The Portland daily press., 1885-07-21
RoAcH's FAILURE.
Employees of the Firm Unite in Ten
dering Sympathy.
Offers of Assistance Received from
prominent Republicans.
Mr.. Roach Interviewed by Tribune
Reporter.

New YORK, July 20.-Dr. Ebenezer B.
Belden of 141 East Twenty first street, who
is John Roach's physician, called on his pa
tlent at College Point yesterday afternoon.
Il found Mr.. Roach in declining health, +"
said DR.. Belden this evening. His illness
is, in great degree, the result of mental dis
quietude. You may say as emphatically as
you please that Mr.. Roach is in a broken
down condition. He is suffering from great
mental and physical prostration, and his
family are in great anxiety about him. His
case is a melancholy instance OF the over
throw of health by care and worry. Mr..
Roach is in no condition to attend to his bus
mess at present, and | have advised his fam
lily to keep him free from all excitement.
have suggested to him the advisability of GO
ing away for while for rest and recupera-
tion. A change of scene would do him good
if he could leave his cares behind him.
DR.. Belden has been in attendance daily
upon Mr.. Roach at his Office in East Ninth
weeks has visited him every Sunday at his
country home at College Point Now he will
go to College Point daily. Mr.. Roach saw no
reporters yesterday. John B. Roach, secre-
tary of the Delaware river iron ship building
and engine works, arrived at College Point
yesterday from Chester and had long talk
with his father. Mr.. Roach received tele-
grams from prominent Republicans in differ
ent parts Of the country, offering sympathy
and financial assistance.
shop in this city were today paid off in full
Until the present financial troubles Of the
Reaches are settled only sufficient force of
men to complete the existing contracts will
be retained.
Especial Dispatch to the Boston Journall
WASHINGTON, July 2O-There are a
good many persons here who are acquainted
with the financial condition of John Roach.
They are agreed that his assignment is bona
tide. They also think that Roach in falling
has played the part Of Samson and has pull
ed the temple down with him, for it is diff
cult to see what Secretary Whitney has ac-
complished by his raid upon the Dolphin
except to secure a law suit. Government
officers here understand that the assignee of
Mr. Roach will take possession sboth of the
Dolphin and OF the unfinished cruisers, and
that the Government will have to take it's
chances with the rest of the creditors in the
courts. Lawyers think that there is no
doubt that the decision of the Attorney GEN
eral, which declared that the paper that
Roach signed for the construction of the
cruisers was mot contract releases the
bOndsmen. The bOndsmen entered into OBJ
legations only that Roach would fulfill con-
diti0ns prescribed in the paper, on the ground
that it was a contract.
The administration will undoubtedly en-
deayor to have the policy adopted of finish
ing the cruisers already ordered in the Gov
ernment yards. But it may be doubted
whether this can be done without additional
legislation. The law authorizing the con-
struction of the cruisers already ordered and
of the additional ones provides that they
shall be built by contract The puzzle of the
administration has, therefore, undoubtedly
caused delay of another year in lthe build
ing of new navy.
NEW YORK, July 20.--A conference of the
lawyers, assignee and sons of John Roach
was held this afternoon. 1t was informal.
They talked over the situation and will meet
oCaip tomorrow of
men surrounded the yards at Ninth street.
They are cursing Secretary Whitney, and it
would not be safe for him to appear. The
workmen are being paid off today. John
Roach did not come to the city today. He
received at his summer home, College Point.
He is Frustrated at his failure.
MIR. Roach's Statement.
New YORK, July 2O.-In an interview
with Tribune reporter as to the causes
that led to the assignment Mr.. Roach said
"Now as to the causes which have led up to my
assignment, strictly speaking it is not failure
that is to say, my assignees will be able to pay 81
like the real value of my property. cannot now
say what the exact amount of my liabilities is nor
what the sum of my assets will be to meet it, but
If were not so old man and if l had health
awhile longer could pull things straight again.
If the people understood this matter, if Ethe men
| dacious free-trade press had not so extensively
deceived them, the failure of John Roach would
| be recognized from ocean to ocean as National
| calamity. Twenty-four hundred workmen 900 in
| the Morgan Iron Works and twice that number at
| Chester, went out ofmy shops Saturday night who
will not go back tomorrow In these had times
that is serious matter. This is not party ques-
| ton. have been Republican, but above that /
| have first last and ever been an American 1t
| was my great ambition that our Nation should re
cover covert It's glory and .Ip prosperity on the seas
| grown or made by American workngmen in
| American shops. could be sold the world over
| through the medium of American ships built from
| iron rolled in our own shops and of timber cut
| from our forests. l wanted to prove that we
| couddo business on our own bottoms ,and that 9th
er nations with less resources were not more saga
| clous and enterprlsing on the seas. have given
| my life and my fortune to that end, and even in
| the presence of this calamity, am proud of what
| John Roach has accomplished Ten years ago an
| American Minister accredited to Brazil was fore.
ed to go to England in order to reach Rio .Janeiro
Today John Roachs iron vessels take him theil
| direct My fleet, representing millions of invest
| ed capital and millions of wages that have gone
iato IN the mechanics pockets, and millions
ern ports. cruise along the coast under al
American flag. And the rates of freight are less
tnan nan f what they once We're AT an expense q
more than million erected ship yard. | built
| rolling mill to prepare my own iron and steel
| employed 2500 American workmen. I incorpo
rated companies to sail vessels, and despite the
fact that the government lent me scant encour-
| agement, while foreign governments practically
| supported.their shipbuilders / have proved thai
IL Is possible Tor us to secure an immense foreign
trade and to become, if the government would bu
MI its consentlng tnger the greatest sea-tradinl
I natlOn OF the earth. Traduced and abused by
| tnose men ana newspapers whom foreign interests
have subsidized, and brought into Scandal witt
millions OF my fellow citizens who were deceived
| by tnem and who did not understand my purposes
IN my old and enfeebled age, and after half a cen
tury OF toll, have lost my money and my spirits
Dlt am consoled by the fact that the people viii
one gay understand it ALL and see at its real valu,
what | have done of good and what they hay,
done OF harm to our national interests
BUSINESS became stagnant about year ago
made. The free ship movement was strong for I
mas z catcny sound. 1t sounds practicable if W.
can puy SHIPS abroad at less than we can builC
them mere that that is where to save the money
But te TACT is that it is neither fair nor honest no
possible. IN dozens of pamphlets and in arg1Iment