The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-30

s5gu cyrus Field mas ....,.-
raise part Of this, and Gen. Sherman has
gone on to Philadelphia and Washington &c
interest gentlemen there 10 raise tue bal
ance.
Hamilton Fish has been appealed to, at
Cyrus FiGd's suggestion, TO prepare a SUBJ
scription fist for a fund to meet
Gen. U S. Grants debt to William
Fl. Vanderbilt. Mr. Field said that
there would be no difficulty in raising the
800, 900 Mr. Field said: "Mr. Childs, Mr..
Seiigfnan, Mr.. Drexel, and a score more
that | could name, will gladly aid Gen
Grant in the matter. Friends OF Gen.
Grant say that the general is at present
very sick man. He has throat trouble
that has prevented him from smok-
ing. He is also greatly de-
pressed by his peeuniary affairs, No cred
itor of the defunct firm can attach the an
nuity fund. The general regularly receives
quarterly payment of the interest on the
$3.50, 900 principal of the fund, and viii con-
tinue to do so as long as he lives.
"There is nothing but this annuity between
Gen. Grant and the poor-house," Mr.. George
Jones said. "He hasn't got another penny
in the world that he can call his own"
4 have nothing to say" Mr.. Vanderbilt
said, when asked about his claim against
Gen. Grant.
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec 29-Gen. Beale,
an old friend of Gen. Grant, being asked for
his views of the reported financial troubles
of Gen Grant, said he had not heard any
details of this story. He was very
much shocked when he read it.
and said he thought there WAS some mistake
about it, and finally that he did not believe
it. He said Gen. Grants st. Louis
farm was sold three months ago
for $4,000, It's estimated value being
$65 ,OO0 and that his farm in Illinois
is virtually sold and will bring the full value,
sos, 900 He said he received letter from
Gen. Grant recently, in which the
latter said he was in very poor
health, and on Friday last he re-
coived one from Fred Grant, in which he
stated that his father was confined to his
room, and his condition was such as to
alarm his family. Gen. Bsale added: at is
my belief that his Illness, which | could not
account for is caused by his anxiety"
A dispatch from New York says re
porter visited Gea. Grant and asked him
about the story. The general said 1T is in
the main true There are some slight
inaccuracies, however. While Gen.
Sherman did call on me he never
said a word about the matter 70 me.
Neither he nor mentioned the subject On
leaving me the general asked my son to 90
down stairs with him, and had lonA
talk with him. 1t was not until
some time afterward and only after
much questioning that my son told me that
the general had spoken to him about my af-
fairs In that wa learned of the interest
he had taken in my behalf. | would
not for the world say a word
that might i'll the least reflect
Mr.. Vanderbilt. Ho has all along acted in
most honorable AMI straightforward manner
toward me. He has certainly shown a very
generous disposition, | understand that he
has agreed to reduce the amount of nay III
debtoiness by $50 900"
Resting his elbows on the desk before him,
h. partially hid his face in his hands and
seemed agitated as he said, Il am per.
fectly willing to make whatever sacrifice,
necessary in order to liquidate my indebted
ness"
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Dee. 30.-Gen. W. T.
Sherman, George W. Childs and a. j.
Drexel hell a conference at 1880 O'clock
Monday, in Mr. DrexePs private office, for
the Tlrpo-e of making arrangements to IT.
lieve Gen. Grant from the executions issued
against him a the instance of William IL.
Vanderbilt