The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-07-23
JOHN ". GATES NEXT.
Rumor of Another Flyer in Rail-
reads---Eyes on Vanderbilt
Lines.

Chicago, July PA New York let
ter to the Record-Herald says: John
". Gates has emerged from his whirl
in the corn pit looking as fit as i'd
die, and is scanning the horizon for
another world to conquer. There was
a rumor on the street Wednesday that
he intended to tackle the New York
Central Railroad, and has been study
ing the city directory to see how many
members Of the Vanderbilt family he'd
have to wrestle with Another report
has him buying the Alton Railroad.
He stays in his sons Office all day
counting the money he has made in
the corn deal and at 3 o'clock goes
down to Manhattan Beach to cool off,
get the kinks out Of his pocketbook
and wash the, SCOT Of toll from his
hands by the sea bath. He wears a
big Panama hat and his friends say it
isn't big enough by half to hold his
winnings in the late agricultural ex-
pertinent. Some of the New York
newspapers credit him with turning
four millions: others estimate his
gains as low as million and half,
while one ribald sheet declares that
he didn't make copper, and would
have been buried in a corn crib If he
hadn't dropped the deal when he did.
However, that is neither here nor
there. It is difficult to tell when John
Gates has made money or when he has
lost it. When he talks about his big
losses, and he brags both ways, he
has motive in it, but you can always
believe everything he says. His ma
tive modesty and conscientiousness
will not permit him to exaggerate OF
misrepresent.
Mr.. Gates is accompanied to Man
haitian Beach every afternoon by q
serious looking gentleman, who regis
tiers at the hotel as Isaac &. ElWood.
Some say that he is clergyman; 9th
ers that he is the principal OF semi
nary for young women in Central Lii
nois. He uses coil of barbed wire
for belt buckle, and says that Mr..
Gates gave it to him many years ago
when they were first acquainted. Mr..
Elwood is spending few weeks IN
the East for his health. He is the
guest of Mr.. Gates, but orders his own
refreshments.
Altogether the old habitues of Wal
street agree that John W. Gates is
the liveliest proposition in the way Of
sport that ever blew into this town.
There was never such daring opera.
tor in the stock market. He's won
der to the Eastern plungers, and al
though he's been here off and on three
years or more they don't understand
him yet. I heard a man declare yes.
terday that Gates was the biggest
gambler ever known, and there have
been good many big ones here and
elsewhere. So, you see. the West mas
more than one thing to be proud OF.
Gates doesn't care rap what the
game is-whether it's horse race, OF
at the poker table, or at the Stock Ex'
change. He'll offer to match dollars
with the Angel Gabriel if he's calico
with rest of the folks on resurrection
morning-it's all the same to him.
He takes the biggest chances eve!
known on the street. He's droppee
large pile now and then, and has
survived several jolts that would have
broken the purses and the heart o.
most operators, but he always comes
up smiling, brushes the dust OF his
coat, pokes out the dents in his hat,
and never stops to inquire what rar
over him.