Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-22
CLOSURE
The Versatile Ieemss Fisk Writes a Char
aeterlstlc Letter.
He Tells all about the Men who Paid Grants
Subscriptions.
Another Nice Little Bit Of ScaadaI---ThG
President In a %PrsdIcamsHt.

NAAAlALAAA - I
James Fisk has written the following
letter to the Sara:
"To the Editor of the Sun-DKAR SIR: 1
notice In your issue of this morning an
article headed General Grant Euchred,
which reads as follows: The President
went to Long Branch on the steamer
Plymouth Rock, on Tuesday last, and in
going off the boat, exhibited a pass On the
New Jersey Southern Railroad; but, as
Admiral Fisk had given orders not to pass
any of General Grants family on any boats
of the Narrsgansett Steamship Company,
his railroad pass was repudiated, and the
Presidents fare was demanded, notwith-
standing his right bower, Col. Tom Muir
ply, tried to push him through. John
Hoey, of the Adams Express, fastened to
Grants rescue, got him q ticket, and he
passed along e. Te- -
'3This order, now going the rounds of
the papers, is so different from the real
orders issued to the commanders OF
steamers owned by the Narragansett
Steamship Company, that 1 am compelled,
in Justice, not only to the corporation l
represent, but also TO the individual
against whom the gsrbled order appears
to be specislly aimed, occupying the ex-
allied position of Chief Magistrate of this
country, to lay before the public the gen.
uine order, and to give, at the same time,
nv reason for its issue. That there was
any intention on the part Of the subscri-
Der to this letter that the President of the
United States or any of his family or staff,
while travelling on the steamers of the
Narragansett Steamship Line, should not
be treated with the greatest courtesy as
ladies and gentlemen, is entirely errcne-
GUS. The simple truth, and the whole
truth, is that an order was issued to allow
them the privilege OF paying for such ac-
cOmmOdations as they might call for, and
this is the beginning and ending
Of the order. 1 issued an en-
tirely different one, you will observe,
from that copied into your journal fIom
the Boston Transcript. Ny reason for
taking this course, viewing the matter in
q common-senss light, was that I was
weary OF furnishing tree transportation TO
the President and his many relations over
sea and land, as l did to a very great ex-
tent last summer, particularly as / had
not the satisfaction of knowing that the
civilities extended were appreciated,
never having been even thanked for the
effort I had made in the matter. On re-
viewing the transactions of the past year
1 found that had not only furnished a
large amount of free transportation, but
that ] had been allowed the great priv
ilege Of subscribing TO Mr.. Grants chart
ties. In the final settlement of the gold
speculations of the fall OF 1869, in which L
supposed and still believe the President
WAS a partner with US, i find the follow
ing item charged TO my account:
"'0ne-half of Grants subscription to
the Rawlins fund, tive hundred dollars
"The circumstances are simply these:
A subscription was started for the widow
of the late lamented Rawlins. The Presi-
dent placed his name at the head of the
list for one thousand dollars. Mr.. Gould
followed for a similar amount, and their
signatures were followed byOthers for va
riOus sums. Mr.. Gould, having himself
paid the amount set opposite his name,
was called upon by an agent of the Presi-
lent to advance the money for his, 1.-THE
President's) subscription, and this ne did,
for granted thas this disbursement
was part and parcel Of other moneys pass
ing through the hands of Mr.. Oorbin. l
was, of course, charged my proportion,
/ should never have found fault with
this, nor would l have even men,
it, were it not for the man
in which the President gOssiped
about me in the fall of 1869. Why he
did so after what / had done for him is
only known to Him who makes the APP
pies round. Taking all the circumstan-
ces of the case into consideration, and
not like Micswber, waiting for
soLiotAlns " tuIh upg buLf " q CERTAIN
extent, broken in spirit, not being even
for what 1 had done, L deter
mined, after quietly communing with
my own heart, 70 restore my peace OF
mind by henceforth treating the Presi-
OF the United States, and all connee-
led with him, as becomes the high posi-
lion he occupies at the head Of this great
nation, ignoring his treatment of me, and
never, for one moment, assuming that l
49, @L,-N- g.. - ~
the slightest resemblance TO e gentleman. 1
1.-THE result of this determination was
.he issue Of an order that whenever the !
President, or any of his family or stat, |
travelled on any of b steamers Of the
line, they should be treated
the greatest respect, but not upon |
any other footing than that of ladies' or |
gentlemen. That the articles reported in
your paper as having been sent to the
Transcript were published either
20 belittle me or to make political capital,
there can be no doubt, and for some few
days there hav been whisperings that it
5manated from n upon whom the Pres |
ldent recently bestowed the most lucra-
tive office in his gilt, in spite Of the no
5orious fact that this lucky individual has
steadily voted the Democratic ticket for
last twenty years. |
Mr.. Editor, I beg OF YOU, in Justice 10
to make this letter public. Give
the advantage Of having my side of
he story read. thrust that some will be- |
If not many, that now, in nv
years, the best part of my life
been given to the service Of The
I am determined, no matter what
treatment / may receive personally. 1
shall never forget the duty l owe to the !
the corporations whose Interests I
represent, and to myself, and I shah take
ARE that, no matter who may be travel
ng under our charge, they shall, n and
be treated with the utmost courtesy
and consideration.
THE Republican press endeavers to |
party capital out OF this, instead Of
my order before the public as it
actually issued; an ordeFI will say,
"a conclusion, which was simply intended
10 impress upon the officers and men
1nder my charge that they, as well as
are but the servants of the pub
lie. Yours respectfully,
JAMES FISK, JR.o
Colonel Fisk showed a reporter a check
paid to Butterheld for Grants subscrip-
ion. The reporter said: "Colonel. this
heck is dated September IL, 1869. That
vas before the great gold earthquake,
when you and Gould and Grant and Cor
pin were all good friends, wasn't it1" /
eyes, we were on terms of the waTmest
Affection in those days. \
"Butterield was in the family circle too;
he got up all the RaWlins fund. He sent
around to Gould and other thousand dol
.sr-men to meet at the S~ub-Tressury, and
.hen they got there Butterheld ont with
ais subscription paper, and showed q tels- |
ram from Grant IN haad tho Nct mfsh h{a I