The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-31
..sIx THOUSAND Tons OF GOLD,


who is now the London correspondent Of the
New York Sun. The story has not only
the rare merit of originality and novelty In
plot and treatment, but possesses the
greater value as an instructive treatment
OF money and the limitation OF its useful
ness as an economic factor. being In this
respect more thorough than some OF the
larger and more pretentious treaties on that
subject.
Briefly outlined, the story is as follows:
On voyage from Liverpool to Buenos
Ayres, Duncan Fraser, Scotchman, past
middle life, who had travelled the world
in quest OF adventure and fortune. fell in
with Robert Brent, young American who
had lost his patrimony in silver speculation
and was now wandering. The two became
friends; but the breaking of the leg Of the
older man caused him to make the latter
his confdant and to take him into his en-
terprise. Fraser, while wandering in South
America. had fallen in with a Patagonian
chief, whose confidence he gained. To
Fraser this chief disclosed the existence
OF a large deposit of free gold which should
be his if he would agree to devise means
for taking it out of the country. The
Patagonian was confident that sooner or
later, it would be discovered, and his coun-
try would then fall a prey to the gold
hunter and his people. and to the vices.
rather than the virtues of the Caucasian.
Fraser had asked six months to consider
the matter and see Of he could devise a
scheme for it's secret removal from the
mountains of the interior to the shore and
for its shipment thence to a civilized coun-
try. Fraser's accident caused him to take
Brent into his confidence With an offer OF
half interest. While Fraser's leg was mend
ing a schooner was chartered for six
months and paid for in advance This was
laden with stores; and, with the two ad-
venturers and a small crew, sailed for the
meeting-place on the coast of Patagonia.
There they were met by the chief and
some Of his trusted men. Back in the in
terror this vast accumulation of free gold.
the deposit of the washings of gold-bearing
mountains for centuries in a pocket, and
left there by change in the course OF
the river, was disclosed. the sight OF it max
ing the two white men well nigh delirious
After the excitement passed Off the two
men set themselves to devising a plan for
the transfer of this 5000 tons of gold to
New York. On the schooner they could
take but small part of it. but enough to
make provision to ship the vast stock. They
had taken with them a number of boxes
prepared for the purpose, and tools, wire,
nails. etc.. necessary to build RATS with
which to float the precious stuff down the
swift river to the shore.
An experiment was made with few tons,
and the scheme was proved feasible. The
samples were put aboard the schooner and
shipped as. ore, Brent going, but Fraser
remaining. Brent was to be gone six
months to make preparations for the ship
ment to New York by chartering steam
ship and filling it with provisions. imple-
ments and boxes for the shipment OF the
gold The ''ore" taken was changed into
funds at the subtreasury in New York with
out discovery, the foreign steamer was
found and so freely paid for that its cap
tain was glad of the chance to be gone
as long required. 1t took six months
for this; but when Brent returned he found
that Fraser had been killed in conflict
with band of adventures, but had pre-
pared all the details to carry out the con-
tract, which was a shipload year of mer-
chandise for many years as the chief
should demand 1t. A fleet Of RATS had been
made for the shipment of the gold to the
coast. The boxes were filed the tops Gov.
cred with sand, some of which was shown
to the ships people as "ores." The guam
tity was so enormous that it naturally re-
moved all supicion. When the last box
was on board and the Patagonian chief
was relieved of the fear of the disaster
which the curse of gold would bring to his
people, if found, the ship sailed to New
York, where Brent had prepared immense
cfa al linz,
years. The cargo was entered as ORE
passed the custom-house because free of
duty. and was put into the vaults with
ont discovery.
Here was young man of thirty-fve
years, the sole possessor of six thousand
tons OF gold-twelve million pounds, worth
500 pound. or $500, 100000! He disposed of
about s2.5OO.O00 of it at the United States
further. What should he do? One day he
met classmate who was a member OF a
Wall-street firm, doing moderate business.
The old acquaintance was renewed, and
finally Brent took his friend into his secret,
and then the young broker made his
agent to gradually put a portion of the great
store of gold into a condition in which 1t
could be used. Through the banking house
ten. twenty and thirty millions were put
into the forms in which certificates of the
bars 1t represented should be made available
in financial affairs. But what was even one
one or two hundred millions OF $500 OO0, 900
a volume of gold nearly as great as all in
use by the civilized world as money!
One day the broker came to the billion
aire and told him that his cash could be
used to promote the commercial interests
of the country. A powerful clique Of ''bears"
had tied up most of the loanable money in
the banks, and therefore had raided the
stock market smashing values right and
left. II Brent would instruct him to enter
the arena the "bear' clique could be broken
and the general bankruptcy of those who
held the great railroad and like properties
would be averted Consent was given, and
a battle royal was begun Mr.. Chamberlains
during the several days that the fight was
on is. in the highest degree, graphic and
vivid.
The clique was ruined, but confidence did
not come. Industry was paralyZed In spite
of the recovery OF the price of stocks. In
the course OF the year, however, 500, 600, 900
of Brent's gold was poured into the cham
nels of circulation In this country, and
500. 100000 In Europe. disturbing prices. No
and the extent of this stock Of gold that
had filled the vaults of banks. In fact, the
knowledge that an immense stock of gold
was somewhere, and could be used by IN
known parties, except that it was manipu-
lated through the house of Strong & Co.,
paraiyzed rather than promoted business. Ii
was like the sudden issue OF millions of ir-
H.