Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-23
NEW NEWS Of YESTERDAY
When Jay Gould Stood Pat on a
Full Hand.
His Credit Having Been Attacked, he
Displayed to Group of Eminent
Flnanciers Securities to the
Amount of S52,Ooo,ooo,
By 6. J. EDWARDS.

The late Jay Gould was one OF the
most reticent of men. Roasting was
entirely foreign to his nature. He
was satisfied 10 let his achievements
speak for themselves. and even when
he was misrepresented lie maintain
ed his reserve, scornins 10 make ex.
plantations. He took great pride III
his business successes. but he "as
man without a trace of vanity. He
was the last man in the world 10
make a yaunt of his power and re-
sources
But there was one occasion when he
| showed his hand II was on the 18th
OF March, 1882
He had then achieved many of his
most brilliant successes successes
from which he was known 10 have
gained colossal fortune; but. he had
recently. also. embarked OIL new ven
lures of vast scope, and, as many
| professed to believe. OF very doubt
full issue He was working on the
railroad deals in the West, from
which he was 10 build up the Missouri
Pacific system, and he was becoming
interested in New York city elevated
] railroads and telegraph lines. among
! other things. His enemies for some
time had been circulating stories TO
the effect that he was spread out
! that If the truth we're known II would
be found that he owed more than he
/ owned
Mr.. Gould was entirely Indifferent.
| In merely personal and sentimental
sense, to these stories. But they be-
| gan to affect his credit and hamper
! him In the conduct OF his enterprises.
| That Is the only explanation OF the
extraordinary proceeding he resorted
to on that 18th of March. 1882.
Mr.. Gould invited the late Russell
| Sage and several other eminent
| financiers to inset him in his office
; on that day. When the gentlemen
were disposed about the room. Mr..
| Gould gave signal. at which several
Of his employees appeared carrying
trunks. By his direction the men
set the trunks down In the middle
OF the room and retired.
Il have asked you gentlemen to
/ come here" Mr.. Gould said. address
/ Ing his guests. because | want You
| to inspect the contents Of these
| trunks. ! hope lso% can spare time to
! look at all OF them. and see just what
! | have here"
! Then he opened the trunks.
! They were full OF secnritles-bond3
| and certificates Of stock. kneeling
| on the floor before the trunks, Mr..
/ Gould removed the bundles of secur.
/ tiles and handed them To his guests
! who examined them in turn. They
! found that they were made out in Mr..
! Gould's name. and were all good. and
they verified an inventory of the
whole lot.
| You see" said Mr.. Gould. when
they had examined all the contents
| of the trunks. that there are secur.
| tiles here TO the value Of firty-twn
! million dollars. There are some more
! trunks in the other room. They con.
tain twenty millions more In secnr.
! tiles II you would like to examine
| :hem. ! will have them brought in
! Il think we have seen enough" said
| Mr.. Sage drily. we have been great
! ly interested in looking at these So
! curties, but | don't think you Ought
to put yourself TO any further trnu.
BILE
Mr.. Sage and his companions 81
lently and expressiyely withdrew.
| They did not publish from the house.
tops what they had seen in Mr..
Gouid's office. Nevertheless, It be.
came known within twenty-rour hours
that Jay Gould had shown his hand to
a group of responsible tinanclers, and
that when they saw it they realized
that it was full hand, for they mad
counted fifty-two millions Of secur-
tiles and been invited to count twenty
millions more, which Mr.. Gould owned.
MIR Gould's credit was never attack
ed after that
! Copyright. 1911. by F.. J. Edwards. All
!, Rights Peserved)
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