The Washington times., 1906-04-09
Oil Magnate Makes First
Public Appearance in
Months.
FACE DRAWN AND PALE
Moved With Feeble Steps to
Cars, Assisted by
His Valet.

NEW YORK, April 9.-John D.
Rockefeller emerged from his Sc
clusion at Lakewood for the first
time since December IS today and
came to this city.
His whole appearance tended 10
confirm the rumors that Mr.. Rookie
feller has been in far from good
health since he went into retire
ment on that date
He was apparently very weak
and he looked several years older
than he did before he sought Sc
clusion and before the Missouri IN
vestigation started.
He was wan, and his face was
drawn and thin.
His usual sprightly step was
gone, and he leaned heavily on his
valet as he walked slowly TO the
train He did not wear hfs wig.
CAME IN PRIVATE CAR.
Mr. Rockefeller Rad a stateroom IN
the pariOr car Hiawatha on the train
which left Lakewood at s:Is o'clock,
arriving IN Jersey City soon after
o'clock. Just as the train drew into
the Lakewood station a Dig automobile
pulled up and out of It climbed three
persons From the front dropped Mr..
Roekefeller's valet. John, who Is in con-
stant attendance upon the man OF mil
lions From the back seats came Mr..
Rockefeller and man and woman
dressed IN deep mourning Il was nos
more than fifty yards from the automo-
bile to the train. but Mr. Rockefeller
had TO take Johns arm and accept his
assistance all the way I'D the steps Of
the coach.
When a photographer, who was at the
train 10 take a picture OF Mr. Roeke-
feller's departure. pointed his camera at
him and started 20 snap IL Mr.. Rookie
feller raised bis arm over his face. The
movement. however. was a weak one,
and he was not able TO quicken his pace
to get away from the camera He finally
climbed up into the coach with the
double assistance OF his valet and the
porter Of the ear, and disappeared
Visit to New Grandson.
The reason for Mr.. ROckefeIIer's COM
IL ~ @NNh VI n - ~ DGE q WISH 10 Ills
recently acquired grandson, John D.
Rockefeller III. 10 whom. since his ar
rival. about a month ago. the grand
father has not been introduced II was
planned at first 10 take John D. III 10
Lakewood during the latter part Of the
week. but apparently the grandfather
could not wait SO long and decided 10
come TO New York himself. He will stay
at mis- sons Fffty-fourth street home.
Mr.. ROckefeiler's Imprisonment be-
gan on December Is. when It appeared
that be was likely 70 be called 70 testify
IN the investigation which Mr. Hadlev.
OF Missouri, was carrying on in regard
10 the Standard Oil Company. in that
State He disappeared completely at
that time. shortly after he had 1ined
the Society OF Newspaper Humorjsfs
and amateur sIeuths throughout this
part Of the country were busy trying
10 ascertain his whereabouts.
On February s. Mr. Rockefeller aD-
Deared ar his Lakewood home. AMI Ihe
mystery was solved The grounds about
his home have been Datrolled by guards.
and no one who could not show good
reason for being there was admitted
Mr.. Rockefeller never left the house
excepr for a stroll around the grounds.
Even after Mr. Hadley announced that
ne would not cal. MI Rockefeller n
the Missouri investigation, the guards
around the grounds were still maintain
ed. and the exclusion of ali those VINO
could not show pressing business was
kept M.
All the time ne lived In solitary state
the widest sort of rumOrS flew in re-
gard to Mr.. Rockefeller's health. 1t
was said on several occasions that
he had completely broken down and
that the physicians were much alarmed
q hfc nGndfrfnn Nnnn ~ fnnCa
ports. however, were given out from
Mr. Rockefeller's home, but arose from
the outside They We're evidently eX-
aggerated. for while Mr.. Rockefeller
looked far from well this morning, the
fact that he was able to make the
journey at all put an end 70 the rumors
that he is in a dangerous condition