The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-09-03
SURGEONS PROPOSE
TO USE THE KNIFE
ON f. H. HARTMAN
NO STATEMENT or CONDITION
MADE guT PREPARATIONS
ARE m EVIDENCE.
TANKS OF OXYGEN ARRIVE
Also a Small Cot, Such as Il Used
in DISQUALIFICATION Stranger
May Be The Abdominal sPe-
cialist.

ARDEN, y. Y, Aug. 2S.-Whatever
be E. H. Harriman's ailment, whatev-
er his true condition, the public is not
to know until he and his family de-
eide that such an announcement is
opportune. He is an isolated invalid,
with the nature of his affliction
mystery to those outside his mountain
retreat. At the top Of Tower Hill.
where the funicular railway stops,
with roads picketed by guards, and all
but one telephone wire-and that a
private one, severed, he spends his
days and nights in seclusion that is
almost absolute.
Scraps of news dropped from the
lips of a relative, an assistant and an
employee, indicate that he spent
quiet day, part Of it out of doors, but
there we're other incidents which led
those who are draining the meager
channels of information to believe
that all was not so well. There was
the arrival at the station at Turner Of
two understanding which may
have had no bearing on Mr.. Harri-
mans illness, but which appeared sig
nifcant in that they we're recorded
on the bill of lading as oxygen"
] Shortly afterward there came small
collapsible cot, such as is used in hos
pitfalls to move patients between
wards Both were sent up the incline
railway to the estate.
Coincident with the arrival of these
requisites to an operation came two
men from New York, one of them car
rying what appeared TO be the black
bag of a surgeon. They were taken
I'D the incline to the house, and ru-
mors that Mr.. Hartman was to be
operated upon spread broadcast One
of the men, according to popular ru-
NOR, is DR.. George w. Grille, of Cleve-
land, O., an eminent physician in alb
dominal surgery. According to re-
port he was summoned from Breton
Woods. <. H., to assist DR.. w. G.
Lyle. of New York, who has been Mr..
Harrimans physician throughout his
illness.
All this gave strong color to the
report that there was to be an opera
tiea on Tower Hill, but of this no
con frmaticn is to be had. On the
other hand, those who spoke Of Mr..
Hartman were inclined toward OPP
timism. DR.. Lyle declined to make
any comment whatever, as did former
Judge R. S. Loyett, General Counsel
for the Hartman lines, who has been
with his chief daily, but when Robert
L. Gerry, of New York, Mr.. Harri"
.4tn's son-in-lew, descended the in
cline railway on fat car Friday aft
erroon. he talked at some length.
Il have just left Mr.. Hartman sit
ting on the porch" he said, talking TO
some of his workmen. He has spent
good part of the day out there in
chair"
Mr.. Gerry denied that an operation |
was to be performed and said that |
Or. Lyle was the only physician in at |
tendance
C. T. Ford, Superintendent of the |
estate, confirmed Mr.. Gerry's state |
ment about Mr.. Harriman's sitting on |
the porch. At intervals throughout
the day he had appeared on the porch,
he said, and had talked with the head
mason and others at work on an I'M
finished part OF the house.
The stories that Mr.. Hartman is
in a critical condition are not found
ed on fact, in my opinion" said MI.
Ford. HE has firm grip when he
shakes hands and he appears bright
err. He is in competent hands with |
DR.. Lyle and Judge Lovett, and while
it is not my place to ask questions,
believe he is suffering from natural ,
breakdown from overwork and will |
rally az here with plenty Of rest and
good food and be about again as usual
after awhile"
Judge Lovett was urged to say |
something concerning Mr., Harrimans
condition, but he replied:
Il have decided to say nothing, no |
matter what is published. | don't |
wish TO appear discourteous, but
deem it best to keep silent"
Ford, the Superintendent, deprecated
the significance of the arrival of the
tanks supposed to contain oxygen.
There was on ice plant on the place,
he explained and there was posi-
bility that the contents of the tanks
was carbonic acid gas used in the
manufacture of ice. He was not sure |
of this, however. The cot, he said,
might have been taken to camp /