The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-01-07
AMERICAN PLUCK.
1T RAISED HENRY w. SAGE FROM
THE CANAL TOW-PATH.

An Episode in the Career of the Famous
MilliOnaire-His determination and VIII
POwer-Rammed Drawbridge Rather
Than Await Yanderbilts 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. Wen 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.
rs Mr.. Vanderbilt in?" thundered
Mr.. Sage, who by this time was fairly
in 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
bilt'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.
well, 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
go through"
80 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 of the place. Mr.. Sage
jumped into his buggy and did all the
talking that was done on the way to
the Office. 1t is said that he kept NUT
tering something about eff it costs me
100000. 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
"Pll pay all the damages; you do as
/ say" he said to the captain,
Mr.. Sage was on the tug with his
young men. They went up the Har-
lem past the schooners with the Fleet
wood 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 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 entirely from
the bridge and tossed to one side, dis
appearing 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 the Harlem River again. After
wrecking 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 navi-
gable streams around this town"
There was a big rumpus over the
matter and many threats, but after a
time the lawyers on both sides got to-
gether and a compromise was ar
ranged.