The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-29
Definite News Comes That No
Operation Is Necessary
PLACE IS WELL GUARDED
Only the Merest Rumors Are Re-
ceived From Hsrriman's Home
and Nothing Can Be Learned
Concerning His AIlment.

Turner. N. Y. August 2s.-(special.)-
"E. H. Hartman has not been operated
upon He will not be operated upon"
This positive statement was made this
afternoon by Jacob Schiff. the New York
banker, and head Of Kuhn, Loeb q Co,
after he had spent two hours with Mr..
Hartman at his mountain home It was
the first bit of definite news concerning
the sick railroad king that came down to
the correspondents camp today.
IT just left Mr.. Hartman on his piaz-
that he is improving rapidly He was
in excellent spirits. cheerful and dis
cussed various topics"
But every report has been that an op-
peration was imminent" was suggested.
There is no truth in those reports"
Mr.. schif replied. "There is no neces-
sity of operating upon Mr.. Hartman. He
may be q trif1e weak but I should con-
slider him a well man In his present con-
dition. He is taking a much-needed rest
and expect that he will come around all
right.
IT feel sure that there is no likelihood
that an operation will be performed. No
preparations have been made for any
such operation
But is 1t not true that there are sew
eral physicians at Mr.. Harriman's homer
was asked
There is only one physician attend
ing Mr.. Hartman. and he is DIR. Lyle,
his family physician"
Hurry With Material.
Mr.. Schiff was reminded that two tanks
OF oxygen and an operating table had
been hurried by automobile up the in
clined railway to the mountain top yester-
day.
IT did not know anything about that"
he said.
Mr.. schiff spoke as though he were
very earnest In wishing to allay appre-
hension about Mr. Harriman's condl-
ton.
The visit of the banker gave rise to a
report that Mr.. Hartman had called him
for consultation concerning his (Mr. Har-
riman's) immense financial interests.
THAT is not the case," said Mr.. Schiff
"I am an old and warm friend of Mr.
Hartman and my visit today Is merely
q social one."
Mr.. Schifr was the only visitor to ar
rive during the day. He reached Arden
on the 1859 train and was taken in
Mr.. Harrimans automobile to the noun
tain top.
Judge Lovett to whom all inquiries are
directed is still silent. The only thing
he would say today was:
"Dr. Grille is not here"
He would neither admit nor deny that
the famous Cleveland surgeon is ex-
pected.
From man employed at the house 1t
was learned that one of the large rooms
in the big structure was being changed
about and made ready FOR occupancy.
Shifting Furniture.
This man said he worked yesterday
under the personal supervision Of Mr..
Hartman, shifting furniture He did not
know to what use the room is to be put.
It may be intended for the occupancy of
new arrival. possibly q physician. or it
may be in preparation as the scene Of the
reported operation.
None Of the medic al-looking gentlemen
who disappeared up the Hartman hill
yesterday have been seen to go away, and
this leaves the impression that a CONSUL
tation of physicians occurred either last
night or today. The Rev. ]. H. McGinnis.
rector of the Episcopal church at Ches-
ter, who breaches every Sunday morning
at the little chapel near Arden, which
Mr.. Hartman attends, said last night at
the Turner station that Mr.. Harriman's
Illness had been grossly exaggerated. The
minister had spent some time at the Har-
rfman house.
1.-The newspapers are not treating Mr.
Hartman fairly" said the minister IT
spent almost two hours chatting with Mr..
Hartman. He looked a great deal better
than I expected. 1 think the men who
sent the reports about his looking SO bad
ly on the steamer had never heard of
sea sickness Mr.. Hartman was very
cheerful and looked much better
Veil Of secrcy.
The ven OF secrecy over everything con-
nected with Hartman has been drawn
closer The sick man on the hilltop owns
nearly all the land as far as his eye can
travel and his word, or that of his lieu
tenants s law in the communities of
Turner and Arden.
This was evidenced when William Me-
Clellan, the superintendent of the Harri-
man dairies, drove to the postoffice and
general store and gave orders that no
newspaper men--in fact, no strangers at
aIl-should be allowed to use the tele-
phone This order, It was found, applied
to the whole line. The telephones in Ar
den and Turner are all on this line, which
is private one
The only member of Mr.. Harrimans
family who left the house grounds today
was Roland Hartman. his youngest son.
The youngster went automobile riding
with his tutor and his round, smiling face
bore little evidence of anxiety.
Roland, with his tutor at the steering
wheel drove a runabout with large
red cross on the front of It's hood. prob
ably a machine belonging to DIR. Lyle.
He came down the mountain at 9:30.
scorched along the Ramapo valley on the
north side, then across the railroad tracks
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