Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-01-14
AMERICAN PLUCK.
IT RAISED HENRY w. SAGE FROM
THE CANAL TOW-PATH.

MIlIionaire-His Determination and VIII
Power-Rammed a Drawbridge Rather
Than Await VanderbiIt's Convenience.
The determination and will power
which brought success to Henry w.
Sage, who died recently at Ithaca, N.
Y, and which marked his rise from
the canal tow-path to the status of
millionaire, had probably no better IL
lustration than in Mr.. Sage's first
meeting with Commodore Vanderbilt.
Mr.. Sage was then in the wholesale
and retail lumber business in New
York city, relates the Sun.
When the contract was given out to
put up the grand stand and other
buildings and fences at Fleetwood
Park, above the Harlem, Mr..
Sage's 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 reason Commodore
Vanderbilt refused to allow the draw
of the New York Central's bridge to
be opened to allow the lumber to pass.
Mr.. Sage stormed about the matter
and then sent his son William, who
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 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. We'll see about that
Then he ordered his son and clerk
to jump into his wagon with him, and
away they dashed to the New York
Central railroad office. They went up
the stairs to the CommodOre's Office in
a rush. A negro attendant stood at
the gate.
us Mr.. Vanderbilt in?" Numbered
Mr.. Sage, who by this time was fairly
in a rage
yes, sir. What is your name and
what do you want to see him about?"
Never mind who l am and what l
want to see him about, said Mr. Sage.
He then said Come on to the young
men with him, pushed the negro aside
and strobe into Commodore Wander
bits presence.
Is 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 l want to know when you're
| going to open that Harlem River draw
/ and let my lumber for Fleetwood Park
80 through"
$50 you're Mr.. Sage, are you?"
yes. l 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 O. the place Mr.. Sage
jumped into his buggy and did all the
talking that was done on the way tC
the office. 1t is said that he kept NUT
tering something about IF it costs me
100000. Commodore Vanderbilt, Ell
Damned good and ready? I'll show
him
Straightway Mr.. Sage went to tht
owner of the stOutest tug he could fine
that could go up the Harlem River.
"Pll pay all the damages; you do al
l say" he said to the captain.
Mr.. Sage was on the tug with his
young mon. They went up the Har
lem past the schooners with the Fleet
wood Park cargo and approached thu
draw. They looked the draw over
and Mr. Sage picked out it's weakes
spot.
Now back off" he said, land hi
that draw right in that place"
The tug went back some distance
and came up the river with a rush, 1
hit the draw in the spot indicated anC
half wrecked it.
Back off and give it another" criet
Mr.. Sage.
On came the tug at the draw agaii
like snOrting bull. At the seconC
crash the draw was torn entirely from
the bridge and tossed to one side, dis
appearing in the river.
Nov, take those schooners through
said Mr., Sage.
The schooners were towed in, and OF
that very day the lumber for the Fleet
wood race track was on the ground
1t was four days afterward that tn,
first trains of the Central began to run
across the Harlem River again. Afte
wrecking the draw Mr.. Sage wen
straight to his Office and his converse
ton with himself S said to have beef
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'M shoy
him he don't own the rivers and navi
gable streams around this town."
There was a big rumpus over tn
matter and many threats, but after
time the lawyers on both sides got to
gether and a compromise was az
ranged.
Cure for a Naughty Little Girl.
r;,.1