The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-01
sage and Commodore Wander

The determination and will power which
brought success to Henry W Sage, who
died recently at Ithaca, and which mark
ed his rise from the canal tow-path to the
status of a millionaire, had probably no
better illustration than in Mr.. Sage's first
/ meeting with Commodore Vanderbilt, says
the New York Sun. Mr.. Sage was then in
the wholesale and retail lumber business
in this city. He had made enormous pur-
chases of lumber at the beginning of the
civil war and in the rise of prices had be-
come rich He was man of high influence
in Brooklyn church affairs and in New
York business circles The wagons of his
lumber firm were seen all over town. His
shipments of lumber by river and sea
were large. He worked early and late at
his business, and at the beginning of mid
die age had the right to be known as a
representative citizen.
When the contract was given out to put
up the grand stand and other buildings
and fences at Fleetwood Park, above the
Harlem, Mr.. Sages bid for supplying the
needed lumber was lowest. He put the
lumber on several schooners and had them
towed up the Harlem river. For some rea-
son Commodore Vanderbilt refused to al
low the draw of the New York Central's
bridge 70 be opened to allow the lumber to
pass. Mr. Sage stormed about the matter
anu lAANH SSiil his sun w llldDl, VINO Was
just out of college, up to Mr. Vanderbilt's
office, on the site of the present Madison
Square Garden. TO learn when the draw
would be opened. There was a penalty for
delay in the delivery of the lumber. The
younger Sage came back and reported that
Commodore Vanderbilt wouldn't see him.
Wouldn't see you, eh?" said Mr.. Sage.
Wen see about that"
Then he ordered his son and a clerk to
jump into his wagon with him, and away
they dashed to the New York Central rail
road office. They went up the stairs to
the commodore's office in a rush. A
negro attendant stood at the gate.
rs Mr.. Vanderbilt in?' Numbered Mr..
Sage, who by this time fairly in rage.
Yes, sir. What is your name and what
do you want 10 see him about?"
Never mind who l am and what I want
to see him about" said Mr., Sage. He then
said come on" to his young men with
him, pushed the negro aside and strobe
into Commodore Vanderbilt's presence.
rs this Commodore Vanderbilt?' said
Mr. Sage.
That's what they call me-" said the
commodore, looking UP sharply in re-
Spouse to the angry tones of his caller.
We'll, my names Sage. Henry w. Sage,
and I want to know when you're going to
open that Harlem river draw and let my
lumber for Fleetwood Park go through"
80 you're Mr.. Sage are you?"
Yes, I am"
well. Mr.. Sage, we're going to open
that draw when we get damned good and
ready"
"You are. are you? Well, you are going
to open that draw before you get damned
good and ready, and in three hours, or I'll
open it for you. Come on" he added to
his young men, and all swept out of the
place. Mr.. Sage jumped into his buggy
and did all the talking that was done on
ba IN
kept muttering something about if it costs
me $100, 900. Commodore Vanderbilt, Ell?
Damned good and ready? I'll show him.
Straightway Mr.. Sage went to the owner
of the stoutest tug he could find that
could go up the Harlem river.
"I'n pay all the damages; you do as 1
say" he said to the captain
Mr.. Sage was on the tug with his young
men. They went up the Harlem past the
schooners with the Fleetwood Park cargo
and approached the draw. They looked
the draw over and Mr.. Sage picked out
its weakest spot.
Now back off, he said, land hit that
draw at full speed right in that place"
The tug went back some distance and
came up the river with a rush. 1t hit the
draw in the spot indicated and half
wrecked it.
Back off and give it another" cried
Mr.. Sage.
On came the tug at the draw again like
a snorting bull. At the second crash the
draw was torn completely from the bridge
and tossed to one side, disappearing in the
river.
Now, take those schooners through"
said Mr.. Sage.
The schooners were towed in, and on
that very day the lumber for the Fleet
wood race track was on the ground. 1t
was four days afterward that the first
trains of the Central began to run across
he ri
the draw Mr.. Sage went straight to his
Office, and his converse ton with himself
is said to have been something on this
line:
open the draw when he got damned
good and ready? Well, it's open now.
Don't care what it costs. I'll show him
he don't own the rivers and naVigable
streams around this town"
There was a big rumpus over the mat
ter and many threats, but after time
the lawyers on both sides. got together
and a compromise was arranged.