New-York tribune., 1907-08-29
FISH STRIKES HARAHAN
FIGHT AT> MEETING.
Erciting Scene Among Directors
of Illinois Central.

Acrimonious discussion has frequently Deen
heard at meetings of the Illinois Central board
within the last year. but action followed acri-
nony Yesterday according to well defined re-
ports, -ex-President Stuyvesant Fish repNihs
with blow TO epithet applied 10 MIN 0y
President Harahan. Mr.. Fish. when seen idl0
in the afternoon. absolutely refused 10 DISCUSS
the report and the other directors who had at
tended the meeting were equally non-connnlohi-
cative-
Various versions of the rurnored affray were
current which substantially agreed IN tneir
main details Mr.. Fish. it was said. had onered
q resolution calling for information which would
have disclosed facts unfavorable TO the present
management of the road which is dominated
hv T H Hartman, the object OF asking Ior
this information being. il was supposed 10 DriiiS
II before the stockholders at their annudi meet
ing in October which Mr. Fish has announced
his purpose OF attending Before Mr. Fish hdu
had time TO finish reading his resolution IL was
said. Robert W. Goelet. one of the directors
moved an adjournment
The motion was favorably received by Presi-
den+ t5araban. it is said. who at once declared
tho meeting adjourned The directors present
a ma ajority of whom are friendly 70 MI Halri
man started TO leave the room. but tarrled ror
NJ Fish who was still on his feet. angriiy de-
r1anded that the chairman reconsider his act1on
insisting that ne was in order ana hau tiIo
right to be heard Mr. Harahan enp:aticaliy
reneated that the meeting stood adjourned and
rose from his seat at the head OF the taDie
around which the board had been grouped
Tbereupon Mr. Fish and Mr.. Harahan be-
came involved in further dispute over 'ie
Iatter's action and in the course Of the contro-
rarsv If is said Mr. Harahan called Mr.. Fish
liar" Whatever the expression used bv Mr
Farahan Mr. Fish instantly replied TO II oy
striking him a blow in the face Mr. Harahan
who is not a small man. but INFERIOR 10 VII
Fish in stature. and probably IN muscle aiSo
defended himself. and II required the strenuous
Intervention of some Of the other directors III
IS reported TO separate the two enrased COM
ba+an.s After quiet had been restored MT
Harahan went into his private Office, adjoining
the boardroom. and Mr. Fish walked out OF tne
conopanv's offices alone. Soon afterward Presl-
dent Harahan started uptown for the Hotel
Belmont at which he stays while In New 1olh
His baggage was packed before ne arrived a'
the hotel it is supposed on telephoned lnstruc-
+tons from downtown, and he started on the =
o'clock train for Chicago. his home and the
HEADQUARTERS of the Illinois Central system
The directors present at the meeting "ere' IN
addition 10 the principals In the hostile encoun-
fer Cornelius Vanderbilt. R. w Goeiet. w Naltner
Luttgen. Charles A Peabody. A G. Hacks'aH'
Charles NJ Beach and James De W. Cutting
Messrs. Beach and Cutting have always been
classed as supporters of Mr. Fish In his antag-
onisrn to Mr. Hartman. Mr. Harahan. who was
vice-president Of the road for many years. ano
In that capacity closely associated with MI
Fish, went over to the Hartman camp in the
board Of directors just before the annual meet
ing last fall. and at the organization meeting of
the present board elected president TO sue
ceed Mr. Fish. who was deposed after having
held the office for nearly twenty years.