The National tribune., 1902-02-06

L ne NouSui ndd sent urgent
letters to the British Minister at Wash
ington, and IL was his reply that Mr.. Hig-
ginbottom brought. The two discussed
the situation with lowering brows, and
carefully read the Minister'S letter.
4 group of horsemen on the bluff above
had watched the vessel come in. and. dis
mounting, Gen. Sherman strodc down and
on to the deck, followed by several of his
staff.
Where did this vessel come from. and
what has she aboard?' ne inquired, with
quick, nervous imperiousneSs.
From Washington, with recruits. con-
valescents, some ordnance and Quarter
supplies" answered the Captain OF tho
shin.
Where are the rccruitsf"
I'm mastering them now. sir report
ed the One-armcd Captain. I've brought
every one through except one shot for in
Suhordination and mutiny."
Very good. March your men mp into
the city. and report to the Provost Mar
shall, who will distribute them to their
various regiments. Move off promptly,
so that they can be in their proper places
tonight. Can't begin their discipline too
soon. Nichols, go and tell Easton and
Baylor that the things they have beeS
expecting are probably here, and they had
better send down and look after them.
Sanitary supplies? Who is in charge Of
them?"
II am, General" replied the Deacon,
stimulated to prompt speech by the Gem
erals manner.
You are, are you? Well. 1 don't know
what they sent us sanitary supplies for.
We have about as much need for sani-
tary supplies az jeff Davis has for the
Golden Rule. The men have been getting
the very best kind OF sanitary supplies
ont Of the river and the sea. The most
illness in this army comes from men get
ting shad-bones stuck in their throats. or
surfeited on oysters. Davis, you might
90 up and look for that Sanitary Agent,
and tell him that his supplies have ar
rived. It'll give him something to do. He
hasn't had anything to occupy him since
he came here hot-fOot, because nobody
would have any of his stuff. They could
get plenty of much better Better send
them hack to somebody that needs them.
We certainly don't"
While this was going on, the Consul
and Mr.. HigginbOttom were bracing
themselves for a stiff assault upon this
strong-willed. imperious man.
Self-cOnfdent Mr.. HigginbOttOm opened
up, with n manner intended to be quite
Of the army: Gen. Sherman, L be-
lieve?"
Yes; yes" said the General, flashing
his blue eyes upon him.
MY name is HigginbOttom Of Man
chester. Hingland. This letter from 'Er
MaJesty's Minister at Washington will
tell you who Hi am" The Englshman
drew himself very stiffly.
We'll; well; what do you want?" with
contemptuoUs impatience.
Hi want hat once the cotton belonging
to hus. which you ave taken haway. We
need hit Immediately hin hour business,
and must not he delayed" Mr.. Higgin-
kOtfnrD GYnf-a tt-sfh
verify.
We'll, you can't have any cotton that's
here. That's all. You can go right back
with that answer"
Gen. Sherman, We will ave that cot
ton. Hit belongs to hus, and we'll stand
no more delay"
81 tell you you shall not have it. 1t
does not belong to you. 1t never did be-
long to you, and IL ever you had any
claim TO it, you have forfeited it by the
laws of war"
Gen. Sherman" interjected the Con-
sui, Il must tell You, as | have told you
before, that yOu are incurring great dan
ger in seizing the property of British cit
izens. | am strengthened in what | say
by the letters | have just received from
the British Minister. England protects
her citizens and their property wherever
they may be. and this is a very serious
thing you're doing. sir"
pu nave very llkeiS TO ave nghtInS
as his fighting, SIR added Mr.. Higgin-
bottom, insoIently. "Hit'H be very dif-
ferent thing. Hi tell you, meeting 'Er
Maiesty's soldiers and ships from hany-
thing you ave hever known hin this
bloody country"
And 1 tell you again. you shall not
have a pound Of this cotton" said the
General, reused to high anger. 81 will
have no more clustering from either Of
YOU I'm in no humor for it; my army
is in no huinor for it; my country is in no
humor for it Everywhere we have gone
we have been fired at by English bull
let's, shot from English guns, straight
from the arsenal at Enfield. We find
English cannon, English shells, boxes of
English cartridges, stacks of English
nuskets behind every breastwork that we
assault. We even find English cloth in
the rebel uniforms. and which are but
toned with English buttons English
pirates, sailing under rebel cOl0rs. are
sinking our ships with shells from English
You are everywhere the allies, aiders and
abettOrs Of the rebels. We are fighting
England now, just as much as the South
arn COnfederacy. You are all in a wicked,
traitOrOus plot with our enemies. You
are Schemins with them now tOs get this
cotton off to England to pay for more
guns and more cartridges to kill nv men.
That's what yOu are doing. You are plot
ting to steal this cotton from the United
States. and use it in the deadliest way
against MS. You can't play me for such
m arrant fool as to give it up to you to
rome back in the shape OF bullets and
shells. No. sir; we're not such fools You
Fan go back to your British Minister, and
tell him this from me-"
Gen. Sherman" said the Consul
Eravely. do you reflect that this may
mean warp
Let it come. then. Let it come. then.
You can tell your British Minister that,
from me. | am ready for it.. My army
s ready for it. The country is ready for
[. We shall soon finish up this job. and
hen we shall he ready and eager to settle
with England for her part. We are tired
IF her fighting under cover We want
ler to get ont into the omen once We
nave stood all from her that we propose
%. She has played the sneak long enough
)Ur monitors will drive your old wooden
lulks from the ocean. and I'll land nv
lrmy in England. and sweep through the
country like a sirOccO-like a SirOcco, sir.
10 back to your BntIsh Minister, aud tell
lin that. from me-"
He turned abruptly and stalked off the
'cSsel, leaving the EnclShmen shrinking
lnder the whirwind of his wrath.
(TO be cOntinued)
IT is claimed that the rake-off on each
,orse purchased by the British officers in
hungary amounted to Els CS75). Neither
TecIey nor Carter couId have baen mora