Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-09-20

break all the banks! Whew! what SEN
sation that will create! Ha! har'
"Hal ha!' rebounded from the other
end of the room. These echoes of the
room so startled me that | turned round
expecting to see visitor. No one was
there, yet / trembled with alright, and
hurried upstairs, imagining that some one
had discovered my retreat. Small chance
of that, though, for kept the house locked
up, and no human being ever entered it
but myself.
The idea of running the banks became a
settled determination, and the very next
morning / was among my agents arrlng-
ing preliminaries, specifying the exact day,
hour, and even moment when the act
should be cOnsummated. Ii was feasible
plan; for, as | have said, the banks had
expanded to such an extent on the strength
of my deposits, that the sudden withdraw
al of my property in gold, with all the in
terest accumulated, must infallibly break
them.
money from the banks to various places
down town. This was done as well and
as secretly as Il could have desired, and in
the night time L watched its removal to
Fifth avenue by other parties. A laboriOus
task The cartmen had no idea that those
heavy boxes contained aughS else than the
ordinary goods their labels designated.
waited anXiOusly for the result of this
operation. Two days elapsed, and by IL
O'Clock OH the third my plot began to yield
its fruits. The news spread like wildfire
over the city that the banks were all
breaking. The newspapers issued an edi-
ton after each explosion. People rushed
frantically for their money, but found only
closed doors. They burst them open ftiri-
ously, and found nothing within but
benches, desks and account books. The
officials had fled in dismay, carrying of
what was left.
The ruin of the banks was followed by a
fearful crisis. Merchants of every descrip-
ton were suspending payment by hum
dreds. Tradesmen could not sell their
goods. HOusehOlders could not get their
rent. In the space of one week the panic
had arrived at such height that the inhab-
itants were leaving the city.
The laboring classes were starving, and
held immense mass meetings in the Park
to devise means for their relief.
| In the midst of this excitement | wall
dered about exulting secretly i'm the ruin
had caused. While walking one day down
Broadway, was startled by suddenly be-
ing brought face TO face with the founder
of my wealth. He brought strangely to
my remembrance the face and form of
Bumpus, whose very existence | had for
gotten / did not like the expression of
| his countenance now; it wore a satanic
| look-and tried to pass by unnoticed.
Ny effort proved fruitless; his eyes were
fixed upon me. He spoke abruptly, and
without any greeting, in a gruff voice:
| - have work for you. The day after
tomorrow large stores are expected; you
must have agents at all the depots, and as
these stores arrive in the city the words
hissed through his closed teeth-"you
must have them destroyed"
"What! starve out the city" ! ex-
claimed; Il dare nOt!''
You must; l order it,
but the thing is impossible" contin-
ued. pretending not to notice his last words,
for felt their truth.
Il have other slaves besides you, fool
/ can give you every assistance you require.
Be at your Office tomorrow morning at III
O'Clock ready to receive visitors from me.
All they want is the money"
So saying he left me to my own reflec-
tons. and horrible reflections they were
As returned home ran over every pos
sible plan by which could avoid his COM
mands and shake off his influence. There
was no way of doing this except by giving
up my gold. and | would have parted soon-
er with my life.
/ waited impatiently the next morning
for my promised visitors. They came al
the appointed hOur-tlark, tacitIrn men
They received the money without any
comment, and had it Immediately taken
away. Then, i'm abject terror at what
had done, fled to my own home.
/ cannot say exactly how the deed was
accomplished: | was afraid to make i'm.
quiries. and remained secret i'm my prison
home, dreading l scarcely knew what.
stole out at intervals to pick up the rumors
that flew with startling rapidity from
mouth to mouth. The citizens seemed
alarmed at some great impending calamity
With pale. anxious faces they stood in
groups at the corners of the streets, talk
ing eagerly. Idrew near one of the knots
to listen, and heard it said that certain
SPECTATORS had bought up immense stores
of provisions recently brought to the city
that the mob. excited to madness, hat
broken open their warehouses; that fear
full riots ensued. during which the ware
houses were burnt with all they contained
EXclamatiOns of horror escaped from tn,
bystanders at this announcement. They
|
prudent to leave i'm time.
With skill and precision that will b.
deemed utterly fabulous by those who can
|. not comprehend the source whence thes,
men derived their power, the Internal deet
was repeated again and again. The ex
pense made a huge inroad uponm my wealth
but needed not, for was impelled by
stubborn determination TO accomplish Tn,
diabolical work ip which was engaged
| stationed agents at all the inlets to the
city. They purchased food of every de
} scription on the false plea that they did 81
for the benefit of the starving populace
: Then followed the ruin contemplated
! Night after night the sky was red with tn,
. glare of burning warehouses filled will
! provisions. Many of them were destroyed
: by the mob, now thoroughly ferociou
from hunger and the thought that other
were profiting by its sufierings. My plo
was being completely carried out. Th'
: people seemed TO have thrown reasoI
overheard, and unconsciously were aidin,
me in my designs. Telegraphic message
were sent to Boston, Philadelphia, ant
: other large cities, imploring assistance
but their condition was as bad as ours