Evening journal., 1910-06-29


Thomas c. Acton, who died in 1893. af-
ter reaching the age Of seventy-hve years.
gained a great national reputation at
the time Of the draft riots in New York
city. in 1863. by the energy with which
no met that critical situation as presi-
dent Of the police board of the metropolis
After his retirement as police COM
missioner. in 1869, he became assistant
treasurer of the United States in charge
of the sub-troasury in New York city.
Meeting him upon the street one day,
noticed that his right hand was band
aged. and asked him II he had met with
an accident
mot exactly an accident" was the
reply "And ] am much better off than
Chttenden was after he had done what
did the other day. but to a much great
er extent
Il C, Chlttenden. you know, was reg
istrar of the Treasury Department at
Washington during the administration or
President Lincoln, and a very capable Of
icer he was. We we're personally on
terms OF friendship and meeting him
one day in the streets Of Washington
! should say It was in, the last months
Of President Lincoln's life-l noticed that
his right hand and arm below the elbow
we're powerless. I wondered whether he
was IN the initial stages Of the shaking
palsy and knowing hiai we'll enough 10
do So asked him n that were the case.
Shaking his head slowly and smiling
slightly he told me the following story
and ever since the day ] heard it / have
held that Mr. Chttenden was as much a
hero for his countrys sake as any man
who went before tho cannons mouth In
the Civil War
" You know began Mr. Chittenden Ia
me, as VIC stood ON The edge Of ne
Washington sidewalk. when Charles
Francis Adams our minister TO Great
Britain, protested against the British
Government permitting those English
built Confederate privateers 10 sail from
the ports Of their construction. he wa,
told that the ships would be kept from
Weighing anchor provided he deposited
with the British Government withir
ltwenty-four hours hve million dollars II
gold so that Great Britain might b,
protected in case any damage suits wer,
brought against her for holding back tn,
privateers Mr. Adams. as you also prob
NnuIf
get the necessary gold, but that after
noon II was unexpectedly offered 10 hin
by man whose name has been KEEP
secret 10 this day. that being the sol
string Of the loan. To this good frien,
Of America in need Mr Adams offere,
as security United states Government
bonds telling him however. that he wouh
be obliged 20 wait for the bonds unit
word Of his deed could be sent by mai
10 Washington there was no cable work
ing then-and the bonds sent over.
Well. by the next steamer Presiden
Lincoln and Secretary OF state ewar
received Afr Adams communication. an
lit at once became necessary 10 send iv
millions In government bonds 20 MI
Adams by the FIRST steamer TO Europe.
possible II would sail IN Just forty-eigh
hours. We had the bonds, but they wer
unsigned. and Il was necessary for n,
signature TO be attached 10 eacL an
every one Of them.
Mr. Chittenden Mr. Seward ask
ed me. do you think you can sign nv
millions Of bonds in less than forty-eigh
hours? 7 said 7 would do my best and
little while thereafter the bonds wer
brought 70 me and I began 10 affx m
signature 10 them. one after another.
e From that time on until the las
bond was signed Just in time to cate
the steamer. did not leave my office os
cept momentarily. 7 ate in the ofic,
For hours I could scarcely see the bond
as they lay before me and appended m
signature by instinct. as blind ma
would. The task involved the create.