The Detroit times., 1909-12-01
HANDS OUT slO Tips
To BELLBOYS
AND BARKEEPs
Henry G. ostermann, Memphis Nil
lonaire With Slathers of Money,
Cuts Wide Swath In the
Burns Hotel.
Tears Up Bunch Of Bills In Cash
Register and Replaces Them
From His Wad.
Guarded by detectives. who were on

Guarded by detectives. who were on
hand merely to see that no harm
came to him. Henry G. Ostermann.
millionaire freight car manufactures
OF Chicago and Memphis. blazed mis-
way through dignified old Detroit,
Tuesday. leaving glittering trail Of
wealth in his wake II was simply
his way OF celebrating the closing of
big deal and several people have
reason TO wish that he would come 70
Detroit on such a mission oftener.
Mr.. Ostermann struck town two
days ago in company with his friend,
Thomas Cavanaugh, also OF Chicago.
He had money 10 spend and he lost
no time In spending 1t. Wherever he
went he seemed to exude money And
though his hand was In his pocket
almost constantly there was no APP
preciable affect on the source of sup
ply. -
Starting out Tuesday morning he
cashed a $1,000 bill at the cashiers
window In the Pontchartrain. where he
Is staying. and slipped the cashier
S. bill for his trouble. Then he en-
gagged taxi and in due time struck
the Burns hotel.
There were eight men in the bar
room when the man with the roll APP
peared.
champagne for Everybody"
Champagne for everybody" ordered
Mr. Ostermann, and eight quarts we're
placed before the astonished patrons,
whilo the visitor handed over a $50
bill and told the bartender to keep the
change,
That was the beginning OF a round
OF stunts which lasted until well into
the night. A patron came In, laid
one-case note on the bar and ordered
a drink for himself and a friend. To
his utter amaZement. the stranger
walked up. grabbed the bill from the
bar and tore 1t into small bits. The
patrons first impulse was to take q
fall out OF the man for his presump-
ton, but Ostermann calmly reached
into his jeans. pulled out wad OF
bills that would choke a horse, peeled
off a $50 yellowback and likewise tore
II up.
Then, with as much nonchalance as
though Il were blank paper he had
torn up he threw the pieces on the
floor with an expression OF ennui. and
ordered a bottle Of champagne for the
patron.
A bell boy came In. looking for a
guest. and almost tainted when Oster-
mann pinned $40 bill on his coat and
told him to beat It." Other bell boys
suddenly discovered that they had q
mission in the bar. and they were re-
wsrded In like manner.
In M OSf9Tm40n
pulled a $40 note through the button
hole in the lapel OF the bartenders coat
and tied II in a neat bow.
A patron was smoking a cigar. The
man from Chicago evidently did not
like the brand, for he snatched the
cigar from the smokers lips and
threw II on the floor. Before the man
could protest, Ostermann led him to
IN. cigar stand and replaced the brok.
en- cigar with the best In the case.
He rendered IS bill in payment ana
carelessly told the cigar clerk TO
take the change home to the babies.
Rev. Ed. Collins Gets some.
The Rev. Edward Collins was pres
ented with a pair OF yellow-backs and
small change, all aggregating about
SAC.
A ragged newsboy happened In with
bundle Of ''papes." Ostermann
bought them all for a Is bill and,
when the boy said that his mother
was Ill, a $40 bill followed the Aver.
Mary Miller, 1.-The gum woman, a.
familiar figure throughout the down.
town district, put in timely appear
ance and was beneficiary or Mr.. Os-
termann's good will TO the extent OF
| $40
A white-haired old man was made
| 10 stand in a corner while the advance
representative OF Santa Claus Stuffed
$50 bill in each OF his four vest
| pockets.
Tears up Greenbacks.
But the browning feat. OF all, and
by far the most spectacular, came
when the human Christmas tree step
ned behind the bar. took a small bale
OF greenbacks from the cash register
and tore them up into small pieces
before the very eyes OF Bonfface
Burns. Then. turning TO Tho latter.
he calmly asked what the damage was.
Jimmy" estimated the amount, well
1 over 500. and Ostermann replaced
the mutilated currency withs brand
new bills from hitherto untouched
package. which he produced from an
inside coat pocket.
In this manner. II is estimated. the
! Chicago visitor relieved himself OF
close to $1,000 during the day and
tales of his generosity were the talk
NJ the town, Wednesday morning
Mr.. Ostermann is head OF the Oster.
mann Manufacturing Co. Of Chicago.
and has a large interest in the Mem
mis- Car Co. OF Memphis. Tenn. lie
has gained quite reputation as
spender. Quite recently he attracted
some notoriety by spending $4,000 IN
one day I'm Walla Walla. Wash.
4. ~ L. -TaHf- TfIIxfEr-Srr