Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-21
ADVENTURES OF A CONFIDENCE

ADVENTURES OF A CONFIDENCE
He Escapes from AustraltR-Yisit'
Panama and San Franeisco-Repre,
SCENTS Himself as Steamship Agent
Gives Dinners-H0b-nObs with Mer
chant Princes and Leaves with fheil
MOney-He Visits Brigham Young
Comes TO New York, and is ARRESTED
by Brooklyn Detectives.
| On the 14th of December last, De
tec6ves Folk and Videto arrested
at he Astor House, in New York, one
Thomas Stephens, who is charged
with having obtained 50, 500 from
| j. c. Merrill & Co., of San Francis
co, Cal, by means of worthless
draft in the name of George Seely,
agent of the Panama and New Zeal
and Royal Mail Steamship Compa-
ny, at Panama. This Stephens is
is nearly sixty years of age, has a
fine, intelligent looking face and
gentlemanly address. His career
has been a remarkable one. One
chapter of it is contained in the fol-
lowing interesting account Of his
transactions in Panama and San
Francisco, taken from a paper pub
lished in San Francisco:
Some time in September last an
elderly man of fine address and re-
markably gentlemanly appearance
arrived at Panama from Australia,
and there introduced himself to Mr..
George Seely, agent of the New
Zealand Royal Steamship Company,
as Mr.. Thomas Stephens, a large
stakeholder in the company, on his
way to San Francisco for the pur-
pose of establishing terminus at
this point, provided satisfactory ar
rangements could be made. His
manner and conversation completely
bewiIdered Mr.. Seely. who was led
to believe his story, and showed him
every attention, taking him on
board the opposition steamer in a
six cared gig when he took his de-
parture. Not only did he show him
these attentions, but introduced him
to the Purser as a rich Australian,
who was a large stakeholder in the
company of which he was agent,
and requested the Purser to show
him every attention in his power.
With this quasi endorsement Ste
phens comes to San Francisco, and
upon his arrival put up at the Cos
mopolitan. His first business was
to become acquainted with the lead
ing merchants and bankers, repre-
senting hims,lf as the agent of the
steamship company above mention
ed, and in a short timehe was estab-
lished on a good business footing.
Merchants wanted the trade of his
company, bankers were anxious to
ingratiate themselves into his good
graces, and he was much sought
after by people who were regarded
in mercantile circles as worth know
ing.
He lived like a prince at the Cos
mOpolitan, gave sumptuous dinners,
and carried out his character of rich
steamship stakeholder and agent to
perfection. He was making inquiries
he said, concerning the advantages
of San Francisco over Panama as a
terminus for his steamships, and, of
course, the mercantile influence were
all brought to bear to convince him
of the superior advantages of this
port But how about wharfage and
dockage for his steamers? Why,
he must apply to the Board of State
Harbor Commissioners and they
would render him every facility" he
was told. He accordingly addressed
them a communication as follows ::
SAN Francisco, Oct. z, 1S6S.-TO
the Honorable the Board of State
Harbor Commissioners: Gentle
men-.The Panama and New leland
Royal Mail Steamship Company,
Limited, contemplating the chang
ing of the terminus of their
line from Panama to this port,
have appointed a commissioner to
examine and report fully on the adj
vantages and expenses consequent
on said change. In pursuance of
said duty l would most respectfully
ask whether, and the lowest terms
upon which you could furnish us
with ample and sufficient wharfage
and dock facilities. Should it be
decided to dispatch two steamers per
month lat present we are only run
ming monthly J, berth would be
required most of the time for
steamer not exceeding $50 feet in
length, and not to exceed twenty
| feet of water.
| am, most respectfully, your
obedient servant,
THos. STEPHENS.
On Board of Harbor Commits
sioners, always alive to the best in
terests of the State, replied prompt
ly. They say a splendid opportu-
nifty for adding to the commerce of
the port and proposed to the dis
tinguished stranger the most adyan-
tageous terms. Their regular rates
were so and so, but for regular
line of steamships to change the
current of the Australian trade and
bring it to this port, they would let
him have all the dock and wharf
facilities he needed at greatly re-
duced prices. But large steamship
owners and agents do not make ex-
tensive bargains in a hurry. There
are many preliminaries that have to
be settled, and capitalists are the
very men of all others who strike at
details. Mr.. Stephens, the agent OF
the Panama and New Zealand, etc,
Limited, was not to be caught by the
chaff thrown out to our Harbor
Commissioners, and he accordingly
addressed them the following com.
munication:
| SAN Francisco, Oct. IA, 1863
To the Honorable the Board OF
State HarbOr Commissioners, San
| LN,o,, o;.on. EantIamon-A pllnOwl.