The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-03

when the panic Of 1887 overwhelmed
the country the late John Stephenson, the
great car builder, was carried down in the
wreck. He was still young man, and he
did not let the disaster discourage him.
By 1913 he had scrarod enough monsy to-
gsther 10 enable him 70 purchase the
property In Twenty-seventh street. near
Fourth avenue, New York. for which he
pair $500 lot, than high prizes. but now
worth probably nearer 5000 . lot 1t
Was hard struggle for the young man to
collect this money, but he had won repu-
tation for honesty, aud the evident sue
ce0s-breedfng stuhbornnees that he pos
sessed brought 70 him the aid Of capital
that enabled him to build up an enormous
business. All that he made during the
first seven years besideo what he
had put into the business wentto pay of
the bankruptcy debts. He paid them oil oil,
one By ono. - fast - he accumulated the
money. although the law excused him
from paying any Of It One OF his creditors
was Jordan L. Mott. Who stubboruly re-
fused to accept his debt, telling Stephen
son that the failure was On honest one
and that the Indebtedness was legally and
morally wiped ont by the bankrupt
proceeding. Stephenson could not force
him 70 take the money. bat when the lat
ter ordered . truck Stephenson built it
and delivered IL with receipt indorssd:
Received payment BY tho bankruptcy
debt. John 6tsphenson." Al Stephenson
could not b induced - accept the money,
Mott drsped The new truck In gay bun,-
Ing and drove Il through the streets Of
New York With the following legend
In large white letters on both sides
Of the truck: 'sIhis Il the way q
bankrupt pays his debts. His name il
Honest John Stephenson" Not satisfied
With this tribute 70 The honest carbuildsr,
Mott placed the same wagon IN . process
sion Of the Fair Is the American Institute,
which . contemporary paper describes -
follows: AT u o'clock procession was
formed ct vauxhail, which moved down
the Bowefy through Bond street, down
Broadway and through Broad and Wall
streets, up Pearl and Broadw way to Niblo's.
In the processiou wsSe four yoke Of oxen
from the Fair. aktached to cart contain
ing ploWs and oth4s agricultural imple-
msnts Then came six yoke of oxen
drawing another cart loaded with speci
meus OF various products: another cart
with vegetables; then Wilsin's street.
cleaning machine: two omnibusses Of
Pslmer's line drawn by six horses. bearing
the inscription, Honor to John Stephen
SON. Who built this wagon In payment Of .
debt from which he was discharged by the
bankrupt law"
The most picturesque figure in the COM
ing silver battle in congress, which meets
next Monday. promises to be that Of Con-
gresham w. Bourks Cochran, Of New
York. His splendid presence, his eio-
quence and the convincing logic of his Ar
guments made him the leader in the great
silver debates of the last congress. His
legislative experience then was by no
means Is great a. that Of several Of his
colleagues who aided in leading the move
ment against the enactment Of the Bland
bill. He had served In the Fiftieth con-
gress only and had made but one speech,
and that upon topic foreign to finance.
Yet. when the battle waxed warm, Cock
ran stepped 10 the front with the ease and
confidence Of q natural leader. and COM
manded tho anti-siiver forces until the VIC
tory was won. His speech during the
famous all-night session, when the Bland
bill was finally put to sleep. was memora-
Bile one, and was received with perfect
storm Of applause. Cockran's honors were
not grudgcd by any Of the men who had
borne the burden and the heat Of the day.
HIS leadership on the floor was graciously
acknowledged. and the support given him
was loyal and unfaltering. That he will
lead in the debates on the fioor in the com.
ing struggle is now confidently expected,
and that he will have the solid backing OF
The friends Of sound money goes without
saying
OF those taking conspicuous part In
the silver convention at Chicago Allen w.
Thurman is baseball manager; Gov.
Waite. Senators Stewart, Mantle and
Shoup. Tom Patterson and ex-senator