Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-21
LIBBY PRISON SOLD.
DR. BRAKBLE, OF CINCINNATI, TIE
PURCHAsER AT $1,000
He Hopes to foil 1t to q Syndicate Who
Will Conduct Museum in Rich
mond

The old Libby Prison, it seems, is des-
tined to be eventually converted into a
museum for the collection and exhibition
OF war and other relics.
1t is quite certain that it will not be
taken to Chicago, rs was contemplated
some months ago, but there is a strong
probability that it will be put to that use
Just where it now stands.
At any rate, the property has been
sold to a gentleman who hopes to be able
to resell it to a syndicate that has Just
been formed in Chicago, and this syndi-
cate, II is said, will make the designated
use of the property where it now is.
The scheme 10 move the Libby to
Chicago wns first conceived by Mr. VIII
liam II. Gray, Of that city, and his idea
was to tear the structure down brick by
brick and timber by timber; number
each piece of material, pack all of them
carefully, and then place them on rail-
road GAYS and transport them to Chi
cago. where it was proposed that the
whole thing should be reproduced in its
original form and with each and every
piece of material in It's proper place.
DID NOT COME TO TINE.
Mr.. Gray, who is an insurance and
real estate man. and who stands well in
financial matters as shown by Brad
streets reports, bought this property
from the Southern FertiliziDg Company
through Messrs. Rawlings q Rose on
the 25th of February last, and agreed to
pay for it S23,300, one fourth Of
which was cash, and the remainder
was divided into three notes Of
S5.8 .825 each, which were secured by
deed OF trust on the property. Mr.
Gray soon realized the enormity Of his
undertaking, which was widely criticised
and almost universally condemned, and
sold out to Chicago syndicate composed
of Messrs. Roland @. Nickerson, NAL
comb NJ. Jamison, George :. Wright,
md G. L. J. Haines. Tho last named
was really not interested in the deal ex-
cept in so far as being the broker who
negotiated it. The price in this instance
was S35, 900, of which Sll, 700 was paid
cash. This syndicate also assumed all
of Mr.. Gray's obligations.
When the syndlcate's first note fell
due August Sth it was not met and was
allowed to go to protest. In order that
their liability to him might be establish
ed, Mr. Gray also made default in pay
ment that the property might be sold
under the deed from him to the ferti-
lizing company. Accordingly the prison
was advertised by Messrs. Louis Raw
lings and Frank W. Christian, trustees
under the deed, and at 3 o'clock yester-
day afternoon it was offered for sale by
public auction.
The sale was made in front OF the
building, which is located on the south
west corner of Twentieth and Cary
streets, fronting 130 on the latter and
running back l20 feet to Dock street
SOLD IN SHORT ORDER.
Contrary to expectation there was
very little ado about the sale and it was
over in a very few minutes. There were
not more than fifty persons present and
only two bids were made. Almost as
soon as Mr. Rawlings had read the ad-
vertisement and asked for proposals Mr..
A. II. Christian, Jr., offered $4,000
and DR.. Bramble soon raised him 81, 600.
This was cried for a considerable time,
and there being no other bids tho pro-
perty was knocked out at these figures.
As soon rs the sale was over Mr.. Gray
said to Colonel Palmer, president of the
fertilizing company: Directly you
can get from Mr.. Rawlings the difference
between SI1, 600 and what J owe you
(S17, 7,475, with interest from February
25th) and the costs of the sale will send
you the money"
Some time was spent inspecting the
prison before the crowd dispersed.
IT'S FUTURE.
DIR. Bramble was asked by n Dispatch
to what use he proposed to put
the building, and whether he represent
ed a syndicate or was acting for himself
alone.
lie replied that he came TO Richmond
upon the invitation of Mr.. Gray, and
bought the property as n personal in
that he was acting for himself
and representing no other person.
DIR. Bramble, in answer TO further in
quiries, said he expected to resell to a
syndicate that had been formed i'll Chi
cago, who proposed to conduct museum
in the prison where it now stands.
Mr.. Gray here exhibited two tele-
received Wednesday night
and the other en- hour before the sale,
both from MIR. Haines, in which he said
a strong syndicate had been formed and
was ready to take the property. Mr..
Gray, however, declined to interfere
with the sale. This new syndicate
is composed Of Gunther, the large
andy-manufacture and relic-hunter,
who is reputed to have q collec-
tion worth 100000; Spalding the
base ballist Arson, base ball player
Raymond, Manasse Wetherell, vice.
president of the Park National Bank;
Halnes the broker, Wentworth. and To-
bey. These are said TO be all response
bic persons. Mr.. Gunther has recently
purchased the chisel used in cutting the
hole under Libby Prison through which
4 number of Federal officers and prison
ers made their escape in February, 1864,
and the table on which the terms of sur
render at Appomattox were prepared
md signed. The former cost 800; the
after 81, ,0O0.
PERSONAL.
DR.. Pramble is a wealthy surgeon and
member OF the National Association,
whose annual session at Washington he
vas attending when Mr.. Gray approach
ID him and advised him to come down
lere and make this purchase. He is
gentleman of pleasant address and manly
bearing, and says he is well acquaint-
ID with DR.. Mcclure, whom for years
ne has met at the annual conferences Of
he society, of which both are members.
lie and Mr.. Gray arrived in the city
Wednesday afternoon, and will both
cave this morning. the former for Wash
ngton and the latter for Chicago.
Mr.. Gray says he is confident of
making the Sl2,300 which the defunct
indicate owes hin, and that he advised
Dr.. Bramble as he would have done any
,ther one OF his friends to make this pur-
,hase, as he considered the property very
TOO EXPENSIVE.
He thinks if ono of the members OF
i