The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-15
A HETEROPHEM[ST.
HOW HE INJURED THE F,s~AlscsAl IN
TERESTS OF THE conEgpEnAcv.
ar. Blank Was Sent to England to Solicit
Aid and Faiied-The Message He Sent
to Mr.. Memminger Was the Opposite of
What He Supposed.

what He supposed.
The Southern Confederacy was only
few months old when a financial agen
was sent to England on very impor
tant mission. Mr.. Blank was politi
clan and banker. He was also an ele
CANT gentleman, with many ipfluentia
acquaintance ON both sides OF the wa
ter
Before leaving Richmond he had
long talk with Memminger, the secre
tary of the treasury.
IF find that England will aid us, ;
he said, 81 will send you word by some
reliable blockade runner 1t will be
very brief message, but you will under
stand it, while it will mean nothing t.
the enemy if it should be Intercepted >
The confidential agent slipped through
the lines, and in less than a month was
comfortably established in London IL
the metropolis he found many southern.
ers and many prominent Eng)ishmen
who sympathized with the secessionists.
He saw Mr.. Yancey, the Confederate
minister, every day, and the two work
ed together in harmony. Mr.. Yancey
was practical man and was not long
in coming to the conclusion that no aid
was to be expected from the British gov
ernment.
1.-THE abolition sentiment controls
here" he said to Mr. Blank. "Some of
the statesmen would like to help the
south in order to break up the Union,
but the people will never consent The
south will have to fight alone. "
Blank felt pretty blue when he heard
this and that night he wrote the single
word successful on thin slip of pa
per and skillfully secreted it in an or
binary coat button. The next day he
was visited by southern friend, who
remained with him for an hour or more
During his stay he removed the top but
ton from his coat and sewed ON one
given by Mr.. Blank
Il understand it all, " he said when
he left IF get safely to Wilmington.
will go at once to Richmond and give
this button to Mr.. Memminger. Iprefer
not to know the nature of the message,
as you say that it explains itself "
Eyes, replied Blank, cit will be
understood by the secretary, and as it
refers to q state secret cannot say any
thing about it, -
The two shook hands, and the gentle
man with the precious button took the
next train for Liverpool, where he
boarded steamer bound for Whining
ton
The steamer was chased by Federal
cruisers, but she managed to reach her
destination without any serious mishap.
In the course of two or three days the |
mysterious traveller called ON Mr. Mem
minger III Richmond and presented him
with button The secretary cut off its |
covering in a hurry and smiled when
he read the word successful -
did MIR. Blank show this message to |
you?" he asked.
mo. We both thought it best that I /
should remain in ignorance so that no ,
telltale expression Of my face would be- ]
tray anything if the enemy captured .
me. :"
At meeting of the cabinet that aft
ernoon Nh. Memminger was in high I
spirits. He predicted that the war would /
be over in 90 days and said that England /
was preparing to recognize the Confed- /
eracy and send over her warships to .
break the blockade.
81 have this, " he said, "from my con- /
fidential agent, Mr.. Blank. -
The name commanded respect, and .
when the secretary said that under the !
circumstances loan Of Sl5, 900, 600 ne !
gotiated i'll Europe would be sufficient
everybody agreed with him. The weeks
rolled on, and Erlanger in Paris adver-
tised for bids for S15, 600, 900 in Confed-
crate bonds. Mr.. Blank read this at his
London hotel and dropped his paper in
his agitation.
well, I'll be d-dr' he remarked.
Must be mistake I'll run over and
see about it. +"
The next day he was at changers
office in Paris. The French banker in
formed his visitor that there was no
mistake, and then Blank swore vigor-
ously. The bids rushed in from all quar-
tiers. If the demands of these specula-
tors had been met, $500, 900, 900 in Con-
ANNAOAe'O bOuuS NOulu lllNt Dttl SOlu.
When this fact became known, Mr. |
Blank again relapsed into profanity.
He could not stand it, and, despite
the danger of the trip, he made his ar
rangements to return home His inter |
view with Memminger was q stormy
one when he arrived at Richmond.
II intended to write 'unsuccessfulp
he said after long talk.
"Well, there is your message, Z" re-
piled the secretary. You wrote sue
cessful. 4"
II don't understand it," said Mr..
Blank sadly. Surely your advices from
Mr.. Yancey should have warned you
that there was something wrong"
''His dispatches were intercepted,
answered the other.
81 don't understand it," repeated
Mr.. Blank.
Perhaps / do" quietly remarked
the secretary. II have carefully noted
your talk this morning, and have dis
covered that you are heterophemist.