The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-25


some time, been naval officer.
y! know EN- by their cut, said he, land
could tell one if he was in IEjun war paint.
they can't never get navy often en-
30 March passed away. st. Johns is a
dull place at any time, but in winter it is
particularly so. The two gentlemen had
lodgings ashore, but came down to the
handsome little steamer every day. From
the conversation the Captain was unable TO
form any idea OF what they were going to
DO. But one afternoon a change seemed to
have come over them both. They were OK
cited, and the owners friend gave an order
which surprised Capt. Mariner very much.
on Will fill your bunkerS with coal" said
he, If they are not full now. Kindle your
fires and keep them banked. Keep your
meA on board aud be ready to sail in half
an hour after you get the word. That's
all, and the two gentlemen left the ship,
but not until the one who had given the
order carefully examined everything reat-
ing to the machinery and her handling,
Cant fool me, said the captain to his
chief officer; that's an old navy man, that's
what he is, an one that knows his business
too. Tell you what, he talked like he wuz
on his quarterback when he Civ that
order.n
The captain obeyed his order in such a
way as to merit the high approval of the
man who gave it.
The great army under Grant was crush
ing out its smaller, weaker antagonist 1t
had been evident for month that the end
of the Confederacy was not far away
Sunday, April s, the owner of the Petrol,
while on board, received a telegram from
somewhere that was of great Importance
Get your stewards stores on board at
once" said he to Capt. Mariner,
FOR we may sail any hour,
Where are we to sail for, if
may ask" ventured the Captain. The
other hesltated moment then replied:
For Liverpool" At 3 o'clock, April 9.
both gentlemen, each with light valise
came aboard. "How long will it take you
to clear out of thisF' asked the owner
Half an hour" was the answer. 'Tnen
do it." And the owner and his guest went
down to the main cabin and saloon, which
they had together. The owners guest came
up in few minutes and watched them get
under way. Half an hour later clearances
and all were on board and the wheels began
to turn. Just thirty minutes" said he to
Capt. Mariner; very good work, too"
The owner came up the gangway at that
moment. Now, Captain" said he, 81
want to get to Liverpool as quick as this
ship can take us. How soon can you do itY'
well, sir" the Captain cautiously re-
piled, 'if the wind holds as it is now" lit
was westerly land nothing gives way,
you'll be at Victoria Docks by Friday
noon" do it. do it," was the answer,
land I'll double the pay of the entire crew,
officers, firemen and all L"
At sunrise Friday morning the Welsh
peaks were in sight and in three hours
thereafter they were alongside Victoria
Docks. The owner had bag of English
sovereigns in his hands. As they were
making their landing he had writ
ten about a dozen kilograms. PAY
off everybody" said he, handing the
gold to the Captain, land in a few days you
viii hear from ME. I NAV want to go back
in a hurry, so have everything ready" The
two gentlemen left the ship together Tho
owner was in great good luck. The fastest
train on the London aud Northwestern was
just about starting as he got to the Lime
street station. His friend had remained in
Liverpool and sent the kilograms the other
had written.
There was no Atlantic cable in those
days, and it was April 10 before the royal
mail steamers brought the news of Lees
surrender and the end of the war.
There had been rumors a day or two
before this that a collapse had occurred, but
nobody believed them. Mr.. Charles Francis
Adams, our Minister to the Court of st.
James, announced the surrender of Lee
and Johnston officially, and the most OBJ
stinate upholder of the South in London
knew then that it was true. On April 81
Mr.. Adams telegraphed the American Con-
sui General to seize and take possession of
the cotton belonging to the late Confederacy
then in Liverpool In the name Of the United
States. Three hours thereafter the Consul
General, in great excitement, answered,
There is no cotton here belonging to the
Confederacyp
What occurred was this:
The American banker went to London
and sold Confederate bonds short as long as
he could find purchaser, and he had active
agents selling for him in the exchanges of
Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birming-
ham, Manchester, and wherever bond
could be sold. His operations were also
very helvy in Paris, Brussels and Frank
fort His sales amounted to almost $25,-
600, 900, and he made a profit when the
time for settlement came of from 10 to Is
per cent There were over 5000 bales of
cotton to the Confederate account that Fri
day morning when the Petrol landed. By
noon the next day there was not one! 1t
brought $1,l20,000, and that at Havre
5000, 900 francs. In other words, the ope-
rators made about SIS, 900, 900 upon the ex-
penditure of about $40, 900.
Who got this money? some one may ask.
Well, it was divided up between about fifty
course. The chief of staff of one of the
leading generals under Grant received
$500, 900, and his receipt for it is still
extant. The Congressman-who became u
Senator, and then, after making some repu-
tation as an extremist against the South,
died-received the same amount for the
information he furnished. Four or five
civil members of tho Confederate govern
ment got some of it-SlOO,000, and in one
instance S150,000, each. One Of the South
ern men, who got in because he happened
TO be then abroad lodging conscriptio
dropped ON to the transaction and de-
manded Ibis share" or else he would go
straight TO Mr.. Adams and tell. This man
received $4,000. He is now very prominent
in two Southern railroads, and is pointed
to as an example of the pluck and energy
of the Young South"
But two persons ever knew what really
was made. They each realized from the
operation 81, 000, 000. The Confederate agent
married after the war a lovable Virginia
girl. He put $3.50, 600 in her name and lost
the rest in new raj ways and such enter
prises in the South, and then died. But some
of his investments have turned out well
since his death. Any way, his sweet-faced
little widow has enough, and adores the
memory of her husband.
JEALOUSLY GUARDED GEMS.
How the Finest Of the French Crown
T1~rala ara