Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-02-09

The law of nations is very strict, how
ever, so that England could be accused
of doing an unfriendly act if II per
mitted these vessels TO depart after
such evidence Mr.. Adams believed
that the ministry would find some tech
meal way TO avoid responsibility, and
he had reason for such belief
A dav or two after he had made his
protest. with proof, he received word
from the British authorities that
if ne would deposit 5000, 900 in
gold Immediately, to protect the British
government against suit for damages,
the vessels would not be allowed to de-
part.
Mr. Adams was in despair. lie be-
ieved this TO be a trick. OF course
he had not s., goo, 600 at his instant
command, and as there was no ocean
cable in those days he could not get it
from his government in much less than
three weeks time. Before he could
hear from Washington clty these cruis-
ers would be ont upon the high seas.
Is he sat in his Office grieying great
ly over this peril a gentleman walked
in who asked that absolute privacy be
secured for a few moments. When
these two men were alone, secure from
housekeeping, this visitor said to Mr..
Adams: Il have just learned of the de-
mand made upon you for five million
dollars in gold as a guarantee to the
British government to protect them in
case they T, event the sailing of these
cruisers. ! NOW that you can not COM
mand such sum of money as that until
you hear from Washington. l believe
this has been done to enable the YES
sells to sail away. Therefore l have
come to offer you, Mr. Adams, that five
million dollars in gold, and have only
one condition to impose, and that is
that my name be never known in this
transaction"
Mr.. Adams was amazed. 1t seemed
to him as though this was direct in
terposition of Providence. After thank
ing most earnestly this benefactor, Mr.
Adams said: 81 have no security to of
fer you except my pledge that l will
send to Washington Immediately and
ask that the government forward to
you its bond as security for this loan
but for three weeks at least you will
be without other security than my
promise"
With this agreement the benefactor
departed and before nightfall Mr.. Ad-
ans had deposited the five million dol
lars in gold to the intense surprise of
the British officials. They were obliged
to keep their word and the cruisers
were retained, and thus the great peril
was removed.
As soon as it was possible to hear
from Washington Mr.. Adams received
some ten million dollars 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 man living knows who this
benefactor was. President Lincoln
knew. Secretary Chase and Mr.. Adams
also, and they died without revealing
the secret. Mr. Chittenden, who was
register of the treasury, and who took
the bonds to England, knows, and he
has inclosed the name in an envelope,
deposited it with the secretary of the
treasury, and after his death it may be
given to the world.
Yet fnaneiers are satisfied that this
benefactor of the United States who
risked five million dollars to save it
from peril was either George Peabody,
the banker and philanthropist, who had
long lived in London, or else one of the
Barring Brothers. These were the only
men capable of commanding on the in
slant so great an amount of money as
that in gold, who were also so
friendly to the United States as to in
duce them to make this amazing offer.
Mr.. Adams used to say that had it not
been for this timely aid perhaps the
history of the civil war would have
been differently written. st. Paul Pr
oneer Press.
SCRAPS FOR OLD SOLDIERS.