The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-01-16

had not. How good heaven could have
been if it had sent me to my doom then
and there.
The accident had occurred at Mar
quise, a small town Is miles from Calais
and four from Boulogne, the first stop
ping place of the express. Two were
killed and half of the remaining passen
gers injured. My own injuries were
slight and consisted Of trifing cuts on
the face and hands from flying glass.
But, far worse than that, I had received
a nervous shock which took some weeks
to wear off, and during the rest of my
journey to Paris and return to London
was as nervous as timid woman. I
staid at Marquise until noon, when the
express passing at that hour made spe-
cial stop to pick me up.
The road from Paris to Calais is
known as the Chemin de Fer du Nord,
and Baron Alphonse de Rothschild, head
of the Paris Rothschilds, is the president
Of the road. This fact occurred TO me
within few minutes of the accident,
and thought might make use Of the
affair as means to help me in my bust
ness at Paris. I arrived about dark,
went to the Grand hotel, registered as
@. j. Horton, London, and went to bed
at once. Ny nerves were so shaken that
I was timid even when in the elevator,
but slept we'll and awoke at daylight
feeling better.
At 10 O'Clock, limping badly ana
leaning on a cane, entered carriage
and drove to the Maison Rothschild, Rue
Lafitte. The banking house might we'll
be called palace. The various Offices
open upon courtyard, while the whole
architecture Of the building would sug-
gest the residence Of an officer of state
or nobleman rather than building de-
voted to finance. But the currents which
center there are potent and farreaching
and come richly laden with tribute from
the four quarters Of the world. To win
that tribute slaves toll, and, toiling, die
in Brazilian diamond mines, and thou
sands Of coolies entrapped by agents in
China and India enter into perfidious
contracts which commit them to hope
less slavery and send them to wear out
their lives in despairing toll amid the
pungent and murderous ammoniacal
fumes Of the guano islands of Chile and
Peru. The Rothschilds, too, own the
Almaden quicksilver mine and others.
Controlling the quicksilver industries
Of the world, and to swell their abnor-
NAL hoard, portentous in it's vastness,
other poor wretches, condemned under
form Of law, are doomed to days Of
wearing toll, and, their bones rotting
from quicksilver absorption, to nights
Of racking pains. So, too, far Siberia
contributes its quota of human misery
that the golden stream Of interest on
century old loans may have no inter-
ruption, but pour on increasingly into
the vaults Of the Rothschilds
Alighting from the carriage and
mounting the steps with difficulty, en-
tered the English department., and seat
ing myself awaited the managers pres
ence. He came, and expressing great
concern when he learned was victim
Of the Marquise disaster aaked what he
could do for me. replied wanted to
see the baron. He disappeared into a
range of offices, and no doubt told Baron
Alphonse I was some important person
age, doubly important because injured
on his road.
Soon a slight, sallow man Of about
43 appeared, wearing an old fashioned
stovepipe hat and shabby suit Of snuff
colored garments. The look of the at
tendants testified that the deity was be-
fore me. Taking off his Anticipated
chapeau, he began profuse apology for
the accident, explaining that accidents
were most unusual events in France;
that he would order his own physician
to attend me; that should have every
attention without the slightest charge
or expense to myself, etc., and ended by
saying I was to command him if he
could serve me. In return I told him
since he was so distressed over the &C.
cident and my plight I should say no
more about either, but as I was too
badly shaken to complete the business
on which I had come to Paris I should
request him to instruct his subordinates
to aid me in transmitting the funds
I had brought from London back again.
He called the manager and told him to
accommodate me in anything; then,
shaking hands and with many express
sions of regret, he withdrew.
! told the manager I wanted three
months bill on London for &c, 900. He
informed me that the house of Roths-
child was not issuing time bills, but
since the baron's order suspended the
rule in my case he would procure me
six bills for 81 900 each. These really
were just as good for our purpose as one
bill for $4,000, but had come to Paris
on my brothers. demand that should
procure one bill for this unusual
amount, SO perforce I had to say "No,
that wanted one bill only.
The manager began to demonstrate,
saying it was unusual and wanted to
explain the nature Of bill of exchange,
but cut him short, bidding him recall
the baron at once. The thought of re-
calling that Jupiter to repeat an order
was enough to send thrill through the
entire staff, and he instantly said, sob,
cir If voY, wish tho &c mn -, -,,o hill