Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-12-21
BUSTED By
How The Secretary Beat the Express Companies
and the Nan Who Was Ills Chief
ARaiainnf

Washington Cor: The Sunday Herald
print s. the following bit of inside
history "Nery few people know the
inside history of Bristow's fight with
the express companies when he was
secretary of the treasury. The express
companies made what Mr.. Brlstow
thought were exorbitant charges for
carrying currency to the great distribut-
ing points Of the New York Sub~.treasury
He told the companies that II low rate
must be conceded or he would take the
business away from them. The COM
panies were defiant. At times 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 mott
fed that Mr.. Bristow had made arrange
ments for carrying this currency. 1t
was transmitted to New York in the
most mysterious way. Only Mr.. Bris-
tow, his coniidant in the treasury and
the Sub-Ireasurer in New York knew
the way the work was done. The eV-
press companies held aloof in the belief
that Bristow would not dare to con-
tinue to assume the personal response
bility 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 finally 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
a trusty special agent of the treasury,
who simply put the currency in a va
Use and went over TO New York as an
ordinary passenger on the night train.
Thomas Cayanagh the deputy sergeant
alarms under the gallant Col. Hooker
IN the House, was the special selected
for the work. He is n tall, broad
shouldered, d~eep-chestcd, manly-look-
ing specimen of humanity. His square,
resolute, s~unbrowned face is accentuat-
cd by Il crisp, curling moustache, COM
pletely hiding his mouth. His straight
nose, clear blue eyes and square Jaws
stand out in a face remarkable for its
combination of good nature and iron
resolution. Cavanagh used to set out
from the Office of the Secretary Of the
Treasury, after night, with q yalise
simply stuffed with goyernmentcurrency
One night he had in his bag $780, 600
in greenbacks. Every dollar entrusted
70 him was safely carried. Not Il penny
ever was lost. His pay from the treas
ury was his regular one, IS a day and
his travelling expenses. He gave no
bonds for this work, as the law recog-
nized nc such way of carrying the fund
The Secretary had absolutely no protec-
ton beyond Cavanah's individual honor.
If he had run away with an odd mill
Lion at any time he could not have been
prosecuted for more than a breach of
trust. In the carrying of this money
Cayanagh carried more than his life in
his hands. Ii it were even suspected
that he was carrying such sums in a
section OF a New York sleeper as an
ordinary passenger, he would certainly
have been attacked. If he had been
robbed nothing but his death in defend
ing his trust could have saved him from
the scandal OF beng classed by many
as 4 guilty participant in the robbery.
Towards the last Cayanagh became
very nervous, lie used to start out with
his money ID one hand and q revolver
ia another, hidden in the pocket Of his
great coat. A close coupe took him
down the avenue. In the sleeping-car,
toward the last, lie slept but little.
Some one vas always reaching across
his gashed throat for the money placed
ia his trust. 1t was a great relief when
this dreadful responsibility came to an
end ana he was able to 90 back to his
ordinary duties. To-day Cayanagh is
again carrying government money. He
IS the official who takes from the treas
ury the money needed in the business
office OF the Sergcantat-Arms, where
the members are paid. Bank cashiers
and men in.hi9h trust could find much
tolearn in the rugged, u~uassuming IN
tegrity of Thomas Cayanagh."