The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
A Daring Messenger.
How Ex-Secretary Bristow Circum-
vented the Express Comnanies.

y special dispatch from Washing
ton to the Cincinnati Commercial SAYS:
Very few people know the inside his
tory OF Brlstow's fight with the eX-
press companies when he was secreta-
ry of the treasury. The express COM
panies made what Mr.. Bristow
thought were eXorbitant charges for
carrying currency to the treasury. He
told the companies that lower rate
must be conceded or he would take
the business away from them. The
companies were defiant. At that time
hundreds of thousands of dollars were
being shipped daily. The express
companies offered the only secure way
for the carrying of these great sums.
and so they charged accordingly,
being certain, as matters then stood,
that the secretary could not get along
without them. Suddenly the express
people were notified that Mr.. Bristow
had made arrangements for carrying
this currency, and that they could not
have the business unless they came TO
his terms. For several weeks the cur
rency was transmitted to New York
IN the most mysterious way. Only
Mr.. Bristow, his contidant in the
treasury and the sub-treasurer in New
\ ork knew the way the work was
done. The express companies held
aloof upon the belief that Bris-
tow would not dare to continue
to assume the personal responsibility
for the safety of the carrying of these
great sums. But as the work went
on undisturbed for several weeks
without loss or public scandal. the
companies finanally relented and were
glad to make new contracts for what
Bristow was able to pay them. This
is the way the express companies
were circumvented. The secretary
selected special trusty agent of the
treasury who simply put the currency
in Villise and went over to New
York as an ordinary passenger on the
night train. Thomas Cavanaugh, the
deputy sergeant-at-arms under the
gallant Col. Hooker in the house, was
the special agent selected for this
work. He is a tall. broad-shouldered,
deep-chested, manipulating specimen
of humanity. His square, resolute,
sun-browned face is accentuated by "A
crisp, curling moustache, complete
ly hiding his mouth. His straight
nose, clear blue eyes and square
jaws stand out in face remarkable
for its combination of good nature
and iron resolution. Mr.. Cavanaugh
used to set out from the Office of the
secretary of the treasury after night
with valise simply stuffed with gov
eminent currency. One night he had
in his bag $750,000 in greenbacks.
Every dollar ever entrusted to him
was safely carried. Not penny was
ever lost. His pay from the treasury
was his regular one, So per day and
his travelling expenses. He gave no
bonds for this work, as the law recog-
nized no such way of carrying such
funds The secretary had absolutely
no protection beyond Cavanaugh's in
dividual honor. If he had run
away with an odd million at
any time he could not have been
prosecuted for more than a
breach of trust. In the carrying of
this money, Cavanaugh carried more
than his life in his hands. If it were
even suspected that he was carrying
such sums over in a section of a New
York sleeper, as an ordinary passen-
ger, he would certainly have been at
tackled. If he had been robbed
nothing but his death in defending
his trust could have saved him from
the scandal of being classed 10y many
as guilty participant in the robbery.
Toward the last Cavanaugh became
very nervous. He used to start out
with his money in one hand and re-
volver in another hidden in the pocket
of his great-coat. A close coupe took
him down heavenue. In the sleeping
car, toward the last, he slept but
little. Some one was always reaching
across his gashed throat for the money
placed in his trust. 1t was great re-
lief when this dreadful responsibility
came to an end and he was able to go
back to his ordinary duties. To-day
Cavanaugh is again carrying govern
ment money. He is the official who
takes from the treasury the money
needed in the business Office of the
sergeant-at-arms, where the members
are paid. Bank cashiers and men in
high rust could find much to learn in
the rugged, unassuming integrity of
Thomas Cavenaugh.