The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-20
COZ. GoWEN,S CLIIM.
Dealings with High Oaiciais In -. Pctors-
burg and Washington City.

Col John r.. Goweu, the American cnci-
neer, who il treating with the British Admiralty
for the contract Of raising the iron-clad van-
guard, sunk la he British channel, In 1862, com
pleted the great work Of raising the Russian
fleet In the harbor OF Sebastopol, and presented
his bill for payment. The demand was Tor 5000
roubles, which Is equal to about that number of
dollars In ereenba,ks. The Grand Duke Con
stantine, Lord High Admiral, from whom Col
Gowen received tn commission, approved tho
claim and ordered it paid. 1t was handed to
Governor General G aziuapp, who recommended
tn 4 bonds be lssuei for the amount. Minister
OF Marine krahhc. however, thought 1t too
small sum to @ ptd in bonds, and proposed
to pay the money IA ten years In annual in-
stalments. The Colonel would not agree to this.
"Well. the Grand Dakc has ordered that you
be paid said the Minister, -" and Wen have to
md don't see exact y how 1t Is to be managed.
You'd better 60 abroad and travel for month,
and when YOU come pack your money VIII DO
A mouth later the Colonel again presented
himself to the Ministr.
"well. Sir, you've cone a pretty thing, haven't
you-raised hell IN NV DEPARTMENT." was the
Colonel's preetng from krabhe. " Y on and your
paltry 1900 roubles. | was your friend, but un-
derstand heDcefortb I'm your enemy. and shall
oppose you even Re.tiug one dollar OF your
claim"
Tho 1000 ronbles matter referred to was a
claim Of which some officers OF the Marine De-
partment had tried to defraud him, and, before
OF Assistant Mrister Of Marine Gregg, he had
laid the facta OF the case before the Minister OF
Justice. who made them a subject Of complaint
to krabbe. and hence the latter's anger. -
III you don't pay me-" SAID the Colonel, "l'll
have TO see his Imperial lighness' the Grand
Duke Constantine, about it,"
you may go to the devil, II you like but
youll never get dollar II l can help IT., was the
Col. Gowcn wrote the Grand Duke, saying
that he had not been paid, and requesting an
audience, What followed Is best told In his
own words:
IAN aide .de-c,mp called upon me with the
message from the Gtand Duke that should he
paid before left ST Petersburg, and requesting
me To call nt his palace before O'Clock the next
| morning on arriving at tue palace / was shown
! into the Grand Dukes apartment, where. to my
surprise an annoyance, found him COnvcrsing
| with the Minister Of Marine, my de eclared enemy.
The Grand Duke arose, shook hands with me,
and said 'CO. Gowen, | have had a higho r
opinion OF you than Of any other foreigner who
has ever come to this country. anG am very
sorry that you should come here second time
| To be paid"
| been paid one GEN." replied.
The Minister tells me be has paid you" said
| be, turning To kr b o.
| krabu 4, throwing a significant glance at me.
NJ. sir YOU know tnat 1 have not received
- cannot nliuw this alteration IN my
| rrcsence," said the Grand Duke.
| But, your lmpetihi HtEnnts=. assure YOU
| ---' continued, when lie interrupted me, sal
"Col. Gowcn. whom do YOU suppose would
only a few Years, ut a Minister Of the Empire p
" IL Is not necessary to tclieNe either Of u,
| said. " If have been pad surely there Is sOne
| record Of II IN the deparim Have the books
| examined, your Imperial nignnoss-tuey VIII
| tell the -torv.'
$50, sir" no SAID, rising. this audience Il
at nu end." and WAS lweu out.
col. uowen ..s not been ID. having received
no other reward, for his Ndlu ble services tuun
| the thank Il the crown ana the decoration Oi
tue order oi -. Stanislaus lie has made ire
! quent ppiicauons to Secret ~ fl-h for al
! offcal letter ~ MS tehai 20 our Minister At St
| Petersburg requesting him 10 lay the facts be-
| fore the Imperial Government, but Mr. Fish has
| refused = interfere. The Colonel brought
| strong iunIences to bear upon him, ami, at one
| time, bad some nope Of success. but tho Fish
| CatacazY trouble followed, and he has .nOw
| abandoned all hope Of help from the incumDcii
| Administrator. The Injustice of his treatment
| - well known in EIrnpcan diplomatic i4clcs
! lrpCc GoriChaNon, WuoU he met IN Baden
told him that lie knew itm to be one Il the
| vOrst-u~cd men Ia the worl hut could not helI
| him, and Lord Ialm'r~tI til once, speak NJ oi
! H., claiu, said To- him: n you were Butisi
! subject, COLONEL | promise you, YOU Wound uOl
/ l,.Ne long for