Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-18


! ness is to turn out is yet to be seen, nut II
/ recalls similar transaction in which
another Spanish American country was
deeply Interested. About sixteen years a2C
I pOrtlY and swarthy gentleman OF span
ish descent came to this country. lie had
swapping black eyes, and a polished bald
head. He wore a Panama nat valued al
$3.50, and he carried a huge eOld-headed
cane. His costume blazed with old mine
diamonds. His name was Antonio MILAN
and he seemed to be about 90 years old
He hired a spacious mansion in Clinton
Place, and gave eXtravagant baBquets
These dinners were usually eaten at mid
night. They were washed down Win
pure and costly wines, and were made
dOubly fascinating by the presence OF
choice cOryphees from the Black CROOK
and OF danseuses from other corps de Oa
let. MILAN was a king in the realm OF
dissipation, ana was, Of course, sur
rounded by scores Of WOrshlpers OF both
sexes. He was here with about &,OD,OOC,
commissioned to buy an irOn-clad war
vessel for the Peruvian republic. The same
fate hefell him as befell the envoy OF the
Mexican republic. Keen miners detected
the blossom rock, and following the lead
unearthed the deposit. MILAN was in
duced 20 sign certain documents, and was
then wound uD like fly in the web OF a
spider. he tnrashed around in courts OF
Justice in a vain effort 10 break the web,
but at last ceased struggling, and the
money was lost 10 the republic of Peru.
That government, it was said, got neither
iron-clad nor satisfaction.
The Mexican bond business has never
be en- fully told. remember Gen. Carva-
jail very well. H came here in the spring
OF 1865 He was neither so suave nor 50
1--we A Yfn Yaip htrf 10
pleXion was darker and he had AutOnlO's
fondness for jewels. tie was under size,
and his ewes glittered Ike beads Of inky
hue. JuareZ was penned up in FL Paso
with a ragamutiin horde as destitute and
depressed as was WashlngtOn's army at
Valley Forge. A skeleton Mexican Con-
gress held shadowy sessions at his head
quarters. The troops needed above all
money, clothing and ammunition. Carva-
jail was empowered to come to New York
ana issue bonds in return for supplies.
He showed blossom rOckSsOOn after his
arrival here, which attracted the atten-
ton of sharp-eyed Spectator of the
name OF WoodnOuse. Like MILAN, Car
vajal was promptly taken into camp. In
return for little money aud immense
promises he signed documents empower
ing WoOdhouse to issue a fabulous amount
OF bonds. To cover the Generals instruc-
tons the contract was dated in Tamauli-
pas. Within three months IL was rejected
by Jaurez and his Cabinet, on the ground
that CarVajal had exceeded his lnstruc-
tiOns. The General then signed a similar
contract, also dated in Tamaullpas. with
John w. COrles & Co.. empowering them
to issue over $4,000, 900 in bonds. This
contract was ratified by the Mexican
government and the bonds We're placed in
To-, H.,
necessary supplies and within six months
captured the city of Chihuahua, which
gave him basis for final operations
against MaXimllian.
Meantime W dollhouse began to print his
bonds, and tloated about $4,000 of them.
The engraving company failed with
50 200, 900 of the bonds on hand. With
other assets these bonds went into the
hands of "A receiver. Woodhouse sued for
their recovery on the ground that they
were his personal property, but died be-
lore the suit was tried. He willed his IN
terest In the bonds to his wife. One Eaton,
a shrewd Jerseyman and n bank note en-
graVer, lived in "A country hamlet near
Newark. He had been leading spirit in
the engraving company, and he fancied
that there was possibility that in the
future the bonds mi0ht be worth some
thing. Being glib of tongue, he induced
The widow TO assign her interest to him.
This was about seven years ago. the
bonds were then not worth much more
than the value of the paper on which they
We're printed.
1t was not until three years ago that the
COrlies bonds developed any special value
the ratification by the
government OF the contract un-
der which they were issued they fell so
low that they were quoted at 10 cents on
the dollar. What suddenly gave them
value was the TACT that they were cor
uered by Manuel Gonzales and his
friends. Gonzales was then President of
Mexico. His corruption and unprlncipled
character are not disputed. He went
into Office poor man, and came out of 1T
a little over year ago with wealth es-
umated at between 500 100000 and $780,
100000. He is said to have cleared up over
81, 000, 600 on the Corlies bonds alone. 1t
" a IS the action of Gonzales that probably
spurred one Brie to try to secure the
W dollhouse issue three years ago. | have
been told that he effected an arrangement
with Gonzales and other parties under
which the validity of the bonds were to
be recognized by the Mexican Congress,
which at that time was under the thumb
OF the President, obstreperous representa-
tives being arbitrarily imprisoned. Nor
was this all. II the WOOdhOuse SUIT
against the assignee of the engraving
company was successful and the plates
as well as the bonds were secured, the
81, 800, 900 might be swelled to $4,000, 600
or even $4,000, 600, or a sum large enOugh
TO sa isty the insatIate greed of Gonzalez
and all his friends. WOodhOuse won his
suit, but the bonds were not turned over
TO the syndicate who had secured Eaton :
and Mrs. Woodhouse's Interest untl two
years ago last April. Before this was
done the plates and dies were delaced by
order OF the court. 1t is rGmOred, now
ever, that either before or since that time
new plates and dies nave been engraved,
AVID an extra issue OF bonds made. How
ever this may be, the suit was not de-
c ded IN time for Gonzales to act. His
term as President ran out, and his per-
sOnal candidate was defeated. pOrtrlo
Diaz succeeded him and none OF the ring
mas the hardhOod 10 try TO corrupt him.
His probty aud patriotism have been too
often tried.
Speculation is rife as to what became
of the bonds after the end OF the Wood
house suit. | understand that for months
atterward they Were kept IN trunks in
EatOn's house in the hamlet near New
arr. A year ago ne lie I The hamlet. taking
the bonds with him. They are now said
TO be held in the nope that Gonzales will
succeed DiaZ as President in either a re-
evolutionary or legitimate way. The
blossom rock il as good as eVer,bu the
deposit is not yet in sipht.
AMOS j. CUMMINGS.
Better Wrecks Another Bank.