The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25
MONEY WASHED AND IR0NED.


Kansas City Star.
When Uncle Sam pays In gold coin of the
United States his obligations to his fighting
nephews In the far East a fairly consider
able dent is made in the national bank
roll.
When the transport drops anchor in Ma
Mia bay and the quartermaster captain
goes up the River Pacig to the office Of the
captain of the port, there is rejoicing from
the water front to the Army and Navy
Club. in Gale Palacio for the gentleman
with the shoulder straps realizes that now,
to the pomp and circumstance of war-as
expressed by the functions at the COVER
receptions in Malate roads, to be added
the material consideration of valor-money-
or, as the natives say, dinero.
Certainly the man who goes a-soldiering
has right to expect prompt pay. Ordi-
narily he gets it, Sometimes, for various
reasons, he waits. One Of the oldest of
these various reasons advanced on the re-
cent arrival in Manila of the United States
transport Sumner.
And from the consequent questionings de-
veloped the fact that Uncle Sam had been
doing little job of washing and ironing
money, and not till the wash was dry could
this: When the good ship Sumner, drawing
clear of the Folsom-street dock in San
Francisco and heading out past the Preside
and the Faralone islands, had been on her
way not longer than ii takes from 10 o'clock
to tiffin time the discovery was made by a
certain Of the favored passengers that
money was aboard. The Sumner was a
veritable treasure ship, carrying paper to
the value of S550,0c0 stamped with the prom
Use of the government Of the United States.
Now, as everybody knows, such a sum Of
handled or lightly considered 1t won't do
to take a fortune of this magnitude and
stow it away in steamer trunk under
even to put it in the little safe in the
quartermaster captains snug office on the
main deck. No. some more secure hiding
place must be found.
Such a place was found for the Summers
$550,000 First the money, which was in
denominations OF ones, twos, tens and
twenties, had been neatly bound UP in
appropriately sized packages and the whole
collection placed in a large wooden box,
iron bound and lined with tarred paper
Next the box had been taken aboard.
1.-The place for this money" decided the
quartermaster captain, lis the powder
magazine"
The captain argued it would be a good
thing to keep the bills in dry place.
Next he argued that the powder magazine
was dry place. Ergo, the powder maya
zine was good place for the s550,000. The
logic Of the quartermaster captain was
the powder magazine. and the favored
passengers who had been let into the secret
that half a million dollars was the prin-
eipal cargo forgot all about its presence on
board after the first few hundred miles had
been passed and the charms Of sea. sky
and smoking room had begun to work.
But the good ship Sumner encountered a
typhoon off the coast of Japan. 1t were
superfiuous to speak further on this point
The Sumner encountered typhoon- That
was ALL
Anyway" said the quartermaster cap
tain, shakily, after 1T was all over, ANY
way. the money is safe. It's in the powder
magazine"
Just to make sure. however, he took what
is termed in the East 'look-see." The
powder held two things, water and the
money GEOGRAPHICALLY water.
When the Quartermaster captain got to
Manila he turned the box over to Colonel
Here's your money" he said. He hesi-
tated. I'VE had typhoon off the coast of
Japan" he said, land possibly you'll find
the stock has been watered." Colonel Whip
pie opened the box. THE mine has been
salted, all right" he agreed. Then he
This half million dollars has been washed
clean enough 1t is now time for the iron
ing"
In one corner of Colonel whipple's office
in the Santa Potenciana building, in the
walled city part of Manila. stands TWEEN
tieth century letter press. The colonel called
one of the little brown brothers who do
duty as helpers and gave him instructions
to put the greenbacks under the screws.
Several gallons Of water having been
squeezed out the preparations for ironing
were commenced.
Blotting PAPER was laid on the tables and
on the blotters the bills. eighteen to card.
were spread. When 100 bills had been
laid out a muchacho armed with a steam
ing iron, the sort that in the States only
tailors use, but which In the East are in
general usage, appeared. he fiourished the
charcoal goose, ran its sizzling surface along
the damp dollars, polished them 10 CRATE
full crisp and passed on to the next table.
And then after the sea washing and the
charcoal ironing, the fighting man In the
far East got the pay due him and with his
wallet crammed comfortably, sauntered over
to the Array and Navy Club. In the same
street and cashed his monthly accumulation
of chits.