Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-08
sEwARD'S BLUFF.
One of the War-Times Stories Told in
President Arthur's Car on the Recent
Trip to Louisville
er-JoaorndE.


least-are proverbiallY good story-telIers,
and none tell better stories than Ken
tucky politicians. All the Cabinet off
GERS tell excellent stories, Lincoln espe-
clally. He seems to have inherited it.
But about the test story that was told on
the Whole trip was one of Colouel John
Mason Browns. 1t was not a humorous
story, but relates to a bit of secret war
history that is exceedingly interesting.
1t is vOuched for by Colonel Brown. The
story runs as follows:
1t may be remembered that about 1860
ana 1861, just as the great rebellion was
Delng lnaugurated, there was great talk
OF tne scarcity of ammunition on the Un-
ION side. 1t was we'll known that the
war would be a Titantic struggle. the
Wrestle OF giants, and. the materials of
war were not so plentiful as was neces-
sary. One day the brother OF Mr.. Bede-
mont Dufont, VINO now runs great gun
powder mandatory in Delaware. re-
ceived message from Mr.. Seward. the
Minister OF w ar, to come immediately to
ashlngtOn. The message was urgent
the time critical and Mr.. DUPONT knew
that 1t must be grave matter; he hur-
rIed ON to Washington, and Mr.. Seward
held a conversation with him Immediate
ly after he reached the city.
You know how tight we are for arti-
cles OF war;" began the great minister:
Now L want you to start Immediately
Tor England and buy up all the saltpetre
In the European market. The govern
ment has implicit confidence 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 off to New York
and caught the first Liverpool steamer.
When he arrived in England. he went to
the banking house of Brown, ShipIey &
Co.. WITH whom he transacted all his
business: He told them his object in
coming there, and asked them to advance
him $4,000, 900. The head of the firm was
most polite; he bowed to the ground,
he smiled and rubbed his hand, 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 see George Peabody, the
millionaire banker. Peabody listened to
him with profound attention, interrupting
now ana then with shrewd question.
At length he said:
''If you will guarantee that the gold
will come over by the next steamer will
advance you the money"
Mr.. DUPONT Immediately started out
ana bought up every pound Of saltpetre
In the market. He chartered a steamer.
hired crew and began loading it. He
was just under good headway when sud-
denly an order came from the Foreign
Office: Lord Palmerst0n forbids the shin
ping OF the saltpetre." Mr.. DUPONT was
Gum bounded, and hurried around to the
PremIer's office. Lord PalmerstOn was
polite and atfable, bnt firm. 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 Palmer
ston was courteous but obstinate. Mr..
DUPONT at once set out for home. leaving
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.v
SAID Mr. seward, 1--WE must play the bluff
game for all that it's worth, Give these
letters to Lord Palmerston and this omen
letter to our Minister, Mr.. Adams" Mr..
Du POnt returned to London. he sent his
card to PalmerstOn. The servant said he
was engaged. Mr.. Dupont pushed by
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
saltpetre matter. Well. sir. / am sorry
to say that the government has seen no
cause to change its OpiniOn.u
Mr.. DUPONT handed the letters of Mr..
Seward-letterS of explanation and iden-
tihcatlon. They seemed to have no effect.
"Mr. Seward has written this open letter
to our Minister. l suppose [ am at lib
erty to read 1t to you," and Mr.. DUPONT
slowly read the letter:
10 -Hr. adams: On Lord Palmerston's
refusing to let the saltpetre go, you are
ordered to leave England instantly, with
out presenting your respects to Her Ma
Jesty's Government; return to Washing
ton, when war will Immediately be de-
clared against England"
Without waiting for the dumbfounded
Premier to recover from his surprise. Mr..
DUPONT bid him polite adieu and left.
He drove to his hotel and ordered his
breakfast. While he was eating in came
a lIverled and powdered footman, saying:
MY Lord PalmerstOn is at the door. wait
ing TO see you in his carriage" The hall
was full of men, who were all agog at
once, wondering what dignitary this could
be. Mr. DUPONT quietly replied "Tell
MS L0rdS1p L am eating my breakfast.
and l will see him as soon as | have
finished"
a buzz went around the room. 'eWho
was this blasted American who dared to
make England's Prime Minister wait?''
But MIR. DUPONT was playing a bluff
game, and he played it for all it was
worth. He was nearly through his din
ner, but took another bottle of wine to
keep PalmerstOn waiting. Presently he
sent out note, teilingthe great English
man he was ready to see him. Palmers-
ton came in and said:
Mr.. DUPONT, the government has
its mind. You can ship your
saltpetre. Come up to the Foreign Office
tomorrow and get an ORDER"
Il want an order right now.r 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
under way for New York.
hr. DUPONT picked up the Times the
next morning. 1t had been recommend-
ing that the saltpetre be detained all
along, but there, in the first column, was
an editorial faVoring its being allowed to
go. MIR. DUPONT went down to Brown,
Shipley d Co. They had heard of the
vessel being detained; in fact, everybody
was talking about it.
Il am sorry you can't get your stuff
off," said MIR. Shipley, stuffy old man,
subject to fits.
'But / have gotten it off," said Mr.. Du-
Pont.
The old fellow stared at him incredu-
fously. ''Where did you get your au-
thority?'
''FrOm Lord Palmerton; he wrote the
order himself" This was too much. The
old fellow rolled over on his chair in a
paroXysm of laughter. His clerks. think
ing he had fit, emptied bucket of ice
water on him before they discovered their
The matter was then explained
and the old man was Iond
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 a great
Zeal to do with getting YOU this honor.
IL wants little consideration: saw about
t9OO." Mr.. DUPONT knew how much the
lneeS had to do with it, and answered
that there would be a number of fees for
the use of the dock and the paying of his
hands and all that; if Mr.. Sanderson
could get that money he might have it.
NO bills were ever sent to Mr.. DUPONT, |
and week later he was shaking hands |
with Seward, and they were laughing to-
gether over the success of their bluff game, |
A TeI-el-Kebir Hero.
Ligerpool Mercury.
The Queen lately decorated Private