Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-12-07

KIM OF IurS. he did so. The prospect
Of the trip was uncertain, and to ecOno-
mize as much as possible, he went out as
D Storage passenger,
When he reached London, he found a
market for his choice furs. and sold them
at very high rate. He made list out
Of such goods as he thought would make
by being taken to the New York
market, purchased and shipped them on
vessel bound hither. After he was
all through. with his business, he
was detained acouple of weeks by
the ship not beingready to sail.
The idle time he spent in looking
about London. and up all the in
possible, especially gsuch as
was likely to advantage his business in
New York. Among other extraordinary
places he visited was the East India
House. He visited the warehouse and
offices. On one occasion he asked one of
the porters what the name of the Cover
nor was? The man replied, giving a
German name very familiar to Mr.. AS
tor. He asked the informer If the Gov
ernor was an Englishman He replied
that he had come from Germany origin
ally when a boy. Mr.. Astor determined
to see him-watched an opportunity,
and sent in his name. He was admitted.
When he entered he said to the Cover
nor:
is your name not Wilhelm? Did
you not 90 to school in such town ?"-
II did, and now remember you very
we'll. Your name is Astor? 2"
After this they hal long chat and talk
ed over school matters. The Governor in
sisted that ne should dine with him. He
n Il, T. h..
met again. He asked MIR. AstOr several
times il there was nothing he do could for
him. He asked what present would be
acceptable? AstOr declined any, Fin
ally, they met two days before the ves-
sell was to sail, and again the Governor
asked AstOr if he would accept any pres
ent he made him ? Mr.. AstOr, seeing the
Governor so anxious, said:
"Yes."
When he called to bid tho Governor
good bye, the latter was really affected
at parting with his old German school
mate.
"rake these" he said .you may find
their value" One Of the documents
was simply Canton price current.
The other was carefully embossed
permit on parchment, authorizing the
snip OOi IL W ~ duCilCC dbu WIN
ont any molestaIion. at any of the ports
monopolized by the East India Com
pany.
MIR. Aston babe his friend good bye,
and returned to this city. never giving
the present second thought. He had
no ships, and never had any trade with
the East Indies, and never expected to
have. lie little dreamed that i'm the
N rpI I, tvnttl6 ho tn.tnfl fnnn1a-
ton OF vast shipping operations, and q
trade amounting to millions, and embrac-
ing the Pacific Ocean. The permit was
No. GO.
When Mr.. Astor got home, he showed
these documents TOMS wife, aud advised
with her, as he always did, what to dc
in the matter.
81 have no ships-its no use to us,
he said. At the time, there wac a very
celebrated merchant named James Liver.
more. lie was largely engaged in the
West India trade, particularly to JANA
Gil. He owned vessels-sOme of good
size.
Mrs, Aston recommended her husband
| TO 20 and have a talk with the merchant
MIR. Astor went-showed the East In.
lila Company ship-pass aud the Canton
price current.
Now said he. '.If you will make up q
voyage tor me of your lightest ships. you
can have the pass and the prices current
Oh one condition. You are to furnish
ship and cargo anG | am to have one
half the profits for my pass and for sug.
costing the voyage"
''PalI, Pah," SAID the great West India
merchant. He laughed at it-would mol
listen to sucn one -sided operation. AS
tor went home and reported progress
For time. the matter WAS dropped. Not
many weeks alter the great West Indis
merchant thought over the matter. He
had made money in the West Indi;
trade, and he saw an opening tor the
West Indies.
AT that time no vessel traded to Can
ton, 1t Was just after the Revolution
AIRY war, and the East India ports were
as Dramatically sealed to American com
merce as ifIt never existed.
He called at Mr.. Astor's store. severe
You in earnest the other day when yor
showed me the pass OF the East Indil
Company 2"
Il was. Never more So" Again they
talked over the matter. The merchant
finally thought he saw his way clear, and
AN agreement was signed, agreeing tc
give Mr.. AstOr one half OF the result OIL
profits. He to have no outlay.
The ship Was selected and loaded. part.
| ly with specie-Spanish and milled dol
lars, about $4,000, and the other hall
was Ginseng, lead and scrap iron. 4
She went TO Canton. The, pass ell
abled her to anchor at Whampoa, few
miles from Canton, where she loaded aud
unloaded her cargo, the same as if she
had been vessel belonging to, the East
India Company.
Here ginseng. costing 20 cents per
pound in New York, she sold for So 30
per pound in Canton, Lead ten cents. scrap
iron at All enormous price. Tea was
purchased that sold here at 81 per pound
profit on the Canton COST.
When the return cargo was sold, the
accounts made out, and Mr.. Astor's half
share, which was $4,000 all in silver,
was packed in barrels, and sent up to
his store.
When Mrs. Astor saw the barrels, she
asked what was i'm them.
'The fruitsOt our East India pass"
replied the husband. lie went to the
ship-owner and got back his pass. He
then bought a ship, and loaded her with
an assorted cargo. On her way out she
touched at the Sandwich Islands to take
in water and fresh provisions. They also
laid in large stock of firewOod.
When tue ship reached Canton man
daran came OH board, and noticing their
firewoOd. asked the price OF it at once.
The captain laughed at such question,
but signitied that he was open for sn Oh