The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-19
oLDEsr LYING WEsr POINTER.
w. &. YounR, Aeed "a, Antsdates Gen.
Greene BY n Year, But He II DyinE.

In THE suv OF Saturday last there was
printed despatch from Washington 70 the
effect that tho House Committee on Military
Affairs had reported favorably on the bill OF
Mr. curtis Of New York TO have Brevet Major
Cen George Sears Greone OF tho United states
Volunteers relieved from duty. and authoriz-
lng the President TO put the General on the
retired list as First Lieutenant OF artillery.
The I'LL contained the military record OF Cen.
Greene. and said that at the time oft break
Ing out Of tho war he abandoned lucrative
business and went into active service although
he was then over 60 years OF age. Another
statement was made to the eccct that Gen.
Greene Is tho Oldest living graduate OF the
West Point Military Academy.
This statement which was made In perfect
good faith and would no doubt have tcen corr
roboratcd by almost any military man APP
peaed to- was nevertheless incorrect. dozen
military men who pride themselves on being
up TO date in army matters. said. when asked
BY a reporter yesterday who the oldest West
Pointer was:
Why old Cen Greene OF Morrstown, NJ j..
OF course"
A correspondent who saw the Washington
despatch Of last Saturday sent tho following
letter to TilE SUN;
T. W. EruoR o. rnS suS-Sig. In your paper Of sat
living graduate Of Wes, POINT iGi.tS a mistaSe. Nr
Mt.'"m lounl now hods thgt drstngui.hsd pg,r
his junior IN sia Iuation 10y one cal.
,,ASuS reporter went to the Army building on
whitehall street There lie received the same
answer as no got eyorywhere else. Gen.
Greene. they said, 81 is the oldest living West
POINTER"
The army people however, very courteously
offered to lOoN UP the records OF the Military
Academy to prove TO the reporter tho va ability
OF Ten. Greene's claim. Accordingly. u huge
volume was extracted from the library. and
MT. lon9g's name was looked NJ. Under tho
uHl n ~
1873, and had boon graduated on July l, 1S22.
There was also an entry to the effect that Mr..
Young, after four years service us "A Lieuten-
ant had resigned on May ~. 1921
The army men opened their eyes in aston
name was looked up, The book showed that
Cen Greene entered the Military Academy on
June -. 1919. and was graduated July -,
Well, but It is the oldest living graduate
yo,qq are looki NJ" they said to the reporter.
Mr.. Young ant be alive"
Then the repurter found Mr.. Young-allve.
but lying at the point OF death from pneumonia
Ct his home. 40 West Twonty.thtrd. street
Greene i ~ years old. Sir. Young is i.4. Sir,
death for a week. His physician, Dr. Douglas,
says that he cannot live. He has been con-
received a visit from Gen. Greene, who was a
chum Of his at West Point md has been an In
innate friend OF his ever since
Mr.. Young was. UD to the time 81 his retire
ment, one OF the best known railroad men in
this country. After leaving thu army he be-
came civil engineer and had to do with the
construction OF almost all OF the big railroads
and OF the Erie Canal He was born in 1893
ami his graduates certificate bears the auto.
graphs OF President James Monroe and Score
tary Of War John {. Calhoun. In 1881 he built
the railroad between saratoga and Science;
tady. anu from lSi2 until $50 lie was engaged
in the construction oil the ltica and Schencc-
taiy Railroad. When the era of consolidation
set in he WAS the FIRST President ot the Now
Ork Central year or So later no resigned
the Presidency and took charge OF the con-
structiOn Oi the Panama Railroad. When this
road was completed Mr.. Young assumed the
Presidency and kept Il for n number u
years. lie finally came back to America and
was appointed General Superintendent of tho
Western division OF the New York Contra!
Railroad. After n number of years service no
retired from active life. and has since lived Mt
ease In one Of the old fashioned English base
ment houses in Twenty third street, between
Ninth and Tenth avenues.
Mr. Young Is IL man OF distinguished appear
ancc, anL showed his military training in his
square shoulders and firm step His wife died
some years ago, ana he has since lived with
his four children. two daughters and two sons.
The fact that he il tho oldest living graduate
Of West Point makes him tho President of the
Association Of Graduates Of West Point, and
entities him to tho privilege of delivering tho
address az the annual meeting OF the associa-
ton. Mr.. Young made the address in 1890 and
1891, but since then has been too feeble to talk