Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-13
4sIiseslla gsadias.
sALTPETER OR WAR.
How Lord Palmerston Came to Sign
an Order.

years old, to go abroad and purchase
saltpetre, and in this connection comes
hitherto unwritten chapter in Ameri-
can history. Leaving on the briefes'
notice, La Motto du Point arrived In
England, having been told that $50O.0OC
in gold would follow by the next steam
er. He carried letter Of introduction
from E. 1. du Pont de Nemours & Co
to Brown, Shipley & Co., of London
Going among the saltpetre brokers, du
Pont bought their entire supply, and In
a few days the saltpetre was being
rapidly delivered. The purchase was
to be for cash, but the next steamer
failed to bring the gold. The brokers,
seeing the price of saltpetre rising as
the supply decreased, besieged him for
money, thinking that in the event Of his
failure to make payment they could
cancel the orders and resell at an ad-
vanced price. La Motto du Pont ap-
pealed to Brown, Shipley & Co., who
informed him that they had not so
large an amount of cash on hand. They
however, referred him to Peabody &
Co., and forthwith he called on that
firm of bankers. Yes, we have the
money" said the bankers, but how do
we know you to be Of the firm Of E. /.
du pont de Nemours & Coz" A rep
resentative of Brown, Shipley & Co.,
could not affirm that La Motto du Pont
was what he represented himself to be,
but du Pont made so earnest plea
that Peabody & Co., were impressed,
finally agreeing to advance the money
II Brown, Shipley & Co. would affirm
that they had no cause TO believe that
La Motto du Pont was not as he rep
resented himself, La Motto du Pont
received. the money but his worry was
increased when the second ship to ar
rive from the United States did not
bring the promised shipment. He con-
tinued his purchases, storing the sup
ply Of saltpetre in a great warehouse In
readiness to ship.
On the third steamer the gold arriv-
ed from America, and, just as he saw
his mission about complete, the Lon
don Times came out opposing the ship
ment. So vigorous was the opposition
that La Motto du Pont chartered ship
and quickly recruited crew. Many OF
the men he secured we're from vessels
captured by the Confederate warship
Alabama. AS the last Of the cargo was
being taken aboard, preparatory to
leaving at high tide at o'clock on the
following morning. customs officer
reached the wharf with orders to stop
the shipment. Young du Pont demand
ed to know his authority, agreeing to
accompany him to the custom house to
secure his information. Before leav-
ing his ship he stepped into the cabin
and whispered to the captain: Load
every pound Of saltpetre as quickly as
possible, anU be ready to sail at mo-
ments notice" The captain nodded,
and La Motto du Pont proceeded with
the customs officer. On the day du
Pont suggested that they lunch togeth-
er before going to see the officers su-
perior, and the Britisher heartily ap-
proved the idea. They lunched, and as
every minute or delay meant so much
more saltpetre aboard the ship, the re-
past was stretched out by interesting
stories and the recounting Of odd ex-
periences. When finally they arBived
at the custom house all the saltpetre
had been placed aboard the vessel:
Young du Pont was told that the order
to stop shipment came from Lord Pal
merston, the British premier. Despite
this, the direction to the captain, as
soon as, the American returned to the
ship, was: I'VE will sail at tomorrow
morning, order or no order. I will be
here at precisely that hour"
He arranged with the wharf master
to open the locks, and retired. Before
dawn the. next morning the wharf mas
ter's men manned the capstan, and
were opening the locks when file Of
British soldiers approached. The men
were ordered to reverse their direction,
and the partly opened locks were
closed. That ended all chance Of get
ting the ship out Of port, and La Motto
du Pont took the first steamer for New
York. Going direct to Washington, he
reported to Secretary Seward, who
gave him two letters, one to Lord Pal
merston and the other to Minister
Adams at the court of st. James. The
first set forth in short sentences that
If permission to ship the saltpetre was
not given Immediately, it would be con-
sidered as declaration Of war. The
other letter directed Minister Adams to
return to Washington at once If ship
ment was not permitted.
La Motto du Pont reached England
by the next steamer, and on his arrival
in London, conferred with Minister
Adams, later calling upon Lord Pal
merston for permission to ship the salt
petre. Lord Palmerston Is engaged,
said the fiunky. and du Pont called at
a later time Receiving the same re-
ply, he called third and then fourth
time, but Lord Palmerston still was
engaged. Inquiring whether the prem
Ter was in and receiving the answer
that he was, La Motto du Pont ap-
preached the door Of his office. The
attendant sprang upon him, attempt
ing to choke him, but the American
threw his weight upon him and the at
tendant lost his balance and reeled'
Freed for the moment, du Pont walked
quickly into Lord Palmerston's office
and laid his card upon the desk In
front Of the premier. His lordship ap-
peared confused, but said hurriedly, Il
am glad to see you, Mr.. du Pont." i
wish permission to ship the saltpetre
said the American. This is an import
ant matter" was the reply. Il cannot
decide without conference" 1t then