Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-12-07
AN INCAUTIOUS BOAST.
The Figure IL Cus In NanipuInting =
Zig Railroad Deal.

For many. many years" said an old
railroad official '.the Baltimore and
Ohio railroads dominant policy in
voived an entrance into New York.
and the Pennsylvania and Baltimore
and Ohio We're bitter competitors.
! Both roads owned heavy blocks of the
Philadelphia. Wilmington and Balti-
more stock but the balance that car
ried the control was in the hands of an
individual owner The PENNSYLVANIA
had made dicker with this man
whereby he voted with them. but the
stock itself he refused To part With
save at figures which seemed TO the
Pennsylvania s management excessive.
This was the state of affairs when
one night one of the officers of the
Pennsylvania was dining in the cafe
of DeIru~aico's famous old restaurant
at Twenty sixth street and Broadway
His attention was presently concen-
trated on a conversation going on at
the table behind him. II involved the
important control of the Philadelphia.
Wilmington and Baltimore. and the
man talking was incautiously boast
ing 10 his companion that he had that
day practically completed deal where
by this control came TO him.
"A careful glance revealed TO the
Pennsylvania official that the man
talking at the next table was no other
person than the late Robert Garrett
himself. at that time president of the
Baltimore and Ohio. Not one word of
the balance of that talk was lost to the
eavesdropper. and when Garrett and
his companion left the cafe the Penn
sylvania official knew each and every
detail of CARROTS coup in Philadel-
phia, Wilmington and Baltimore. 1t
hinged on the stock held by the indi-
vidual Garrett had made him gilt
tering and stupendous cash offer for
his holdings. which had been accepted.
The delivery of stock was to take
place the following day.
1T was 10 O'Clock at night when the
PENNSYLVANIA official detached himself
from Delmonico's table As fast as
cab could take him he raced to the
Desbrosses street ferry At Jersey
City he took special engine. and after
wild ninety mile ride he rolled into
Philadelphia shortly after midnight
Then a hasty conference ensued OF the
powers that were at that day in Penn
sylvania railroad affairs. with the re-
suit that in very short time certain
of the big men were making for
nearby city as fast as steam could car
nv them The astonished individual
holder of p, w. and 3. stock was rout-
ed out of bed at ? a. IN. to receive
cash offer for his stock that he accept
ed as soon as he could could catch his
breath. No chances were taken. and
its delivery to the Pennsylvania oc-
CURED as early upon the following
morning as it could be got at.
when Garrett arrived later. he bit
terly appreciated the truth there is in
the old saw that there Is many slip
'twixt cup and lip. What followed is
well known. Garrett in his disappoint-
ed anger built the terrifcally expen-
siye 3. and o. extension from Balti-
more to Philadelphia. an operation that
saddled the b. and o. with such an
enormous amount of fixed charges that
a receivership and the disappearance
of the CARROTS as controlling factors
in B. and 0. affairs shortly followed.
1t seems like the irony of fate that this
road today should be controlled by its
ancient rival. the Pennsylvania. In
this connection it will be remembered
that the late William III. Vanderbilt
was fatally stricken with apoplexy
while talking with Robert Garrett 1t
was generally reported and believed
that the two men were discussing B.
and O.'s then proposed entrance into
New York. Mr. Garrett was said to
have emphatically stated to Mr. Van
derbilt that the 3. and 0. would come
L..
bilD and the New York Central liked il
or not."-New York Tribune.