The morning call., 1890-07-07

stowaway were huddled together on deck await;
ing the final struggle. The desperate fear aud
despair OF the lad were tTightful 10 behold. NO
licng his, Captain Strachan removed tne Mel pet s
from his own person, and, fastening u ABOUT Inc
boy, said quietly: Here, my poor lad, you've
more need OF this than L. Shortly aIter, the
Cyprian went 10 pieces with crash. DON'T
know how many of that last little group OF us
were saved. l was rescued; the StowaMay was
picked up alOnsshore and resuscitaled, put the
dead body OF That greatest ana nODirsl nero
ever knew or read of. Captain Strachan, was
washed ashore some days afterward. He deilb-
eratey gave his life TO save that OF helpless
This would be pathetic tale. even we're it
romance. But / took the trouble in Liverpool,
recently. of going to the Leyland Offices, at the
foot of James street, and securing proof OF its
truIhtulness IN every particular.
When one recalls the fact that millions upon
millions Of dollars IN gold annually seek Europe
to provide for the necessities of our import trade
the question OF now gold Is shipped TO Europe
becomes an interesting one. The Bank OF
America is the largest single shipper OF gold
from New York and nGeed from the United
States. Shipments are made in stout kegs, very
much like the ordinary beerkeg. Every one
contains $4,000 III coin or bar gold. The latter
is the favUTlte tor these shipments since the
Government has permitted the Sub-Treasury
to exchange coin for bar gold, coin i'll
single million dollar shipment is liable 10
loss by abrasion of from eight 10 twenty
ounces, or from Sl2o TO 500, While the oaIs
only lose about threefourths of that value
Where coin is sent double eagles are preferred
They are put IN stout canvas bags. each one con
tanning 125 double ca les, or $4,000; and 10 bags
fill each keg. About the only precautlon taken
against tampering with kegs Is treatment OF
keg-endS technically known as "ied-taplng.
fOul holes aIe bored at equal intervals In the
projecting rim of the slaves above the hean;
Red table is run through these, crossing on Inc
kegs head. The euds meeting al the center,
where they are sealed TO the head by the hardest
OF wax, and stamped with The eonsgnors
name. The average insurance Is about Sl6O0
Der 81 600, 900. Then there is an expense OF
nh for
ship. uI 5000 Tor the same sum, andthe inevitable
loss by abrasion. whatever 1t may prove TO be.
There are great WaIl-stTeet firms shipping from
SEA, OGO, 900 to S4c,0o0,oOo annually. Some OF
tLese have for years insured themselves. and
assert that the saving has been sufficient TO re-
place a loss OF 81 100000. These are large
figures, but this has become a country OF large
figures and affairs.
1t is an exceedingly nimble felowctizen that
ever gets the advantage of MIR. Jay Gould. And
yet have myself on TWO occasions seen him, in
a sense, at the mercy OF the most GOd-fOrsaken
OF human beings. One was quite recently, when
on walking from his office to his home, as is his
custom Tor exercise, being for moment without
the escort OF young George Gould, who had halted
10 speak TO q flend, he WAS so impOrtuned,
hustled and of rnsively pushed TO the wall by
foul Old beggarwoman, evidently hav-
was, that 10 rid himself of the nag he
pumped pretty heavy piece OF coin Into her
rheumy ana trembling hand. The other was the
most renal kable DIVES Lazarus scene ever eA,
pect TO look upon, one strong, unexpected ana
dramatic enough for a great 81 uatlOn i'll tic-
lion or upon the stage. Ii occurred In the sum-
mer OF 1882, IN the open upper or La Sale street
rOtunda Of the GranG Pacific Hotel IN Chicago.
There was then in that city, II lie Is not
sim living a venerable old wreck, most
familiar figure about the streets whom every
one knew as "Uncle Baker" His story briefly
was that, once merchant OF Catlaraugus, New
York the financial troubles OF 81 had nearly
ruined him; lie had transferred the remnant of
his fortune 10 daughters, Who at once became
another Regan and GoneIill; and the old man,
half Il a Al Tlal haS
became confirmed tramp about the streets OF
Chicago Uncle Baker" Win hands folded
planllYey in front Of him, with bowed head and
trembling gait, seemed never at rest. AT all
hours OF the day and night you would meet him,
pushing on aud ever on, as II endleSSly studying
that one problem CT hlial lngratltude. lie never
begged. lie was never known 10 utter
genIlemanly word. Liquor never passed his
lips. few of us, touched by his pathetic lie
and ways saw that he did not physically suffer
when we could keep track OF The poor old fellow,
though we could never secure MS consent 10
provide for him In any Charitable instl-
tuition. hohlsaat, the big-hearted Clark-street
merchant, compelled his engineer 10 give him
corner OF the engine-roOm, Il he came shiverlng
there In bitter weather. Drake OF the Grand
Pacific would never allow him 10 be hustled by
brawny porters. Aud altogether this sad old
ghost of human had occasion TO turn his ten
der. sweet. white and plteouS old face up TO more
than one whose heart bled fOT MS wound Whlcn
could never heal. On the occasion referred
10 Gould was a guest at the Grand Pacific. Be-
fore o'clock in the morning lie was stirring:
had come TO the Office; purchased morning
paper; and, eyid emily impatient 10 send some
dispatches, had stepped to the telegraph
Office IN the upper rOtunda. Finding 1t
closed he had taken a chair beneath the
Office window alongside a great iron col
umn, which, with his paper. quite obscured
him. About the same time, Z" Uncle Baker,"
after his morning CUSTOM trembliDgly began his
daily aud undlsturOed march through the TWO
rotundas from CLARK street 10 La Sale. The EN-
plOyes always greeted him ciYlly. These salu-
tations were returned with touching dignity. On
this morning one OF the head porers stopped The
old man al the foot OF the marble stairs, where l
also happened 10 be standing, ana IN spirit OF
innocent mischief told him that his old friend,
Jay Gould, was waiting up there behind the
column, by the telegraph window, 10 see him."
a. Thank you; thank you, kindly. Thank you,
also. for my old friend, Jay Could" responded
Uncle Baker" Will knightly pOliteness and
evident deep feeling.
Hating moment as II to accustOm his feeble
sight TO he dim light OF the place, lie made
straight for the column, and IN another moment
had GTasped the aStouiShtd magnates hand.
MIR. Gould" said the old man, trembllngly.
"you and did GOOD deal of business together
at one time. Most people despse you. They
believe you unklnd, cruel, unjust, meIclless.
Gould wrggled, but Uncle Baker, would not
release him.
1T has always been one OF the few hopes OF
my llfe," lie continued ITO be able 10 myself
say that l remember you with esteem; thank
you for a few unsolicited kndnesses; and then
TO show you one human being III rags here
"Uncle Baker" drew himself up proudly" who
is so little That with all your power you could
neither help nor harm him; aud to add with the
most respectful sincerity that, great as you are,
lie pities You and your jnyless LIE, barren OF
one disiulerested friend, with an unutteTabe and
inexpIessible pity from Tie bottom OF his heart.
l beg you 10 pardon this intrusion and to say
good morning."
Then While the amazed man Of millions wiped
a film he seemed 10 think had gathered upon his
steel-rlmmed -glasses-though he looked for
the dlmmng OF his newspaper print In The wrong
paee-the man OF rags shuffied away the teie-
graph window came down with a sharp click;
and the memory voices that had moment since
given Jay Gould almost a youthful and hopeful
face were drowned by The music OF the instTu-
meut, which, upon the heels OF the little play,
was merrily transmitting the words of this one
little man that 100 often make ana unmake his
feOWmen. EDGAR La WAhEMAN.
*Copyrighd.