lot in. In tho amalgamation OF
tho American and Western Union toll
egraph companies thoto was Just such
break. The celebrated landAulot suit
with Brewster & Company ls standard
in legal history. Tho bill was for $1,000
for repairs TO the many carriages which
Mr.. Hatch maintained when ho lived In
that Emo Park avenue house which
Richard B. Connollyoi Tweed ring famo
had built for himself, but which Mr..
Hatch purchased for 100000, and spent
nearly as much moro In tho adjoining.
In tho BrewstUr bill Mr. Hatch found
ttllat gratultios 10 his Coachman, Jenk'
ing wpro included, aud he proceeded To
fight II. John Graham was his lawyer
nj ono timo, and tho caso was won by
ono edo and then by tho other, unlil
che costa OF Tho litigation far outran tho
original measure, and thOn tho lawyers
continued the fight 10 90 end tho suit
o. TO throw the costs on tho other aldo.