The New York herald., 1876-03-16
THE PSF SUTLERSHlPS.
A Fort Sill Trader on the Contract
with Marsh & Co.
A FUND FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES
Futile Efforts to Get Rid Of
the EXtortion.
A SCANDAL GENERALLY KNOWN.
An Appeal to a Member Of the
Presidents Family.
INDIGNATION or ARMY OFFICERS.

/
hitherto refused to extend any Information concerning
the affairs OF the nrm until he should so before the
Congressional Committee, to-day placed the HERALD
correspondent In possession of important facts.
Colonel Fisher is Kentnckan. but during the war
was In the Union army Since the war be has been in
the banking business and is now Vice President OF the
Security Bank OF this city He Joined Evans In the from
tier trading business about six Evans spends
most of his time the post LOOKING after the active
business while Fisher attends TO purchases aud ship
rnents here In the tall OF 1870 when understood
that Secretary Beknap would exercise his privilege
conferred by the July, 1870 of appointing post
trader Evans with such recommendations as he could
obtain, went on to Washington to apply for the posi-
tion. He found upon his arrival that Caieb T. Marsh
had obtained the control OF the place. and was forced
to make terms with him, in contract to pay at the
rate of 81 900 month"; in quarterly payments, for the
/ privilege OF continuing the trade
SITUATION
s'The situation was like this, said Colonel Fisher
ave had all money invested In the stock of goods
and the trading buildings at Fort Sill, and there We
were 500 miles IRON the railroad We had TO make
terms with Marsh or face ruin These payments
made regularly until February 1872, when went TO
New YORK to Marsh. The military reservation at
Fort sill Is shaped peculiarly Instead of being square
It Is mile and half wide and three miles and half
long. All around IL is the Kiowa and Comanche res
ervation. There tho Interior Department permitted
q trader to establish himself and the shape Of the
reservation permitted HIM get very us, much
so that We with tribute to Marsh, couldn't stand
the competition. The trader the Indian
tion at first Matheson and then L. B. Smith.
went TO Marsh who very still about It at FIRST He
repeatedly said the money
POLITICAL PURPOSES,
that he didn't get 1t himself and that 1t couldn't be
Fin lv fold m ra aba On that trad
1t worth nothing TO us, and, further, that would
have published my statement right there New York,
giving complete history Of the whole transaction He
to terms then, after good deal OF trouble and
the payments reduced to SO, 900 year. payable
semi annually"
"Did you know what became OF tho money after it
passed into Marsh's hands?"
''We never knew anything more than that Marsh
told ls it was Tor political purposes We knew he
was thick with the officials at washngton but that
Belknap received the money much news to
as anybody when the statement OF Marsh appeared
in the papers. The officers at the post knew that
were paying this tribute, and all declared outrage
We made secret Of 1t and always protested against
It, Efforts made directly and indirectly to ex-
pose the extortion."
Il, was known to tho authorities in Washing ,on,
them"
"Beyond all doubt, and on very different authority
than that OF Robinson Armes. Early n 1872 just
before my visit to Marsh General Hazen, at Fort SILL
was put in possession of the facts, and even shown
the contract He wrote letter to Washington, In
which he used this anguagc:-
"'I have read the contract between j. s. Evans Fort
Sill trader, and c. r. or C. T. Marsh, of No ,s67
1857 Broadway, New York, office of Herter Bros,
whereby J. s Evans is required pay said c. p or O.
f. Marsh the OF s12 900 per year quarterly In ad
vance for the exclusive privilege of trading on this
military reservation | am correctly informed that
ma af fha naVv
law went into force aud paid to include some
time in February next The tax here amounts near
$40 each selling day. which must, necessarily, be paid
almost entirely by the command, and you readily
that prices OF such goods we are PEELED 10
buy must be grievousy augmented thereby. Marsh,
the nominal trader at Fort SILL understood to be
special friend OF the Secretary OF War This friendship
II appears enables him to hive at his New York
an income OF SlS 900 year, which Is cxtortcd from
the soldiers and officers at the posts by the actual
traders to whom he farms out the privilege the Secre-
tary has given him.
THAT" continued Colonel Fisher, ''was tho exact
status then. 1t from General Hazen, and it was
published early In February 1872 just before saw
Marsh"
"Afer the reduction to SO, 600 year any attempt
at exposure made-snything more rccents"
Eyes myself went 10 General Grerson and told
him OF tho cxtortous practised upon wanted IL
put stop TO- Grcrson listened the whole tnsiness
very attentively lie seemed TO hardly know
what was best to be done. Finally he wanted me
I
that form he said he could push it. This wasn't done
We willing TO go into exposure II there
certainty that it would be pushed through but for US
to put ourselves forward accusers, without any
surety Of support was rIskng too much"
PRESIDENTS KNOWLEDGE
"Dd you ever take any steps 10 bring this matter to
the attention of tho President personality"
'l went this far-to talk 1t all with Colonel
John C. Dent, tho brother Of Mrs. Grant, having in
view the placing Of the information before the Prcsi-
dent Colonel Dent is a neighbor of minc Washing.
avenuc-that is his family live here, but he spends
most OF his time at Fort Union in New Mexico. He is
the post trader there but pays no tribute. told him
all about our relations with Marsh. We had several
conversations the subject he would say IL was
very dicult matter, and he hardly knew what ought
to be done. Once he suggested that upon OF the
Presidents visits here no would have him at his
house, where should meet him. and the whole matter
should be talked over. Colonel Dent saying, sure
! he will make 1t all right This opportunity, however
never occurred. Dent pays tribute for his post
4 Fort Union"
Colonel Fisher further stated that he had gone to
District Attorney Dyer and voluntarily informed him
OF his Willingness TO so to Washington and testify be-
fore the Congressional committee whenever wanted.
He has several letters from Marsh regarding the pay
menls OF tho money in which the latter assumes an
oneEsive and dictatorial tone, commanding Evans L
Co. send certain exchange In OF these letters
Marsh demands the immediate payment OF s., 500
due adding throat that unless this is done there
! will be trouble for you soon"
GENERAL sruRcEs' STATEMENT
/ General Sturges, commandant at the Arsenal and
until within year two past stationed the non
tier, said to the HERALD correspondent
| am not willing to express opinion in regard to
Bclknaps guilt prefer waiting until he presents his
side OF the case. There may be iacts connected with
the affair that will relieve him OF the disgrace
90 not believe In denouncing and damning man un-
heard. Il Is true appearances all against HIM,
but stll, | say, give him chance Ho
claims TO be able 10 exonerate himself and
will not join In hue and cry against man under
these circumstances IT, after he is Afforded oppor-
tunty TO clear himself he fails 70 do So am IN favor