Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-08-24
THEwRECK OF THE GOLDEN RULE.
Was She Wrecked 60 be Robbed?
What the Government Officers Say.

In reference to the sensational story recently
set afoat by ex-detectiye Wood, in the New York
Sun, relative 10 the wrecking of the steamship
Golden Rule in the Caribbean Sea, May 80, 1865,
and the robbing Of the vessel of 81 200 900 in
greenbacks, the property of the United States,
Secretary Boutwell, says he knows nothing
whatever OF the parties implicated by Wood,
and thinks the whole thing an invention. Ac-
cording to the report of Comptroller Taylor,
made in May last, the government money
carried out by the Golden Rule consisted of
1000 900 compound interest notes, and s162 $50
in go notes, Treasury drafts, and $40 bonds
After the occurrence of the wreck efforts were
made, under the personal supervision of Messrs.
Rufus Leighton and Victor Smith, who were the
agents of the government for the CONVEYANCE of
the treasure TO San Francisco, 10 reach the box
containing the money, which had been placed
under large amount of baggage in the hold,
but without success. After the ship had gone to
pieces efforts were again made To recover the
box, but likewise without success. A wrecking
vessel was then employed. and about the 18th of
June, 1865, Sl69,l50 of the 1905 and Treasury
drafts were recovered, some of them being
nearly destroyed by the action of the water
Two pieces Of iron, supposed to be parts of the
poN, were fshed up, but no portion OF the COM
pound interest notes was found. Subsequently
the box inself was found and forwarded 20 the
Treasury Department The lid had been burst
open, the bolt OF the lock being so bent inward
as no longer TO retain a hold in the side OF the
box. The chief machinist of the department
informed the Comptroller that the box did not
carry any marks or evidence of
HAVING BEEN FORCED OPEN
by the use Of instruments; but that it was prob
ably broken open by being violently thrown
from side TO side in the hold of the vessel and
among the rocks after the vessel was broken up.
The machinist had examined a similar lock- and
was of opinion that the bolt would bend under
similar circumstances, especially when there
was any movable weight in the box. No part of
the interest notes has been recovered, not
outstanding unremitting efforts Of the De-
partment through detectives and otherwise for
three years or more. Nor has anything been
discovered casting suspicion upon the officers or
crew OF the steamship, nor upon those employed
on the wrecking vessel. Although no record
Of the denominations or numbers of the COM
pound interest notes was kept, the Comptroller
Is Of opinion that there were 1000 notes. each of
the denomination of Al 900. From an examina-
ton of the records kept by the Register of the
Treasury, the Comptroller Is convinced that the
81 100000 compound interest notes lost were of
the issue of S12 ,O00, 00d of Nav l5 1865 OO4 900
OF which is outstanding. Six years having
elapsed since the remittance, and as these notes
were past due three years, and not one of them
having been presented, but one conclusion can
be satisfactory, viz:
THAT THE NOTES WE'RE DESTROYED
when the vessel sunk, and no longer exist as a
charge upon the Treasury. In case they are
still in existence and ever presented for redemp-
ton at the Treasury Department payment viii
Of course be refused. In any event, the govern
ment cannot possibly lose a dollar, nor, even
sulposing Woods story TO be true, can the
present administration be held RESPONSIBLE for
the non-arrest of the alleged robbers, as the rob-
berry charged was committed in 1865, during the
administration of Andrew John