The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-12-30
COL. GOWEN'S CLAIM.
Dealings with High Omcinls in st. Peters.
burg---How n Claim was Disposed of.

Dealings with High OnlcinIs in st. Peters,
burg---How n Claim was Disposed of.
Col. John e. Gowen, the American
engineer, who is treating with the British
admiralty for the contract of raising the
iron-clad Vanguard, sunk in the British
channel, in 1862, completed the great
work of raising the Russian feet in the
harbor of Sebastopol, and presented his
bill for payment. The demand was
$500 roubles, which is equal to about
that number of dollars in greenbacks.
The Grand Duke Constantine, from
whom Col. Gowen received the commits
sion, approved the claim and ordered it
paid. It was handed to Governor Gen
eral Glazinapp, who recommended that
bonds be issued for the amount. Min
lister of Marine Krabbe, however, thought
it too small sum to be paid in bonds,
and proposed to pay the money in
ten years in annual installments. The
colonel would not agree to this.
"Well, the Grand Duke has ordered
that you be paid," said the minister,
"and we'll have to find you the money !;
but my budget is made up and 1 don't
see exactly how it is to be managed.
You'd better go abroad and travel for q
month, and when you come back your
money will be ready for you."
A month later the colonel again pre-
sented himself to the minister.
"Well, sir, you've done a pretty
thing, haven't you-raised mischief in
my department ?" was the colonel's greet
ing from Krabbe. "You and your 49,
600 roubles. l was your friend, but
understand henceforth I'm your enemy,
and shall oppose you even getting one
dollar of your claim"
The 10000 roubles matter referred to
was claim of which some officer of the
marine department had tried to defraud
him, and, before leaving st. Petersburg,
acting upon the advice of assistant min
lister of marine Gregg, he had laid the
facts of the case before the minister of
justice, who made them subject of
complaint to Krabbe, and hence the lat
ter's anger.
elf you don't pay me-" said the col
onel, "I'll have to see his imperial high
ness, the Grand Duke Constantine,
about it."
"You may if you like /; but you'll
never get dollar if L can help it" was
the reply.
Col. Gowen wrote the Grand Duke,
saying that he had not been paid, and
requesting an audience. What followed
is best told in his own words
can aide-de-camp called upon me
with the message from the Grand Duke
that should be paid before L left st.
Petersburg, and requesting me to call at
his palace before nine o'clock the next
morning. On arri-ia et tl.o podeee I
was shown into the Grand Dukes apart
ment, where, to my surprise and annoy
ance, L found him conversing with the
minister of marine, my declared enemy.
The Grand Duke arose, shook hands
with me, and said "Col. Gowen, I
have had higher opinion of you than
of any other foreigner who has ever come
to this country, and l am very sorry that
you should come here q second time to
be paid"
"Why, have never been paid one
cent" I replied.
"The minister tells me he has paid
you," said he, turning to Krabbe.
/" He has been paid. paid him my
self" said Krabbe, throwing a signiti-
cant glance at me.
"No, sir-you know that have not
received one penny" exclaimed.
"I cannot allow this alteration in my
presence" said the Grand Duke.
"But, assure you"- I continued,
when he interrupted ME, saying
"Col. Gowen, whom do you suppose
l would believe-you, stranger, whom
L have known only a few years, or 8
minister of the empire 2"
"It is not necessary to believe either
of us, l said. eff l have been paid
surely there is some record of it in the
department. Have the books exaG ined
they will tell the story"
"No, SIR" he said, rising, "thi'
audience is at an end" and was bowed
out.
Col. Gowen has not been paid, having
received no other rewards for his valu
able service than the thanks of til,
crown and the decoration of the order o
st. Stanislaus. He has made frequen
applications to Secretary Fish for al
official letter in his behalf to our min
lister at st. Petersburg requesting him t.
lay the facts before the imperial govern
ment, but Mr.. Fish has refused to in
terfere. The colonel brought strong in
fuence to bear upon him, and, at on
time, had some hope of success, but tn
Fish, -Catacazy trouble followed, and h
has now abandoned all hope of hell
from the incumbent Administration
The injustice of this treatment is wei
known in European diplomatic circles
Prince Gortchakoff, whom he met il
Baden, told him that he knew him to b
one of the worst-used men in the worl
but could not help him, and Lor
Palmerston once, speaking of the claim
said to him: eff you were a Britisl
subject, colonel, 1 promise you, yo
would not have to wait long for you
money "-S5I17