The Republican journal., 1870-02-03
THE SEPTEMBER GOLD PANIC.
Important Revelations.

! N.
Their evidence lasted six or seven hours,
but can be boiled down into the following re-
sumo: They were anxious to have the crops
OF '69 moved at as high prices as in '6S, in
order to furnish transportation to the Erie
road; but they saw this could not be done
without consequent increase in the price of
gold.
| PRESIDENT GRANT APPROACHED
| The latter being low, they at once sought
| to ascertain what the financial policy of the
administration would be, and to that end.
broached the matter first to Gen. Grant on
June 9th, when he was on his way to the
Peace Jubilee in Boston. This was at din
ner on board of one of Fisk's steamers, and
1t appeared in the conversation that Grant
was in favor of an early resumption of specie
payments. He was told that this would
bring a crash; that gold was too low for
good business even then.
PRICK THE BUBBLE
Grant replied: Gentlemen, any way we
might as we'll prick the bubble Grant was
again sounded by the witnesses at Long
Branch without definite replies, on financial
topics
CORBIN COMES INTO THE RING.
In the meantime Gould became acquainted
with Corbin, the Presidents brother-in-law,
and some plan was developed by which But
terfield was to be made Assistant Treasurer.
which was afterwards done. In July Presi-
dent Grant went to Newport, and Gould
wrote him letter, which Fisk carried, argu-
ing against reducing the price of gold, stat
ing that the time was near at hand when the
crops would be moved, and that if the admin
istration would not sell gold, they, Fisk &
Co., would put up the price. Little or no
reply was made to this, and Corbin was
brought into their confidence
CORBIN SAYS HE CAN FIX THING WITH GRANT.
Corbn said he could fix things all ripht
with Grant. Feeling assured of this, Two
and half millions of gold was bought, half
q million for Mrs, Grant and half million
for Porter, Secretary to the President The
rest was divided between Corbn and Jay
Gould, for up to this time Fisk had not
bought any gold.
FISK SEES CoRBIN.
Gould at this stage introduced Fisk to Cor
bin and Corbin said that Mrs Grants gold
had been sold and the profit of twenty-five
thousand dollars had been remitted to her at
Washington.
CORBIN BEHIND TIE THRONE
Corbin explained to Fisk all his arrange
ments with Gould. and said that he (CorbinD
was behind the throne; that he could regu-
late Grant that the government would not
sell gold; that Mrs. Grants letters to Mrs.
Corbin said so, and that there need be no un-
easincss.
FISK BEGINS TO BELIEVE IN HIM.
Fisk says that at first he was not disposed
to believe Corbin, but the latter's points was
so positive that he placed full faith in him.
CoRBrN WRITES TO GRANT.
To make assurance doubly sure, before
more purchases were made, Corbn said he
would write to Grant, who was then, Sept
Is, at Washington, Pa, and send the letter
by Fisk's confidential man. This was done.
The messenger, Chaplin by name, reached
Washington, near Pittsburg, at 7 A. NJ,
routed up Grant, handed him the letter; he
read part of it, and went into another room
GRANT SAYS GALL RIGHT"
In - minutes he returned and said all
right" Chaplin at once went to the nearest
telegraph office and telegraphed to Fisk
" Letter delivered, Grant says it is all right"
MATTERS "CLINCHED"
Fisk says that on the day before the dark
Friday he was with Corbin, who said, .' All
is now right; that letter to Grant has clinch-
ed matters"
THE OZARK FRIDAY"
Fisk & Gould then commenced to buy gold.
and it rose from 1877 to al. and opened at
14l on the dark Friday. A broker named
Wm Belden asked to participate in the trans
action, and gave Fisk power to buy gold for
him. One Albert Speyers was Belden's
broker. On these purchases gold rose to l43,
and Speyers then jumped in for himself till
it rose to 100, believing that it would 90
higher. Then came the order of Government
to sell four millions, which immediately
smashed down the market. And that, said
Fisk, is the story of the combination
FISK swEARS AN OATH
Relying on Corbin's statements of his in
fluence with Grant, Fisk says he sought Cor
bin after the bottom was out of the specula-
ton by the Government sales. and teStihes
that he said to him You damned old vii
lain; this is a hell of u mess you have got
us into" Corbin inquired, What situation
are you n9n Fisk replied: 1--WE don't
know; we can't tell in this exitement; bui
we may be ruined" Corbin blandly replied,
that it must be a mistake. His information
was explicit, that Boutwell, would not sell
gold, and if he had he had doubtless done so
without consulting Grant. Mrs Corbin came
into the room and said she agreed with her
husband.
PRESIDENT GRANT NERVOUS.
She said she had letter from Mrs Grant
wishing the whole speculation was over, tor
it made her husband nervous. Both of them
agreed to so at once to Washington to see
the President, they said, and have the sale OF
gold withdrawn, but they never did this.
BUTTERFIELD IN IT.
Gould testified that Gen. Butterfield, the
Assistant Treasurer, was privy to the specu-
lation, and that he had bought one million OF
gold on Butterfield's account Fisk con
cluded his evidence by asking that Corbin,
Mrs. Corbin and Mrs. Grant be summoned
before the Committee, Correspondence Of
the Boston Herald.
A correspondent of the Augusta Banner
says that when the Bowdoinham bank rob
bers were foiled by Warden Rice's success in
defeating their plan to escape through their
attempts to corrupt an officer by means of
the money they have stolen, they became ex-
tremely offended with him on this account,
and there are reasons to fear that one of them,
if he had the opportunity, would serve him
as the convict Spencer did Mr.. Tinker, Mr..
RS predecessor, by taking his life Mr. r.,
however, is on his guard.
A man who had several apprentices was
accustomed to feed them quite largely on bean