New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-19
a CRUEL CdN3RD.

THE REPORTED LOSS OF THE HENRY CHAUNcEY
PROVED TO BE A SToCK-JOBBING HOAX.
"A more mercenary and cruel hoax is seldom
perperated than the story Of the burning the steamer
henry Chauneey OF the Pacific Mail Steamship Line. AT
an early hour, yesterday TRIBUNE reporter called at
the ONCE OF the Pacific Mail g. 8. Co., in Walst., and
asked for Of the oiicers clerk stated that the
officers out but in reply inquiries OF the re-
porter he said that the Company had received no news
from the steamer and that he believed the dispatch was
false, and designed solely To affect the price OF the stock
which had advanced considerably Of late Later I'm the
day the reporter again called at the Office and saw Mr.
Bellows Vice President, who informed him that the
story false, and originated with a stock jobbing
clique, whom he could not would not indicate. He
then handed the reporter the following circular:
OFFICE THE PACIFIC MAIL s. g. Co., Aug IS, 1871.
reward of five thousand dollars 5000 will DO paid
the person who wfully caused false and forged
OF the burning OF the CompanYs steamship Henry
Chauncey to be published in the morning journals OF this
date. By order THEo. T. JOHNSON, Secretary.
The reporter next called at the Office Of the Coast
wreckng Company, corner of Wall and Wiamsts., and
conversed with Mr.. Young who was in charge. That
gentleman stated that he had received intmation OF
the loss of the Chauncey and that he did not telegraph
to the alleged OF the disaster, he felt assured
that the whole story was fabrication. There was no
named Brown in the employ Of the Company at that
place Mr.. Young stated that the Coast Wreckng Com
miles apart whose duty IL to telegraph at once to
the ONCE OF the company III CITY VI
ter One of these men stationed at Body Island,
where no could not have failed to hear of the reported
disaster
call was made upon T. II. Walker Vice President OF
the sun Mutual Insurance Company, No 81 Wal-st. He
stated that he had received message, telegram
letter anything else relative to the alleged disaster
He not acquainted with the James Brown, whose
signature appended to the letter. The nrst nna-
ton no received was when reporter OF one Of
ing journals presented copy or the letter Tor VeTlnca
ton, and he WalkeT pronounced fraudulent he ala
not know why his should be selected by the knaves
unless it was because he was connected with prom-
mont insurance company. -
The reporter then went to the American LOyds, nWal
st. and made inquiries but they had received no news OF
be genuine as their agents would have been certain TO
inform them of the loss They believed 1t to DC stock
The President OF another wealthy marine insurance
company was questioned, and pronounced the letter
false, and the authors of IL BrOad-st eVeculatOrs
The following dispatches eXplairrthemseyes
NORFOLK, Va, Aug Billie a. m.-Nothing is known
san FRANclsCo Aug 1s-The report of the burning Of
the steamer Henry ChauHcey created painful excite
eo Si or%aTded by the Associated Press
FORTRESS MONROE, Aug. ls.-The wreeking steamer
ResOue passed here this morning having in tow for
Norfolk the schooner W. g. Patton, which was sunk on
Fog Point
the ResOue had to the OF the wreck OF the
steamship Henry Chauncey, of Body Island, n: c. was
untrue, and nierentaly That the whole story about the
Henry Chauncey is a canard.
The report of the loss Of the Chaucey was brought to
The TRIBUNE office by OF the editors OF The Nautical
Ga.ette who stated that he had received copy OF the
dispatch addressed TO j. w walker now shown TO be
svAs
plausible If not probable one and IT was accepted The
writer who had formerly been connected with the city
the news did his old paper beaten.
His former reports have very rarely been questioned.
TIE EFFECT IN wALLsT.
For weeks past the stock Of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company has been OF the most active the stock
list Its price and the transactions in it have steadily in
creased until on Thursday the dealings in it aggregated
from TO shares The two extremes Of the day
500 and 49, with the bulk OF the business at 81 70 81
At one time 10000 shares changed hands within Is
minutes and within the 1uctuaOn OF per cent OF from
t6nselhently when Il was announced in wa-st yes
terday that the steamer Henry Chauncey had been
burned the greatest excitement prevailed IN the STOCK
Many believed the story but lew ala not All nockeu
the Stock Exchange for the purpose OF MAKING turn
Pacific Mail knowing that, whether true or fase the
story would not be without Its immediate eject upon ne
market at least temporary depreciation In the
value of the stock At about $3.50 m the stock market was
i'm full blast Pacific Mail opened 4ef and declined TO 4et
ffuctuated between these figures until the street be-
pretty thoroughly convinced Unrough he oncers
of the Company and other sourcesl that the Henry
the stock rallied to 6lt an advance OF per cent on
the opening price Of the day 1t closed at SOL 10 O with
consider ably abated interest. Early IN the day large
amounts OF stock changed hands. 49,,
The origin OF the hoax attributed TO combination
Of spectators who possessed large amount OF faeihc
Mail stock and who were deslrOus OF seinng poth the
stock and the public. Prior to the hoax they had sue
ceedcd selling about 20 600 10000 shares OF stock
when the price declined To figures below what they mad
calculated upon. At this juncture IL il believed that
they circulated the story Of the Chaunceys destruction
with the view OF creating short or " bear interest
rally the contradiction OF the he. Iher OBJECT
was attained for it is said they succeeded IN selling
about % 900 ON the rebound from 49i to 5li'
ANOTHER HOAX.
Upop n rumor that Commodore Vanderbilt very
IN. New-York Central declined nearly one per cent
Inon INQUIRY no one could be found 10 yOuch Tor the liz
ness OF the Commodore.