Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-02-11
A HETEROPHEMIST.
HOW HE INJURED THE FINANCIAL IN.
TERESTS OF THE CONFEDERACY.

Mr.. Blank Was Sent to England to Solicit
Aid and Failed-The Message He Sent
to Mr.. Memmiager Wa the Opposite of
What He Supposed.
The Southern Confederacy was only a
few months old when a financial agent
was sent to England ON a very impor-
tant mission. Mr.. Blank was a politi-
clan and a banker. He was also an ele-
giant gentleman, with many influential
acquaintance on both sides Of the wa
ter.
Before leaving Richmond he had a
long talk with Memminger, the secre-
tary of the treasury.
IF / find that England will aid u.s.
he said, II will send you word by some
reliable blockade runner. 1t will be a
very brief message, but you will under.
stand it, while IL will mean nothing to
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. In
the metropolis he found many southern
ers and many prominent Englishmen
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 a practical man and was not long
in coming to the conclusion that no aid
was to be expected from the British gov
eminent.
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 a thin slip of pa
per and skillfully secreted it in an or
binary coat button. The next day ne
was visited by a 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.
81 understand it all, " he said when
he left. "If l get safely TO Wilmington,
I 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"
Yes" replied Blank, sit will be
understood by the secretary, and as it
refers TO a state secret 1 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 q 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 in Richmond and presented him
with a button. The secretary cut off its
covering in a hurry and smiled when
he read the word successful"
ibid Mr.. Blank show this message to
your" he asked.
"No. We both thought it best that /
should remain in ignorance 30 that no
telltale expression Of my face would be-
tray anything if the enemy captured
me-"
At a meeting Of the cabinet that aft
ernoon Mr.. Memminger was in high
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 10
break the blockade.
II have this he said. from my con-
fdentinl agent, MI. Blank"
The name commanded respect, and
when the secretary said that under the
circumstances q loan Of $l5, 600. 600 me-
aotiated In Europe would be sufficient