The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-13
SCHEME TO ROB FRANCE
The Colonel Wanted 100000 Francs
for Promoting the Sale Of "Amer-
icanitev TO the Government.

! ington correspondent says: Colonel Du
Patty de Clam is accused OF attempting to
NIL his pockets from the treasury Of France.
Count Sergey Smolianinoff. an American
| citizen for number OF years, but Russian
by nativity. possessed of a large entailed
estate In Russia at this time. a civil en-
gineer by occupation, as well as an inventor
OF rare and successful explosives, and well
known in this city for more than a dozen
years, makes the charge He asserts that a
few years ago. when he passed some time
in Paris for the purpose of selling his
smokeless powder. called "Americanite," to
! the French government, he was put into
communication with Colonel Du Patty de
Clam. and that this officer demanded 4.oo0.-
900 francs for his share in promoting the
sale. An additional 100000 francs was
asked for the nephew of the then minister
of war, the price TO be secured from the
| government being 100000
Count Smolianinoff seems to have nothing
more serious against him than his name,
which sounds and looks as dangerous al
most as his tremendous explosive. He has
had varied career, much of its activity
having been expended in this city--some OF
IL exciting-but nothing has been charged
against his veracity at any time and in the
matter OF his brief experience with Du Patty
de Clam he tells simple. frank story,
which carries with it a conviction OF its
truth, more especially as 1t is in exact touch
with much that has been developed in re-
gard to the French method Of promoting
great government projects.
ADVENT OF THE COUNT.
The count came to this country from Rus
sia In 1881. He had been graduated from the
best schools of Russia, and had engaged in
civ hi
one Of the best known of the builders OF
railroads in the country of the Gar.
AS a preliminary step towards making a
fortune which would enable him to restore
his impoverished estate of more than thirty
thousand acres in Russia, he secured a posi-
ton in the service of the coast survey, as
that would give him a solid footing and
recommendation. and enable him TO perfect
his English and gain a knowledge OF the
customs of the country. he was almost i'm
mediately sent away with an expedition for
arctic survey. and passed two and one-half
years at Point Barrow surveying the ex-
IRENE northern regions of Alaska.
Soon after his return he invented one OF
the early smokeless powders, and having be-
come proud of his American citizenship.
named his invention "Americanite. A
company was formed TO exploit the inven-
ton. Several factories were built, and the
sale Of the powder grew into a business of
large and profitable proportions.
1T was then that the count became well
known in Washington He married and set
up large and expensive establishment
Though speaking the English language with
broad and cultural Russian accent. he
was good companion and a particular
favorite among the class which spent money
with liberal hand.
food tide ia ISL the count Concluded to
attempt the exploitation Of his explosive
among foreign governments. First he went
to London, but not becoming at once
enamored of the slow and conservative
characteristics of John Bull on his own
island. and not finding Russians the most
popular race in that country. he struck out
to conquer the French n a friendly way,
as has since been accomplished by the
monarch of all the Russias.
With little trouble he succeeded in ex-
citing the interest Of General Matthew. di-
rector of artillery. and 1t was promised
by him that the matter would be presented
to the authorities at the proper time. A
military clerk, a Russian named Krivoshap-
kin, acted as Interpreter between the count
and the director of artillery, and through
this Russian he was brought into contact
with French Jew who had lived for some
time in Russia.
Whether this was part of a plan formed
at once at headquarters could only be
guessed, but at any rate M. Latty, the He
general staff, soon innocently suggested that
County Sergy Smolianinoff would do well TO
seek an interview int n WITH DT paty DE s CAM
eral staff
The meeting was arranged at once. The
II.
most appropriate spot In Europe to exploit
"Americanite." and the count looked upon
| the place as mascot There was little
wine and dinner and over this IL was that
| Colonel Eat that time possibly captain) Du
Patty de Clam handy and without blush
| sure he could induce the purchase by the
| government of the secret of "Americanite''
| II the count would agree 10 pay a liberal
| sum for promoting
DE CLAM ASKS A FORTUNE.
Al
| as about the proper thing for the govern
| ment to pay, and M. Du Patty de Clam
would be content with 100000 of that
amount, but he thought some of his assist
| ants might be expensive and more might be
necessary.
This proved to be the fact, for upon be-
Ing introduced to relative Of the minister
| Of war that thrifty person modestly de-
| cided he would surely be compelled TO dis
tribute at least 100000 among his friends.
This would Leave the Russian count up
Count SmolianInoff was In some doubt
about the methods. He hesitated. The
French officer was not pleased with the hes
ttation and issued an ultimatum that IL the
5000 900 were not placed I'm escrow with a
responsible party within three days the ne
gotiations would terminate. This was ac-
companied by a broad intimation that IL the
deal were not made with Du Patty de Clam
| It would never be made with the govern
meQt, as ne cOulQ easily DOCK the count y
game IL he were not made the beneficiary.
In the midst of this dilemma Count Smc-
| lianinoff went to an American official for
| advice. The advice was to engage I'm no
| such transaction. General Boulanger was
| then creating great excitement and great
mass of the French army and people looked
upon him as a coming Dictator
The count concluded TO take the advice
| of his American friend. He made no more
advances to Du Patty de Clam and his
friends. He went to Boulanger and sue
| ceeded in putting himself upon friendly
terms with that spectacular person. and had
| reason to believe affairs were progressing
favorably for him. though without any con-
sideration of money being demanded. Then
| one day Boulanger fled and soon took his
own life.
Having spent 1--WE months and much money
to gain these little experiences of attempts
| to sell an invention TO a foreign govern
ment, and finding IL would cost = mint OF
wealth TO effect his purpose among the most
| honest officials socially. IL In no other way.
the count concluded to return TO his
| adopted country. Here business troubles be-
1 set and also troubles Of more delicate
| nature the latter finally involving a d.
vorce The "Americanite" company sud
| denly threw him over
| Ali these annoyances led him In 1894 TO
accept an urgent invitation from his
| brother the Russian railroad builder TO re-
4 turn 10 his native land and assist him 10
carry through some enormous contracts
| both in southern Russia and upon the
| Transsiberian road. Less than a year ago