The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-12-08
BROUGHT IT TO MINISTER
ADAMS DURING THE
CIVIL WAR WHEN
BADLY NEEDED.

terry who 1t was that placed at the as
posal of the Government great for
tune in gold without asking any Sc
curity; SO that thereby the cruisers
which were being built in England
for the Confederate Government We're
never permitted to sail out Of English
harbors, says the Boston Globe.
La the early years Of the war Ger
tain shipbuilders in Great Britain re
ceived commissions from the Confed
crate Government to build some very
swift steamships, which were TO be
armed with long range guns, and
which, sailing under letters Of mar
que, were expected to infiict great
damage upon the vessels sailing IN
der the Union flag.
Charles Francis Adams was minis
ter from the United States to the
British Court, and he was very anx-
ious about these ships because he
knew that if they We're ever permitted
to sail from English ports the damage
they could do to ships sailing under
the American flag would be enormous.
He protested to the British Govern
ment, but was told that the Govern
ment had no information that these
ships were designed to prey upon the
commerce Of the United States. Tn
less Mr. Adams could furnish that in
formation. the British Government
could take no steps to restrain them.
The vessels were being built, and
they were almost ready to put to sea,
when Mr.. Adams appeared before the
British authorities with proof, which
he had obtained in a manner which he
kept as a secret to the day of his death
that theee vessels We're paid for with
Confederate money, and he also fur
nished complete list of officers and
crews who were to sail upon them. He
furnished other evidence which was
cOnvIcting.
At the time it was said that the
Ministry was not friendly to the I'm
ion cause, and would be glad to see
the Confederate Government main
tain itself.
The law Of nations is very stri.t
however, SO that England could be
accused Of doing an unfriendly act il
she permitted these vessels to depart
after such evidence.
Mr. Adams believed that the Min
istery would find some technical way
to evade responsibility, and he had
reason for such belief.
a day or two after he had made his
protest with proof he received word
from the British authorities that if be
would deposit 100000 in gold i'm
mediately to protect the English Gov
eminent against suit for damages the
vessels would not be allowed to de
part.
Mr.. Adams was in despair. He be-
lieved it to be a trick. OF course he
had not S5,00000O at his instant com
mand, and as there was no ocean cable
in those days he could not get it from
the Government in much less than
three weeks time.
Before he could hear from Wash
lngtOn these cruisers would be out up
on the high seas.
As he sat III his Office grieving great
ly over his peril, a gentleman walked
IN who asked that absolute privacy be
secured for few moments.
" hen these two men were alone,
secure from any possible eavesdrop-
ping, this visitor said to Mr.. Adams:
Il have just learned Of the demand
made upon you for $5,000,0O0 in gold
as guarantee to the British Govern
ment to protect them in case they
prevent the sailing of these cruisers.
L know that you cannot command any
such sum Of money as that until you
hear from Washington.
Il believe that this has been done
to enable the vessels to sail away.
Therefore | have come to offer you.
Mr.. Adams, that 100000 in gold,
and L have only one condition to I'M
pose, and that is that my name be
never known in this transaction"
MIR. Adams was amazed. 1t seemed
to him as this was a direct interposi
ton of Providence. After thanking
most earnestly his benefactor, Mr..
Adams said to him:
Il have no security to offor to you
except my pledge that l will send to
Washington immedia tely and ask that
the Government forward to you its
bonds as security for this loan, but
for three weeks at least you will be
without other security than my
promise"
With this agreement the benefac
tor departed, and before nightfall Mr..
Admans had deposited the $5.OOo,OOO
in gold, to the intense surprise of the
British officials.
They We're obliged to keep their
word. and the cruisers were restrained.
and thus this great peril was removed.
As soon as it was possible to hear
from Washington Mr. Adams receiv-
ed some S10,000,000 in Government
bonds, which were turned over to the
benefactOr as security. OF course he
received his gold back afterward and
the bonds were returned.
Only one living man knows who
this benefactor was. President Lin
coin knew, Secretary Chase and Mr..
Adams also, and they died without re-
vealing the secret.
Mr. Chittenden, who was Register
OF the Treasury, and who took the
bonds to England, now knows, and he
has lnclosed the name in an envelope.
deposited it with the Secretary of the
Treasury, and after his death it NAV
be given to the world.
Yet financiers are satisfied that this
benefactor Of the United States who
rsked S5,O00,0OO to save it from peril
was either George Peabody, the bank
er philantropist, who had long lived
IN London, or else one of the Barring
Brothers
These We're the only men capable of
commanding on the instant so great
an amount of money as that in gold.
who were SO friendly 10 the United
States as to induce them to make this
amazing offer.
Mr.. Adams used to say that. had it