The herald., 1893-01-23
The Great Railroad Man Very
Reticent as TO His Plans.
Not Disposed to .live Out lnforma-
ti0n in Advance.
Gould Always Kept His Ideas to Him.
self-An In4rview That Did
Not Pan Out Suc-
cessfally.


the Iron Springs for a few minutes, and
had an opportunity to note the grea
change in the wizards appearance sine
the last time | had seen him-two year
before. His face bore the impress of sui
fering, the lines in 1t vera drawn, tn
eyes heavy, and when he started down tn
stairway his steps were slow and his bod.
swayed slightly, as if his strength were l.o
sufficient to encourage vigor of movement
DR.. Mum told me n few minutes late
that Mr.. Gould was not in very robus
health.
'He has come hero to rest and I dom
think he. would like to be interviewed,
said the doctor. argued that l had come
q long way to secure from Mr.. Gould III
expression of opinion on two matters o.
the greatest Importance to the west--tht
rumored extension of the Union Pacific
railway from Denver into the southwcsterr
country and the nmalgamation of that
road with the Denver, Texas and Fort
Worth railway, which was then nearing
completion. / requested the DOCTORS per.
mission to ask Mr.. Gould one or two ques-
tions, which would serve the double pur.
pose of setting at rest doubt as to the
Union Paciic's intentions and relieving
think the last suggestion influenced DR..
Munn's negative permission, ."Well, |
don't think you will get anything out OF
him."
Mr.. Gould was walking slowly up the
bride path that led to the old Pixies peak
trail his hands clasped behind him and
his attention riveted on the snow capped
summit of the peak fifteen miles away up
in the air as you looked TO the southeast
He did not see me until l had made a
misstep few yards behind him and sent
the gravel and loose earth scattering down
the mountain. Then he turned and pcered
at Inc under the half drawn lids of his
beady eyes. He remained standing per
fectly still in the same attitude until had
come up with him.
stopped few feet from him and stated
my mission in these words, as nearly as
can recali them: MIR. Gould, the Denver
News has sent me to secure, If possible, Il
confirmation or denial of the reports cur
rent in New York and Chicago concerning
the plans for extending the Union Pacific
south from Denver and also amalgamat-
ing with the Denver, Texas and Fort
Worth road. hope this explanation will
serve as an apology for intruding upon
your privacy"
Mr.. Gould listened patiently, and then
looking upward again at the snow capped
peak, said: II don't know that | can give
you the information you seek. I have been
away from the east-from business |
mean-so long that am not familiar with
the projects you speak of. 1 should like to
.Perhaps you could tcll me sa6odgh- N a
general way to stop these reports" l sug.
gested.
"What do they say am going to dof''
he asked, turning his eyes on me again as
l briefly retailed the gossip concerning
the future of the Union Pacific, of which
Mr.. Gould was supposed to be seeking ths
control. He smiled once or twice-that il
his eyes lighted up trine, though his
face lost none of its haggardness.
When had concluded he said: "Well
they must talk about something. They
appear to be much better informed than
am on these subjects. Do you know this
country out here?" he said, abruptly
changing the subject.
told him that l had visited Manitor
and Pixies peak and had been up the rang,
to the cascades. He started to ask me
question, but anticipated by saying: "Mr
annoyance for the next week or two if thes
reports about your railway plans, and ais,
| this sensational statement about you
health could be disposed of now. A mum
ber of newspaper reporters are on thei
way to investigate them. They could b
easily turned back If you denied the re
ports"
held out to him telegram from Chi
/ til e1l L. r1e
He eyed it, but didn't like it.
80 they're talking about my health, too
are theyp Well, Pm used to being talke,
about. If denied all the rumors circulated
about me and my affairs would not hav
time to visit so charming place Us this
About that report concerning my health
you see that / am still alive. It is tru
that have been slightly troubled with M
face. That has interfered with my sleeI
but my appetite is very good. am not a
sick as some people hope. About the rail
way stories l have nothing to say"
We had walked slowly along as W
talked, but when we reached the steep par
of the trail he turned and we retraced on
steps. His attention was attracted by
fragment Of pyrates that some one ha
dropped to the ground. He indicated
with the toe of his boot and said
"There are many chances to make none
in this western country. That rock ma
contain valuable mineral. A little none
and perseverance will make any man ricf
l came very near coming west when was
young man. A friend named Miller &
was either Miller or Muller) wanted me
accompany him in 1874 or 1855. was ha
inclined to do it, but changed my min'
was always sorry that did not come III
til | heard four or five years later that m
friend was killed in Nevada. ! guess it
just us well that remained in the east.
might have been killed too"
BY this time we had reached the hot
again Mr.. Gould tdrned, as he placed h
foot on the step above, and said: "It is tt
bad you came so far for nothing, but su
pose you will write an article anyway.
hope you will be accurate"
AS turned to go down the trail tcwal
the D. and r. G. station halfa mile ava
thanked Mr.. Gould for his courtesy az
volunteered the information that an cxcu
sion party of 200 Boston school toache
WAS to arrive that afternoon.
II am sorry for that" said he. II hop
to have all this grand scenery to myse
but can assure that they won't get al
more information than you. ."-Louis s.
bold in New York World.
Coming Down n Tree.