The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-02-02
new NEWS o. fEsTERDA,
Story Of Million Dollars That
Might Have Been.
csmmodors Alfred Van santvoord's
Regret Because He Didn't Make .
Quick Turn In Ct. Paul Stock
During Panic Of 1901.
ey z. ]. EDWARDS.

8y e. ]. EDWARDS.
The late Commodore Alfred Van
eantv0ord, who owed his title to his
prominence In the Hudson river
steamboat business. when he died In
1901 he was the largest owner Of riv!
er steamboats, in America). but who
Was also . very able. railroad man.
having been q director in several big
railroad companiss, combined q large
amount Of caution. with a very strong
spirit Of enterprise. He accumulated
IN the course Of his long and honor
able business career q large fortune
by constructive work In the transporI
tation business and by wise invest
ment. He was worth seven or eight
million dollars when he died. But al
though he had won success and for
tune ample enough to satisfy the am
billions Of most men. his last years, 10
his friends believed. ere made some
what unhappy by q single thought
the thought Of the million that might
have been his.
Commodore Van sanvoord was q
man Of large frame and feature. with
smooth shaver face and clear, keen
gray eyes. a man Of great dignity and
composure. yet most affable and gen
tal. 1t was very seldom. indeed, that
his customary composure and afiabil-
lily were affected by circumstances.
But at the time Of the famous
Northern Pacific corner in 1901-when,
Hill and Hartman fighting for
the control Of that system. and the
value Of Northern Pacific, and Chi
cago, Milwaukee & st. Paul shares
rose several hundred points in = few
days. causing sonHa of the, worst bear
panics on record-Commodore Van,
eantvoord was observed by his friends
to be somewhat restless and dis
traught. He hung over the ticker ~
the New York brokers' once where hsl
usually went when he wanted to buy
or sell stocks. but at this time he
seemed to be neither buying or sell
ing.
His friends fslss; lstGre thAf he was
not caught, ihi1the squeGko.xhd that
lie WIS niS6tt 1thfSGteeneadd SwfthuAny. Toss.
His operations were always too con-
sentative for that to be likely. Yet
It was evident that something was
weighing on his mind, and that the
stock market situation was absorbing
his attention.
The panic was as short az 1t was
severe. The conflicting Hill and Har.
riman interests we're adjusted and
stocks dropped back to their normal
level far more rapidly than they had
riven to their sensational high figure.
Commodore Van Santvoord. when the
calm came, recovered his. composure
and afability, but those who knew
him we'll detected an unwonted sol.
emnity In his expression.
'Is any thing the matter? Aren't
you feeling we'll today. COMMODORE
pne Of his friends asked him. in some
concern.
"Oh, I'm feeling all right-that 10.
my health IL good" he replied. But
I'm feeling rather chagrined. AZ q
matter OF fact, / feel ~ though I were
put . million dollars by this panic"
How 10 that? Do you mean that
you have actually lost q million3"
mo. I haven't actually lost . dol
lar. But I own quite a block Of Chi,
cago. Milwaukee q st. Paul stock.
could have sold It q few days ago q
i very high figure. bought It back TO,
day at 1 very low figure. and made q
million by the transaction. And
didn't sell It."
.Well, Commodore. what do you
want another million fort" his friend
asked.
"a man always hates to miss {
chance to make q million dollars" hs
replied, with Z laugh that yet had Z
Itinge Of sadness in II
And It was, said truly. probably. that
he never ceased to regret that b
missed this chance.
Copyright, I'M, BY q. J. Edwards. ~
RIGHTS Reseryed.)
New Musical instrument.
In. the Holland house (New York;
|nnnsir room. hna "a nlanad