The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-11-12
THE GRANT AND WARD FAILURE.
Touching Story About Grant and W. III.
Nanderb 1t.

Speaking about VanJcrbilts reminds
me of a story told me by a certain
newspaper man rs he received it from
the lips of the cider Vanderbilt. 1t
was an account of the occasion when
General Grant. in desperation. went
alone TO Mr. Vanderbilt to borrow
money to tile over the Ward-Grant
business.
General Grant was not business
man. llo knew nothing of business
methods. He was kccnly sensitive il
money affairs and had seen much pov.
erty and pecuniarv trouble. Few
people can ever know what it cost
General Grant in humiliation and dis
tress to make that visit - Vanderbilt.
He seat his card in to Mr.. Vander-
l,ilt during he laiter's business hours.
When Mr.. Vanderbilt saw the card he
stepped out To the ante-room and there
saw General Grant sitting with other
people waiting for an audience III the
order in which he had entered. He
greeted the General warmly and asked
him to step into the private office.
General Grant drew back. saving
that there were other persons ahead of
him and he would await his turn. Mr..
Vanderbilt insisted, and General Grant
passed into the private Office. He was
not there over five minutes.
Mr.. Vanderbilt seated himself. but
General Grant remained standing. de-
clining to take a seat. and holding his
soft hat with military cord in his
hand
Genera, Grant said: Il have come
on ii matter of business, Mr.. Wander
bit.n
"All right" said Mr.. Vanderbilt; lis
tl..ern anything can do for you, Gen
eralm for he suspected the nature of
the General 5 visit.
Said General Grant with ghost of
smile:
Il would like TO exchange checks
with you"
Glad to hear it. said Mr.. Wander
bilt. drawing 10 him check-book and
dipping his pen in the lux. How
much shall it bc?'
General Grant hesitated and looked
away and finally answered in low
voice: One hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars"
The check was quickly filled out and
handed 20 General Grant. He took it,
grasped Mr.. Vanderbiit'S hand mo-
mcnt and walked out, hurricdly, with
,1at il word.
The rest of the matter is known
the conveyance Of tue swords and
relics etc. to Mr.. Vanderbilt.
| spoke of this pathetic story to John
Russcl! Young. vino was Il fellow trav-
cler with me on Il Maine train one long
and pleasant day recently, and he was
certainly rs near 10 Grant rs arc other
man. who said he had 10 doubt of its
correctness. aud | have given It rs it
was given 10 me.
John Russell Young added his belief
that had il not been for thai trouble
General Grant might still be alive and
among us.
Mr.. Young told me Of good Joke on
Mr.. John G. New, our Consul General
to london.
DE-. ring the time of the Whitechapel
murders excitement Mr.. New who
was a Tit new in London. made up his
mind 10 visit Whitechapel aud view
the scene OF the last murder which had
lust beeu pcrpetrated. lie hired Il
iOuf-Wnceicl WIN Il pan VI hhiSc anu
driver. and started for long drive to
Whitechapel.
Presently he returned. ami MIR.
Young asked him II he had found the
spot.
Why. yes" answered MIR. New,
sand it is Il pretty good joke OH me. ]
thought ~ we went along things
looked very familiar and | was sur
prised at the coachmau stopping and
Announcing that this was the place.
On i"okng about | found it was just
around The corner from nv office in
the consulate. and only IL few steps
away. ID. Wussey IN CincinnaH
GoDlpierctuf."