Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-18
NEW SERIES--VOL. l6, NO. 80


cost twenty cents pound in New
York, was disposed of for three dollars
and bali, and the remaining articles
Mt q great profit also, and the return
cargo Of tea was sold at u clear profit
Of y dollar u pound. Hai
| Mr. Astor's profit on this voyage
was 5000, and it was sent 10 his
store packed in barrels. 1t is needless
to say that the next ship that sailed
with that permit belonged to Mr.. As.
tor, and carried an assorted cargo.
A laughable incident occurred on her
arrival at Canton. She had touched
at the Sandwich Islands 10 take in
fresh water and provisions, where the
captain took aboard large stock of
firewood. The frewood was noticed
by q mandarin at Canton the moment
he came aboard, and he inquired
"What is the price Of that ?"
The captain smiled to himself at
what he thought an absurd question,
but finally said, Yankee-likei
"What will you give?"
"0b, | guess it is worth about five
hundred dollars a ton"
Every splinter of il was sold at that
price. IL was sandalwood.
The traffic in sandalwood was mon.
opolized by Mr. Astor for about seven
teen years. No other concern in Eng
land or the United States knowing the
secret. Nor was it finally discovered
till a shrewd ship owner Of Boston de-
tailed u ship to follow one of Mr.. As
tors and observe every event Of the
voyage.
In 1880, Mr. Astor began to with
draw little from active business and
then took the first steps toward build
ing the hotel which bears his name,
but which we soc is soon to be taken
down, to give place to the marble and
brown-stone fronts that commerce asks
for its haunts.
Mr. Astor was peculiar man, and,
in family matters was as proud and
exclusive as though descended from a
king instead Of Gbutcher. With his
family he was liberal-it is said in their
day of afiluence his wife used to de-
mand and receive five hundred dollars
an hour for her Judgment on furs-but
with the world he was close and in
some cases downright meanness would
crop out The story is told of diff
Guilty which Mr.. Astor once had with
one Of his best captains, which cost
him the snug little sum Of s70,0O0.-
Captain DePeyster, who died about
five years ago, and who is well re-
membered in New York, had asked
Mr.. Astor for chronometer
"Vell,p said the merchant, "you puy
one."
Supposing this remark TO authorize
him TO do so on account, the captain
did so, and put the price in the account;
but, when presented, it was stricken
out.
Captain DePeyster, one of the gen.
tlemen Of the old school, brought down
his gold-headed cane on the pavement
with emphasis, and said
"Yery good, Mr.. Astor. ! shall not
sail in your service till the chronometer
is paid for"
Mr.. Astor's rage, which had been
gathering, eliminated at this, and he
said;
"Vcll, tamn you leave it,
And leave il the old sea-dog did,
though he had been in Mr.. Astor's en-
ploy for fifteen years, and, from force
OF habit, wandered down Wall street,
and into one of the large shipping
houses in that locality.
"Ahi DePeyster good morning
When do you sail?n
al don't know. It's unsettled"
"What's unsettled2 Isn't Astor"-
'I'm not in Astor's service now
"The devil Come, now, that's
ls it SOP
at is"
And, after telling the story, the old
sea captain was turning to go out,
when the merchant stopped him.
"Do you want a ship2 If you do,
we have three ready to sail for China,
and you can take your choice
Capt DePeyster saw his opportunity
for repaying Mr.. Astor's petty mean
nesses, in addition to rcsuming his labors
and accepted the command Of the larg-
est Of the three, and, unknown TO Mr..
Astor, set sail.
Mr.. Astor's ship returned with a
cargo of tea, and q few days only trans
pired before the one by the rival house
came in. But Astor, supposing he had
a monopoly of the market, was in no
hurry about unloading, and, before he
was aware Of IL, the other cargo was
sold, the market glutted, and he lost
at least the amount named above in
profits. III.
Shortly aiterward, meeting Captain
DePeyster in the street, Mr.. Astor met
the formers triumphant smile with the
remark
"Vell, captain, | might tamn sight
better paid for that chronometer."
He seemed to base everything on
money, and seldom allowed a kindly
feeling to rob him of dollar. 1t is
said that one Of his captains on one oc-
casion saved property for him in China
TO the amount of seven hundred thou
sand dollars, merely as an act that he
could do, but was not called upon to
do by virtue of his position. 1t was
purely voluntary act, but one which
required determination, skill and cour-
age. All the return the captain re.
ceived was an acknowledgment of
thanks; and yet "he was worth ten
million dollars, and the captain had
only his pay-twelve hundred dollars
and a family" AT the death Of Mr..
Astor however his son, William B.
Astor, sent the old sea captain check
in return for the service Parton says
that "thc love of accumulation grew
with his years;it ruled him like a tyrant.
If at fifty he possessed his millions, at
sixty-five his millions possessed him."
-Boston Bulletin.
A REcoSsrRucrED SrArE.-Govern-
or Ames, of Mississippi, is missing