The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-02
YARKAND'S PROSPERITY.
OUTLINING A NATION BIZ CHEATING
THEN At CARDS.
A Chapter ofstr.nse Coincisences-mr. Minor
Trsvis's Journey Half Round the Globe.
aud the BLESSINGS he Brought TO Yaceob
Khan and his Peopie-Our Visitor.

PHILADELPHIA, June 1.-THE following
rather remarkable story has been told me by a
gentleman from New Zealand, now visiting the
Centennial, and who claims TO have been tho
chief actor In the events narrated. so far as
know, thore is no reason for doubling his
veracity:
The 10th Of April, 1891, was q memorable day.
so many grave events happened on II that only
minute historians, like my informant, are able
to recall the fact that on this day, when Mr.. Ian
coins blockade proclamation was published,
when the Baltimore emeute took place, when
ever many other startling things TRANSFERRED
on this same day the bark Sally Ann, which had
cleared the day before for Charleston was stop
ped In the stream and ordered TO take in stores
for Hong Kong and a market; and on this same
day, Mr.. Travis Minor left the neighborhood OF
wsrrenton white sulphur Springs, a neighbor-
hood which he had cultivated, n not adorned.
for several years, and went elsewhere to seek his
fortunes. TriHne matters, these. OF course, yet
the Southern Coriederacy exists no longer, OK
cept TO stain the bloody shirt with Fictitious
gore, while Yartand Is prosperous state, and
destined 20 play treat part In the Eastern com
plications now impending. And Yarkand owes
its prosperity entirely, n not Its continued ex-
istence a. an independent state, TO the coinci-
dent movements OF the bark Sally Ann, and Of
Mr.. Travis Minor.
The bark Sally Ann, Sg7 tons. Machem, mas
ter. was a pretty old tub, built In Machias,
Maine. and had been In the West India trade for
many years. She was now under charter TO Mr..
Salem Doolttle. ship broker, Commercial street,
Boston. Mr.. Dooltte was a keen observer, and
he had been watching the course Of political
events with attention. lie calculated TO a day
almost when the war would break out with the
ha adj haUi nd
what sort Of goods and notions would be likely
to fetch the highest prices in a Southern port on
the eve OF the blockade. The Sally Ann, loaded
with a carefully discrminated cargo Of this sort,
was intended to arrive In Charleston just before
the closing Of the port, sell out at high figure.
Invest the proceeds In cotton, and return. In
this way Mr. Doolittle felt sure he would have
good thing oft
to he enumerated here, but II was selected upon
a speculative calculation Of the appetites and
Mr.. Doolittle subscribed to the Tract and Bible
societies but, In the cargo Of the sally Ann
were 100 dozen leather bound pocket TASKS ~
faro lsy-outs, loo sweat cloths, 100 sets checks.
LOU pack, plain playing cards; LOO packs ad-
Mr.. Doolittie would have had u great thing Of 1t:
but he calculated "A little too finely: The sally
Ann was kept back too late When Mr.. Doolit.
tie read the Presidents proclamation he hcayed
a gentle sigh. and signalled 10 the Sally Ann In
the stream to send boat for him. It's too
u
risk. Fetch her back to the wharf. and guess
We can sell our goods TO the British colonies"
THE VOYAGE on THE SALLY ANN.
SO the sally Ann. reappoi nted and provsioned,
sailed for Hong Kong and a market via the Cape
OF Good Hope and the Straits Of Malacca, with
general instructions to trade thence to Australia
and await further advices in Melbourne. She
sailed ON May ]. On the ID Of October Capt. Ma
chem anchored inside of lIainan Straits to get
out Of typhoons edge. He could not trust the
old tub. Night came. and before morning Capt
MhCheu
" fishermen of Lien-Chow, who tied the captain
and his crew and put them aboard Iorcha-
while the cargo of the sally Ann was discharged
with unsurpassed CELEBRITY into half dozen
tunks The iunks sailed up the coast. and the
Of Ionauin. The last thing Captain Machem
saw was the sally Ann burning serenely from
He and his men were set ashore at the mouth
OF the ron9uin, whence the, made their way
safely TO Hue-foo, and 50 finally home. The
OF lattesn. They carefully avoided Canton.
swallow. Annoy, Shanghai and all OF the other
20 trade OF a hne cargo Of assorted Yankee
goods bought In Shanghai and Annoy, and elab-
orately free from all taints of PIRACY portion ~
these goods, breaking bulk at Sioo-Chow, were
taken in smaller craft mp the we-Ho, and at
Seen-ghan were sold to a trader making up a
caravan To eros, the mountains to Tao-choo-
ting, and thence 10y ChA-chow to Bokhsra and
kashgar; Among other articles, the trader
cards shipped by the pious Mr.. Doolittle. When
asked what he meant to do with them, this sim
to the Usbegs Tor books Of American magic
And this Is how Mr.. Dooiittles venture for the
Southern market was disposed Of.
AN ORNAMENT To VIRGINIA SOCIETY.
While this trader with his brick tea and his
books Of Yankee magic was approaching Chinese
Turk estan from the East, the thread OF mystic
rious destiny was drawing Mr.. Travis Minor
Mr. Travis Minor, at the moment Of which we
are writing, was about forty years old, bach
elor and pretty well kept, In spite Of some
pretty bad keeping. lie was native Of Eau
quer, and All !: +. V. You might know that by
ornament 10 Virginia society. ON the contrary,
lac was such a bad lot, such all ncOrrigibly black
sheep, that Virginia society, tolerant AS 1t used
him over. not to say kicked him out, and he
lived by scaNengering around among the offal. In
h H. was pS anu 10, t"So one A.
repute took a hand at three-oard monte and
sweat and was professionally under tho odious
suspicion OF being check -charmer." He had
fallen naturally, but rapidly. He came early TO
the heritage Of mofteaeed plantation and
some likely negroes spent year or two and
winter In Richmond and one In Washington. A
short season at faro soon finished him.
He was good horseman, however n capital
jockey, and knew as much about horse a. any
man lthe had only had little more pluck the
to redeem himself. but he threw this chance
AVA, away when he declined to enlist In iaylors
h" the 81 aSk Of Sse gHvs For awhile IN
boys, they were flush, wild, played much. and
Travis won from them galore. But he won too
much; he did not belong to the army, and one
night, after lie had got saw ahead Of a captain
conmissary, a cold deck" was shaken out Of his
sleeve, and he was given the option Of enlsting
next day IN an infantry regiment on the way to
iarpers Ferry or OF leaving. lie took "A good
horse and left, He rode into Washington next
week and sold his horse to captain OF volun-
teers early ON the field, and next night intro
duced the captain to "A faro bank.
In the course OF month or six weeks Mr.
Travis Minor was "ahead Of the game" about
S2UU. lie now took partner, started a bank,
and had detachment Of "cappers' and
"ropers' OF his own The low style Of his am
bition, however, speedily brought him 10 grief
again. lie confined himself TO a "skin" game
as the most profitable. and To private soldiers as
the best victims. one night soldier, brought
dragged into his place. aft er losing all his money
fell asleep, and could not be wax ed up again In
fact, he was dead. Mr. Travis Minor hastily
thrust his yaluahles into his pocket and went to
New York, while the District police pulled"
the place reward was offered for Minor and
one OF kennedy's detectives soon found him.
Minor however, divided his estate with the
oticer who took two-thirds and saw him safely
aboard "A steamer bound for Liverpool.
NIX. MINOR AND THE BRITISH ARIsToCRAcY
A month later Mr., Travis Minor was In London,
without penny in his pockets. The English
sharps were sharper than he. Necessity, how
ever quckened his invention, and distance from
home made him boldeT. The role Of southern
refugee was fresh, and just In his line, and he
went to the Newmarket October "meeting,"
under tho distinguished patronage of a very
young pigeon, Lord Dacre- kilcOurcy, son Of the