The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-01-02
urged that it would be convenient to
have an open account in London

urged that it would be convenient e
} have an open account in London
"Well, said. looking at nv PASS.
book, Il see I have e2, 335 to nv credit.
I will leave the odd e35 with you. He
instantly acquiesced Had he said. .No,
you must leave at least $500, as our
rules require. should have said all
right and have made it $500. drew
out the SO, 800 at once, intending to de-
posit $500 before leaving London. but
in the haste of our preparations neg
lected it, and my balance at the bank
stood e35 for all the weeks 1 was on
our piratical cruise to the Spanish main.
Storing most of our baggage in Lon
don, we took the train to Liverpool, and,
purchasing tickets for Rio, we went on
board the good ship Lusitania.
The firm of Maua in Rio was the
most considerable in all South America,
and Macs introductions were to this
firm. The plan was for Mac to present
himself to Maua & Co., and to draw
within "a hours at least e10, 900, so as to
make sure Of our expenses, and day or
two before steamer day to arrange for a
very large sum, 100000 or ESQ, 700.
Fate, providence, call it what you
will, seldom fails to upset wrongdoing,
making it rocky for the wrongdoer.
By an irony Of fortune we carried
with us that which was going to balk
all, or nearly all, our fine scheme.
In our letters of credit in some mvs-
terious way the name of the submana-
ger of the London and Westminster
bank had been omitted, although this
was absolutely essential to the validity
| Of the letters. There was also another
error, an error Of such an extraordinary
nature-that Of spelling endorse" with
"c"-that it is enough to make any
man contemplating an unlawful act de-
spair Of success, since we could be de-
feated by so mysterious and unforeseen
accidents.
A few hours after our arrival Mac
called at the bankers and was well re-
ceived by the manager.
He told him Of his credits for e5, 900
to 100000 each, and that he should
have it ready?
The next day he went to the bank,
George and myself being posted outside.
In ten minutes he reappeared with a
square bundle under his arm. He smiled
as he passed us, and, turning corner,
entered cafe, where we joined him.
His bundle contained 100000 in Bra
lillian bank notes. He assured us that
everything was serene at the bank that
he could have e1OO,OOO if he wanted to
ask for it.
The next day Mac went to the bank
ers again and was requested by the
manager to show the letter of credit on
which was Endorsed the 100000 he had
drawn against it. Looking at the letter,
the manager said: "This is singular
There is only the name of Mr.. Brad
shaw, the manager, on this letter. j.
P. Ship, the submanager's name,
should be ON the credit as well" And
then he went on to say that some time
since they had been notified by the Lon
don bank that all letters issued by them
would bear two signatures.
Mac was a man of nerve, but it re-
quired all he had not to betray his I'M
easiness. He said he really could not say
how the omission had occurred; he sup
posed it must have been accidental, but
he would examine his other letters as
soon as he went back to the hotel.
The look Of chagrin and vexation on
Macs face when he came out was a
sight to see and one that is as vivid in
my memory now as in that faroff day
in 1872. What sea of misery rolls be-
tween then and now!
He went direct to the hotel, and
there George and soon joined him. We
sat down and looked at each other The
game apparently was up, and we were
a sorely disguised party. We did not
fall out with or reproach each other,
but felt we deserved kicking. We did
not ask each other any questions, but I
know our faces all wore sadly puzzled
look as we repeated mentally, "How
could we have made such an oversight"
But soon another blunder-the mis-
spelled word-was to crop up that
made this one Of the omitted name seem
as a fly to an eagle.
Mac and thought the game up and
were mentally planning for flight. But
George, being a man Of extraordinary
courage and resource as we'll, declared
we could and would retrieve the blum
der. He declared bold step must be
taken; that as the bankers had only seen
the one credit the name of Shipp, the
submanager, must be instantly put on
the others. We had the genuine sigma
ture of j. P. Ship on draft, and Mac
at once sat down to write it on all the
letters. 1t was trying ordeal for him,
Macs nerves having had wrench. He
was a temperate man, but under the
circumstances we advised him to take
glass of brandy to steady his nerves
Then placing the genuine signature be-
fore him and the forged letters he began
to put in the name. The signatures
were not we'll written, but under the
trying circumstances it was wonderful
~ well done. All this had taken place
within half an hour after he had left