The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-07
HETEROPHENIIST.
HoAHE INJURED TAs: FINANCIAL IN
TETESTS OF THE CoNFEDERAcY.

"
whnta PC Supposed.
The Southern Confederacy was ONLY u
lew months old when q financial agent
was sent 70 England on Il very impor-
'aiit MISSION Mr. Blank was politi-
clan and aPanker He was also an elo-
CANT gentleman, with many influential
acqualntance& on both sides of the wa
ter
Before leaving Richmond he had a
long talk with Memmingcr, the sccre
tay of the TREASURY.
IF find that England will aid us, :"
he said, II will send you word by some
rcllable blockade runner. 1t will be Il
very brief message, but you will under
stand it, while it will mean nothing to
the enemy if it should be Intercepted. !"
The confidential agent slipped through
tho lines, and in less than Il montl, was
comfortably established in London. In
me metropolis ho found many southern
ers and many prominent Englishmen
VINO sympathizcd with the scceSsionists.
TIC saw Mr.. Yuncey, tho Confederate
munster, every day, and the two work
cd together i'll harmony. MIR Yancey
was Il practical man and was not long
III coming TO the conclusion that no aid
was to be expected from the British roy
crnmcnt
The abolition sentiment controls
here, " he said to Mr. Blank. "Some of
the statesmen would like to HELM the
south i'll order to break up the Union.
nut the people will never consent. Tho
south VIII have TO fight alone. -
Blank felt pretty blue when he heard
this, and that night he wrote the single
word successful" on Il thin slip of M
per and skillfully secrctcd it in an or
binary coat button. The next day he
was visited by Il southern friend who
remained with him for an hour or more
During his stay he removed the top but
ton from his coat and scwcd on one
given by Mr.. Blank.
understand it all, +" he said when
he left. IF L get safely TO Wilmington
VIII go at once 10 Richmond and give
TINS button to Mr.. Memminger Iprefcr
not to know the nature Of the message
as you say that it explains ITSELF
Yes, y replied Blank, sit will Inc
understood by the secretary. and as it
refers TO Il state secret | cannot saw any
thing about it.
The two shook hands, and the gentle
man with the precious button took the
next train for Liverpool, where he
loardcd Il 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 Nfr. Mem
mingcr i'll Richmond and presented him
with Il button. The secretary cut off its
covering i'll a hurry and smiled when
he read the word successful" ..,.s
Did Mr.. Blank show this mcssaoc tn
yon?' he asked.
No. We both thought it best that I
should remain i'll 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
unoon Mr. Mcmmingcr was in high
spirits. He predicted that he war would
he over III 90 days and said that England
WAS preparing to recognize the Confed-
eracy and send over her warships to
break the blockade.
Il have this, y he said from NV CON
tidential agent, Mr.. Blank =
The name commanded respect, and
when the secretary said that under the
circumstances IL loan of SD, 900. 600 ne
gotiatcd i'll Europe would be sufficient
everybody agreed with him. The weeks
rolled on, and Eranger i'll Paris adyer-
tised for bids for $l5, 900, 600 in Confed-
crate bonds. Mr.. Blank read this ut his
London hotel and dropped his paper in
his agitation
Must be mistake. Ill run over and
see about it. -
The next day he was ut Erlanger's
office III Paris The French banker in
formed his visitor that there was no
mistake, and then Blank swore yigor-
ously. The bids rushed i'll from all quar-
tiers. If the demands of these specula-
tors had been met $500, 900, 900 in Con-
federate bonds could have been sold.
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
Judgements to return home. His inter
view with Memmingdr was Il stormy
one when he arrived at Richmond
II intended to write 'unsuccessfulr
he said after Il long talk
"Well. there is your message" re-
piled the secretary. You wrote sue
cessful.
IL don't understand it," said Mr..
Blank sadly. Surely yOur advices from
Mr.. Yancey should have warned you
= ut there was something wrong"
+ ('His dispatches We're Intercepted,