Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-06
ANXIOUS TRADERS.
Interesting Scenes at the New
York Custom House.
TIME WAS MONEY LAST SATURDAY

The Iast Day of the Old Tariff Sets
the Importers to Looking for Their
ships to Come in-The Custom House
Kept Open Until Midnight-How the
Captain of the Etruria Made 1t with
Only One Minute TO Spare.
NEW YORK, Oct 6.-For the first time
in the history of the New York custom
house that office was Saturday kept
open for business until midnight. IL is
also probable that Saturday was the most
remarkable day in the history of the
custom house. Ii was the last day of the
sold tariff" the new tariff going into
effect Monday, and though the rush of
business had been great throughout the
week. increasing steadily as Saturday
drew near, nobody had any idea of the
rush of merchants. brokers. and clerks
which was preparing for the last hours of
the old law AS the afternoon approached
the rotuuda and corridors of the custom
house became crowded with persons in
various stages Of excitement, nine out of
ten of them holding packages of invoices
or other customs papers in their hands.
Plea from the Merchants.
When o'clock 1rsw near the crush was
increasing to an alarming extent, and it
became evident that many merchants
were likely to suffer disappointment at
the last moment in their efforts to get
goods through the custom house The re-
suit WAS that Collector Erhardt, who has
been working night and day. to use a set
phrase. since the recent pressure of bust
ness began, was besieged with callers who
begged him to keep the custom house
open until $50 p. m, at least, in order
that they might get all the benefit possi-
egraphed to Secretary Window for in
structions.
Wanted ro Beat the Tariff.
When 8 O'Clock approac he'd and no re-
ply came from Washington City the ex-
element and crush around the division
desks became intense and as, at 8 O'Clock
exactly, the lion doors opening over the
Wall street steps were closed and work
practically cea sed in the rotunda, heavy
groan of serio-comic disappointment arose
from those assembled at the death strug-
gle of the old tariff. But still the crowd
would not disperse. Many of those pres
ent were interested in business connected
with the Inmsn liner City of Chicago.
from Liverpool, sighted and supposed TO
be putting on every pound of steam she
could carry in her efforts TO beat the tar
if" I hen there were the Zaandam from
Rotterdam; the Etrur ia from Liverpool
and several other vessels expected mo.
mentsrily.
Time Extended to Midnight.
According to the stories circulated
about the custom house the fastest tugs
procurable had been chartered by the
agents of the lines interested in the ar
rival of tariff steamers" and they were
waiting down the bay, under full steam.
ready to take off the captain or some
other officer of the expected steamships
and bring him to the city in time to en-
able him TO pass in his papers" and save
the cargo from the new law. At $3.50 a
dispatch came from Secretary Window
telling the collector to use his
discretion, and the latter said he
would extend the hour to mid
night. Business was promptly re-
sumed on all sides with feverish activity.
The receipts for the day, mp to 8 D. m,
were 1854, 5s3 40 and for the past week
&C. 045, 600. The average receipts per day
at the custom house are about 500, 900 or
say s., 000,000 per week.
The Captain Came with a Rush.
At $50 p. IN. the City of Chicago was en-
tered, ana agreat part ofthe waiting crowd
was relieved At sos p. m. the steamer
Regulus. with cargo of laceS, silks. and
velvets, was entered. There were still due
The Etruria, the Thingvalls, aud the Zaan
dam, and news of them was anxiously
awaited. At 1890 p. m. il became known
that the Etruria had been sighted Off the
outer bar at 9:34 p. m. At one minute of
2 the captain Of the Etruria had not ar
rived. Ten seconds later, when half the
lights were out. a carriage came on q rush
to the door and great sh-ut went up
From it jumped Capt. Hams, who went
Immediately behind the counter, and en-
tered his vessel just before the clock
struck midnight. Three cheers and a
tiger were given for him.
About a Million in the Soup.
The captain had come up in a special
tug and was driven at n breakneck pace
from the dock to the custom house. 1t
is calculated th at the failure of the other
steamers mentioned to get here on time
will cost the importers an extra million
d Ollars