Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-31

- ssiis way III Lie
encounter between himself and
James T. Harahan, president of
the system. at meeting of the
board of directors in this city yes
terday.
New York, Aug. 29.-After a meet.
Ing OF the board of directors of the
Illinois central railroad had broken up
IN confusion today Stuyvesant Fish.
former president of the company and
J. t. Harahan, his successor, engaged
IN a heated alteration. which termina-
ted IN a violent personal encounter be-
tween them.
wall street reports circulated late
In the afternoon were to the effect that
Mr.. Fish struck Mr. Harahan with his
fist, and that the two men clutched
each other, stumbled over a chair and
fell TO the floor together before they
could be separated by their colleagues
of the board, who were Mortified at
the sensational conclusion.
Director Gives His Version.
One of the directors who attended
the meeting said that no actual blows
had been struck, no blood had been
spilled and no furniture broken.
''The fact is" he said, that Mr..
Fish lost his temper and probably re.
gretted mis- hasty action later He did
not strike Mr.. Harahan. but he seized
him violently, at the same time abus-
ing him vigorously by word Of mouth.
The board room was soon cleared and
there the incident closed"
Mr.. Fish Is a giant physically. He
stands several inches more than six
feet in height, tipping the beam prob
ably at 220 pounds without carrying
any superf1uous flesh. and prides him.
self upon his physical prowess.
| Mr.. Harahan, who succeeded Mr..
Fish in the presidency of the Illinois
| Central when the later had been GUST
ed after an incumbency of many years
duration, is somewhat smaller man
physically. though he could probably
| weigh i'm at 100 pounds, and his
broad shoulders suggest plenty of mus
cular power and vitality.
Turns Guns on Harahan.
1t was the regular monthly meeting
of the directorate of the Illinois Central
that brought together at noon today
nine members of the board. Those who
attended, besides Mr.. Harahan and
| Mr.. Fish. were Cornelius Vanderbilt
Robert w. Goelet, Charles A. Peabody
| Alexander S. Hackstaff Charles M
! Beach, Walter Luttgen and James De
Wolf Cutting.
Certain routine business was dis
posed of summary, and then Mr.. Fish
rose and produced formidable type
written document which appeared tt
be in the form of voluminous pre-
amble and resolution
i Mr.. Fish proceeded to read a paper
which severely criticised the present
management of the road. The docu
ment arraigned Mr. Harahan in rather
severe terms, it is declared, and was
proceeding to go into discussion O
certain accounts at great length wher
some of the board members are
In sympathy with the Harm, ara
han element became FESTIVE and sue
gested that as several members were
obliged to keep other engagement.
; during the afternoon. Mi. Fish should
place his resolutions on file and sus
: pend its further reading.
Protest Made by Fish.
Mr.. Fish was protested against bein,
muzzled and was going in with tn,
reading Mr.. Hartman who sat a
the head of the table as the pres;din,
: officer, was visibly annoyed and wa
evidently making an effort to kee,
cool, as MS predecessor in stentorial
> tones went On to critise his admins
tration
Mr.. Goelet moved to adjourn an,
President Harahan hastily declare,
the motion carried
Mr.. Fish protested that the attemp
to force an adjournment was unfai
and outrageous
you cannot do that here" he erie
shaking his long bony finger at MI
Harahan. This is not Russia and des
potism will not be tolerated"
Mr.. Fish stood glowering at tn
president of the road and Mr. Hars
han half arose as though to leave tn
room. Several of the directors had a
ready gone out. Pointing to the r,
treating figures Of Mr. Peabody an
others. Mr.. Fish turned full upon Nj
Harahan and cried:
They have you in their power an
you know it. You are only their misel
able tool''
Mr.. Harahan turned white with al
ger, rose and faced the towering for1
of Mr.. Fish and retorted:
ANY man who says am the tool {
another is liar
Harahan Seized by Foe.
Mr.. Harahan's own account c
what followed was to the effect tha
Mr.. Fish leaped across To the head r