The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-25
TIP, TRIP TO EUROPE.
Millionaire Takes Head Waiter to
See the Sights with Him.

Ahtl lNe NtW AOIk herald.
After thirty years OF suave and tactful
attendance on the wants OF patrons of the
tifth Avenue Hotel, Tom" Cay who
was head waiter there before most Of the
bell boys were born, is himself a guest,
without a care beyond enjoying himself
and sharing the enjoyment OF his host
on invitation Of David AIoffatt. a Wen
known millionaire, he sailed yesterday on
the Campania for six weeks tour Of
Europe.
Mouatt is a Westerner. and Is said to
be worth nearly S4Q,00OOO0. He is known
indeed as the Colorado Silver King"
and Is Democratic politician of wide in
ilueuce For several years he has been in
the habit of visiting New York at inter
walls for brief vacations. and always made
ms headquarters at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel. OF course he came to know TON"
Gay, as do all old patrons of the hotel
lie IS as popular a fixture there as his
friend George Francis Train is in the
shady square across Broadway. The mill
li0naire and the head waiter had many
long talks together
When Moffat arrived In town on this
trip few days ago he was not accompan-
ted by his wife, a. usual He went to the
Firth Avenue. more than ordinarily
generous mood seemed to possess him.
and he almost demoralized the bell boys
and walters by instituting a scale of tips
that kept them in open mouthed suspense.
According to the proven schedule. It
seemed that shine or a pitcher of ice
water for Mr.. Mofatt was worth a dollar
and II his dinner pleased him the waiter
was likely to receive a Ave dollar bill
IL Is on record that Mr. Moffatt was most
eNcelontly IL somewhat too eagerly serv-
ed. and his departure caused many signs
ha nv M 4 fr,f
on this visit the millionaire renewed and
improved his acquaintance with Tom"
Gay, and found the sedate, polite head
waiter remarkably pleasant companion.
He had known many great men in his
thirty years service. could tell a good sto-
ny and was Wen educated. Mr.. Mofat
liked him Immensely.
Then SUDDEN within struck the "silVer
King" to go to Europe for a few weeks
His secretary l.. II. Kirkham, would ac-
company him, but he wanted another trav-
cling companion. lie thought of Gay.
Tom, he said the other day, lets go
to Europe?"
Gay smiled discreetly.
Il would be glad to have you como
along" went on the millionaire. Il think
we could have an enjoyable trip"
When Gay understood that the invita-
ton was cordially In earnest he accepted
at once. The hotel managers gave him
leave or absence, ana now he Is on the
ocean with his friend the silver King"
Mr.. Moffatt has had strange career. He
was born in Washingtonville, Orange
county, New York, in 1899, and when
boy was employed In the New York Elk
change Bank. As a young man he went
west and finally entered bueiness in Den
YER putting his savings In mine stocks.
He Is now the owner of a mine in Lead
vile, three In Creole and others in Cripple
Creek and elsewhere. For several years
he was president of the Denver and Rio
Grande Railroad.
His strangest experience happened In
1889 He was sitting i'm his Office In the
First National Bank OF Denver. of which
he is president, when stranger walked
In and asked him to sign and cash a check
for $2l 600.
"If you refuse" he said, I'm smash this
bottle of nitro-glycerine,
The man looked desperate and Mr.. Mof-
fat got the money from the paying teller
and handed it over. The man walked out,
In spite of long efforts he was never
caught. The police found his coat, how
ever, and in the pocket was the bottle with
which he had threatened Moffatts life.
IL contained castor oil.