The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-04-15

the Peruvian Government came to
naught. Here the matter rested until 4
year or two ago when some American
speculaton purchased from Cochet's son
the claim which he inherited from biz
father, who died some years ago. Up to
! that time the matter WAS purely private
one and devoid of public interest. But
eince the claim has fallen into the hands
of its present owners and manipulat0rs
It has through the schemes of its enter
prising friends been forced into public
notice. Indeed, 1t has now become of ma
tional importance aud committee Of
investigation composed of members of
the lower house Of Congress is now ut
work in an endeavor to get 1T the bot
tom facts Of the case. This seems to b
necessary - it is charged that some Of
the former and present high officials of
this Government are interested in the
claim, and that through their acts the
Government itself has been compro-
missed to some extent.
1t appears that when the American
speculators obtained possession Of the
claim they procured the services Of MI.
Jacob r. Shiphcrl. who until quite ~
Gently, was an unknown New York pet
tifogger. Shipherd, it is said, 10 .
shrewd, unprincipled man, possessed of
unboundcd cheek aud prolific Of doubt
full expetlients when certain end IL to he
gained. The claim was rated ut one bill
lion dollars and with this immense viz
sionary capital behind him he
went to work. He commenced
BY preparing. voluminous state
ments setting forth the histo-
~ If the claims. These he Transmitted
with importunatc regularity to Presi-
dent Garfield, by whom they were re-
ferred to the State Department. OF
course the question Of the appointment
of the new ministers to South America
was matter Of the utmost importance
to 6hipherd and as soon as he learned
that Mr.. Hurlbut had received the APP
pointment to Peru and Mr.. Fitzpatrick
to Chill, he set to work to enlist those
gentlemen 10 his interests. According
to his own statements Mr.. Hurlbut as
sured him that the President regarded
the claim as being perfect in law and
equity, and that it would receive the
full support Of the American Govern
ment. He afterward informed Mr..
Hurlbut, by letter, that $25o,OOO Of the
pool stock of the Peruvian Company
would he reserved for himself and his
friends. 1t does not appear that this Of
fer Of direct brine was either accepted
or rejected by Mr.. Huribut. AS re-
suit Of this exposure, however, Mr..
Hurlbut resigned his position, and it Is
died upon the eve Of his de-
parture for his home.
But General Hmrlbut is l,y no means
the only person who Is said to have fal. !
len into the net ~ skillfully prepared
~ Shipherd. The attorneys little let
ter M,ok reveals the names Of ex-Sena- !
tor Boutwell,, Senator Blair and Collect !
or Robertson as persons who have taken |
m interest in the scheme. How far
these gentlemen are implicated in it, or
they arc implicated at all, cam
not he fully determined until further cv- /
idence IL obtained before the Invcstigat-
ing Committee. Shipher,l inti,natcs
hat there are still others who are con-
,ernetl in tire claim and looks wise and !;
mystel iotlsly winks when the names of
,Onie very prominent men are men,
Toned. Shipherd undergocs the rigid
before the Committee
without nlanifesting the slightest unea-
illness, tells what it pleases him to tell,
md refuses to tell what lie docs not
want his interlocutors to know. The
silent partners i'm the grand billion dol
ar claim do not appear upon the fore
ground. Shiphertl has done the busi-
less for the company, directed, no
l0ubt, by wiser heads behind the scenes.
He is simply the figure head of the
,ranslCst swin(lle ever attempted upon
! nation. Tlloee Peruvian guano beds
re estimated to Ike worth $jO,OOO, 900
ear to that government. Chilli las enter
Il claim Upon them to idemnlfy her
eli for expenses incurred in the recent
var with her defeated neighbor. Amer
can spectators claim, portion Of them
y virtue "f purchase frMA lawful own
~. The whole matter Of the claim is ,
u mudtlle. The United States have
zen drawn into it, and if the reputa- ,
ions Of some prominent men are not
ably snlirchetl before the claim is final
, settled it will Ike because Mr.. Ship
erd sees fit to keep his mouth closed
then certain questions are asked him. ! 1
will he y long time before we hear the ,
vt Of the billion dollar claim.
HON. I. D. NUUTCHEON. I