The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-10

drafts, Setting forth that The bearer had
done him great service in cashins the
dratt, and expressing the hope that II
would be paid.
These operations occupied about six
weeks Altogether the man had secured
crafts to the amount of about $4,000 IN
goids for every draft stipulated that IL
was 10 be paid in gold. Gold was then
al big premium in the north. so the
dratt for 500 would be worth $50 or per
maps 500 in the north, If II was paid in
gold The Spectator intended to make
money both ways. II he could collect all
he would have from $4,000 70 Slo0.000 in
grsenbaeks for his drafts.
"One day two union officers were ex-
changed by the flag Of truce in the har-
Dor. One OF the lucky fellows was the
money lender The other was a cavalry
orieer who had been a prisoner for many
months. The latter had long watched the
performances Of the money lender and
had resisted all inducements to borrow.
The two went out of the harbor together
and were received on board the Cosmopoli-
tan by Gen. Stewart L. Woodford, the ad-
1utant general OF the department Of the
south. They were transferred at Hilton
Head 10 the steamer Arago. a government
transport bound for New York The Arago
was ordered to stop at Fortress Monroe to
let the two exchanged prisoners and dis
patches from Gen. Gilmore go thence to
Washington. The money lender and the
cavalry officer had occupied the same
stateroom on their northern voyage. Dur
ing the voyage the money lender became
convinced that he had never been an off,
Ger in the union army, but that he was
simply put into the prison at Charleston
TO work the prisoners for the benefit Of
the shylocks of that city.
As the Arago steamed up the bay to-
ord
lender pulled from under his mattress "A
small sachel. This was mis- only baggage.
The cavalry officer had only the clothes
on his back, and those he had borrowed
from Gen. Woodford. The two went on
deck. The money lender pushed his way
eagerly TO the forward deck and stood by
the capstan. Near him stood the cavalry
officer, amid the crowd of passengers, who
were watching the shore and participating
in the excitement of a landing after a
three days sea voyage. Some incidents of
the occasion produced a sudden rush to
the vessels side In that instant the
money lender let go his grip on the sachel.
Quick as thought II " as seized by another
hand and quietly dropped into the waters
of the Chesapeake bay.
mo one saw it done. for it was dropped
over the side of the ship where none was
looking. The cavalry officer was calmly
leaning over the starboard rail contem-
plating the beautiful expanse of Hampton
Roads, apparently caring nothing for the
strife and clamor of the landing The
money lender exclaimed at his loss. and
offered a reward for the return of the
sachel and its contents, but no one could
offer him any comfort. He went down
to the pier very sad man, and no one
seemed to sympathize so deeply with him
as his comrade Of the Second cavalry.
1t Is needless to say that none of the
drafts ever turned up to plague the union
prisoners after their return. although some
Of them received letters. from the money
lender in after years, asking for a settle
ment of accounts. Some doubtless paid.
but the majority concluded that such
losses as that of the shylock ought to be
counted among the fortunes of war"