Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-12
NAPIER.S FAILURE.
How "a Magnificent Enterprise Col
IaPsed-ROyal Extravaganza Insult
ed 20 Our sSiI-DOmestIc Troubles,
and Napier Vanfshes.

ell 10 OlaE ESll-DgHAtStat EEOuDitAs
and Napier Vanishes.
Correspondence of the Union and: Dispatch.
NEWPORT, Tenn, July. 6, 1867.-The
denizeps Of this portion Of Brownlow's
dominiOns have been thrown into great
/ excitement by the sudden failure ard col
lapse Of one William Napier, a reputed
wealthy Englishman, who came to this
country some time last winter or fall and
purchased fine farm for the sum of twenty
five thousand dollars in gold. He came
with the prestige Of name renowned in
history. His family was intelligent and
accomplished, and had evidently moved
in the ighest circles ofsociety from whence
they. came. Their wardrobe and house
hold fixtures and appointments far ex-
eelled in richness and splendor anything
in this section. Awe-struck and amazed,
we beheld them with their long, rich trains
sweep swiftly past, and fancied they were a
superior order of beings, whose veins were
cOursed by the royal blood of mighty Eng
land.
One by one we tremblingly ventured into
their presence, and found them quite social,
agreeable, and condescending We now
became more calm and self-possessed, and
felt ourselves refined and elevated by the
association, an6 elicitated ourselves upon
our good fortune In having this wealthy
semi-Iord settle in our midst. The mode
Of farming to be adoptedand carried on by
Lord Napier, as we reVerently termed him,
was quite different from that ofour farmers.
He theorized most beautifully upon his
proposed system Of conducting his splendid
farm, and laid ont magnificent programme
that involved enormous expenditures aad
the application of an immense amount of
labor ta4f sh
He began by buying several hundred head
of shabby sheep, and stocking his farm
with a suficiency of work horses, mules
and soxen. Everything moved off swim
mingly, and | might say magnifcently at
the beginning. All were running to Lord
Napier to sell him horses, mules and cattle,
for which he paid very exorbitant prices,
and many persons whispered in their fami-
lies that they had fortune in prospective
out of Napier He managed his finances
so as TO pay for most of his stock at the
start. We now all had perfect faith that
Lord Napier was millionaire, or closely
allied to one. Our poverty little
county was soon 10 be the most prosperous in
theState for money was to be dispensed with
a lavish hand by one whose Golfers were
almost inexhaustibe Lord Napier went
North, and in few days or weeks wagon
loads of agricultural implements, seeds of
all kinds, etc, began to pour into the coun-
ty. He soon had three other fine farms
rented for term of ten years, at prices
that would have paid the owners almost
twice the value of their lands. The rent
was to be paid annually. Soon, at least
hundred or more hands were in his employ;
fine merchant mill was in process of
erection a portable steam saw mill on its
way, and various other operations were in
progress and Lord Napier actively and
energetically going his ceaseless rounds to
superintend everything. His industry and
perseverance had never been surpassed.
All things were going smoothly now, and
our railroad enterprise paled before him
and ceased to be talked about. All eyes
were turned to Napier, and he was the all-
absorbing topic of conversation. The time
for the first payment on his land came; he
fastened North and returned shortly, with
rumor ahead of him, that he had de-
posted a large amount in a Knox
vile Bank. A few small drafts were
given and honored, but no payment
on his land yet Low whispers
that he might make failure we're heard.
Soon the pressure against him became
stronger Another trip North and all was
we'll. He soon returns, but no money
could be got. He gave drafts upon Bal
tumore bank which were'not honored, as he
had no funds there. A collapse seemed
imminent but still many had faith that all
would work right. An accomplished lady,
a sister-in-law, from London, suddenly APP
pears, and all kinds of rumors grow out of
this circumstance, some of which were very
derogatory to Napier's character. Soon
whispers are heard of family rupture,
growing out of too great an intimacy be-
tween the Lord and his beautiful COVER
ness. He and she start for New York,
from whence she is to sail for Europe
Mrs. Napier and sister pack up in day or
so, taking the seven children and servants
and start, unknown to Napieras they allege,
and doubtless truly, for Europe. These
scenes of the grand drama startle creditors
here, and attachment after attachment is
taken out, and such dragging, and hauling
and pulling has rarely been seen. The
people will be heavy losers | think. All
can see now thst Napier was obliged to fail.
All can see that he was crazy, or a mono
maniac on the subject of farming. Still
there is great mystery enveloping the
| whole thing that may never be unfolded.
Napier has not made dollar by the opera
| ton, but spent what little he came here
| with. The movements of himself aa3
| family, and all his operations and finsA4
ciering here, is a thrilling romance Of itself,
without the tinsel or coloring of fiction.
1t ought to deeply impress our minds with
the truth of two sayings, "that there is
nothing in a name" and all that glitters
is not gold" have only attempted to
give you the outlines of a magnificent fail
IRE or humbug, for l do not regard it as a
swindle, for Napier left all behind him to
be lawed over BY creditors. think | can
truthfully say Of this memorable event in
the history Of Cooke, as did the Queen Of
Sheba in regard to Solomon the hall has
not been told" SIC transet gloria mundi.
NEDETTE.