The Portland daily press., 1883-09-13
Stewards Bluff.
One of the Wartime Stories Told in Pres
ident Arthu'rs Car on the Recent Trip
to Louisville, Which Must Be Taken in
Dead Earnest.
TLouisYille courier..Ionrual.l

to Louisville, Which Must Be Taken in
Dead Earnest.
louisville Courier-JournRl1
Some good stories were told on the train
that bore President Arthur to this city. Pol
iticians-American politicians, at least--are
proverbialy good story-tellers, and none tell
better stories than Kentucky politicians. All
the cabinet officers tell excellent stories,
Lincoln especially. He seems to have in
herited it. But the best story that was told
on the whole trip was one of Col. John Ma
son Browns. 1t was not a humorous story,
but relates to bit of secret war history that
is exceedingly interesting. 1t is vouched
for by COL Brown. The story runs as fol-
lows:
1t may be remembered that about 1860
and 1861, just as the great rebellion was be-
Ing inauguraIed, there was great talk Of the
scarcity of ammunition on the Union side.
1t was well known that the war would be a
Titanic struggle, the wrestle of giants, and
the materials of war were not so plentiful as
was necessary. One day the brother of Mr..
Bedemont DUPONT, who now runs a great
gnnpowder manofactory in Delaware, re-
ceiyed message from Mr.. Seward to come
Immediately to Washington. The message
was urgent, the time critical and Mr.. Du-
Pont knew it must be grave matter. He
hurried on to Washington and Mr.. Seward
held conversation with him Immediately
after he reached the city.
"You know how tight we are for articles
of war;" began the great minister; 'snow
want you to start Immediately for England
and buy up all the saltpetre in the European
market. The government has implicit con-
fidence in you. We know your knowledge
of saltpetre, and that you are able to buy
better and cheaper than any agent we could
send. Buy everything up-the gold will
follow you on the next steamer"
Mr.. DUPONT hurried of to New York an
caught the first Liverpool steamer. When
he arrived in England, he went to the bank
ing house of Brown, Shipley & Co., with
whom he transacted all his business. He
told them his object in coming there, and
asked them to advance him s., 800 900. The
head of the firm was most polite; he bowed
TO the ground, he smiled and rubbed his
hands, but really the sum was so large and
really they could not afford to give it. They
would like the best in the world to oblige
Mr.. DUPONT, but, ETC., etc. Mr.. Dupont
failed to get the money. He posted over to
Peabody listened to him with profound at
tention, interrupting now and then with a
shrewd question. At length he said:
IF you will guarantee that the gold will
come over by the next steamer / will ad-
vance you the money"
MrDuPont Immediately started out and
bought up every pound of saltpetre in the
market. He chartered steamer, hired q
crew and began loading it. He was Just
under good headway when suddenly an or
der came from the foreign Office: "Lord
Palmerston forbids the shipping of the salt
petre." Mr.. DUPONT was dumbfounded.
and hurried around to the premier's office.
Lord Palmerston was polite and affable, but
1rm. They were munitions of war; they
couldn't be shipped. 1t was in vain that
Mr.. DUPONT showed his letters; In vain that
he told it was for his government. Lord
PalmerSon was courteous but obstinate.
Mr.. DUPONT at once set out for home, leav-
ing orders with his men to watch the salt
petre. He hastened to see Seward and told
him ALL
''There is only one way to do this thing,''
said Mr.. Seward; ''we must play the bluff
game for all that it's worth. Give these
letters to Lord Palmerston and this open
letter to our minister, Mr. Adams.o Mr.,
DUPONT returned to London; he sent his
card to Lord Palmerston. The servant said
Sh6uSOos
the servant an unheard-of thing and
marched into where the premier sat, up to
his eyes in papers.
"Ah, Mr.. DUPONT, am delighted to see
you, sir" said the politest of politicians.
You have doubtless come about that salt
petre matter. Well, sir, I am sorry to say
that the government has seen no cause to
change its opinion"
Mr. DUPONT handed the letters of Mr..
Seward-letters of explanation and identif-
cation. They seemed to have no effect.
ssMr. Seward has written this open letter
to our minister. suppose am at liberty
to read it to you?" and Mr.. DUPONT slowly
read the letter.
To Mr.. Adams-0n Lord Palmerston's refusing
to let the saltpetre go, you are ordered to leave
ata England instantly s without presenting your re-
washington, when war will Immediately be declared
against England.
Without waiting for the dumbfounded
premier to recover from his surprise Mr.. Du-
Pont bade him polite adieu and left. He
drove to his hotel and ordered breakfast.
While he was eating in came liveried and
powdered footman, saying: sMy Lord
Palmerston is at the door, waiting to see
you in his carriage" The hall was full of
me7, who were all agog at once, wondering
what dignity this could be. Mr.. DUPONT
quietly replied: "Tell his lordship am eat
ing my breakfast, and will see him as soon
as | have finished.o
A buzz went around the room. "Who
was this blasted American whs dared to
make England's prime minister wait2' But
Mr. DUPONT was playing bluff game, and
he played it for all it was worth. He was
nearly through his dinner, but took another
bottle OF wine to keep ~ almerston waiting.
Presently he sent out a note, telling the
great Englishman he was ready to see him.
Palmerston came in and said:
"Mr. DUPONT the government has changed
its mind. You can ship your saltpetre.
Come up to the foreign office tomorrow and
get an order"
81 want an order right now," and down
sat the premier at the breakfast table and
wrote the order. That night the packing
began, and the next day the vessel was un-
der way for New York.
Mr.. DUPONT picked up the Times the next
morning. 1t had been recommending that
the saltpetre be detained all along, bat there,
in the first column, was an editorial favoring
its being allowed 10 CO. Mr.. DUPONT went
down to Brown, Shipley & Co. They had
heard of the vessel being detained; in fact,
everybody was talking about it.
81 am sorry you can't get your stuff off,"
said Mr.. Shipley, sturdy old man, subject
to fits.
"But have gotten it Of" said Mr.. Du-
Pont.
The old fellow stared at him incredulous-
ly. 'sWhere did you get your authority?"
"From Lord Palmerston; he wrote the or
der himself" This was too much. The old
fellow rolled over on his chair in a paroxysm
OF laughter. His clerks, thinking he had a
fit, emptied buc ket of ice-water on him be-
fore they discovered their mistake. The
matter was then explained, and the old man
was loud in his expressions of surprise.
While they were talking Sanderson of the
Times came in. He turned to Mr.. Dupont
and said: "The Times has had great deal
to do with getting you this honor. 1t wants
a little consideration say about $500" Mr..
DUPONT knew how much the Times had to
do with it and answered that there would
be number of fees for the use of the dock
and the paying of his hands and all that; If
Mr.. Sanderson could get the money he
might have it. No bills were ever sent to
Mr.. DUPONT, and week later he was shak-
ing hands with Seward, and they were