The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-10-27
Hero of the Federal Treasury

reply. "And I am much better OF
than Chittenden was after he had
don, what did the other day. but to
a much greater extent.
~. c. Chittenden. you know. was
registrar OF the treasury department
at Washington during the administra-
ton OF President Lincoln, and very
capable officer he was. We were per-
sonally on terms OF friendship. and.
meeting him one day in the streets OF
Washington should say It was in
the last months Of President Llncoln's
life-I noticed that his right hand
and arm below the elbow we're power
less. I wondered whether he was in
the initial stages OF the shaking palsy.
and knowing him well enough TO do
so. asked him II 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.. Chittenden was
az much a hero for his country's sake
as any man who went before the can
mons mouth In the Civil war.
"'You know began Mr.. Chittenden
TO me. as we stood on the edge OF the
Washington sidewalk, when Charles
Francis Adams. our minister to Great
Britain. protested against the British
government permitting those English
built Confederate privateers TO sail
from the ports of their construction.
he was told that the ships would be
kept from weighing anchor provided
he deposited with the British govern
ment within "a hours 81. 600, 900 in gold,
so that Great Britain might be pro
tected In case any damage suits were
brought against her for holding back
the privateers. Mr.. Adams, as you
probably know, had no idea where he
could get the necessary gold, but that
afternoon II was unexpectedly ocered
to him by a man whose name has
been kept a secret 10 this day. that
being the sole string of the loan. To
Mr.. Adams offered as security United
States government bonds. telling him.
however, that he would be obliged to
wait for the bonds until word Of his
deed could be sent by mali to Wash
lngton-there was no cable working
then--and the bonds sent over.
well. by the next steamer Presl-
dent Lincoln and Secretary OF State
Seward received Mr.. Adams commu-
nication. and It at once became nee
esssry TO send five millions In govern
ment bonds to Mr.. Adams by the first
steamer to Europe. II possible. II
would sail In Just as hours. We had
the bonds. but they were unsigned
"'"Mr. Chittenden." Mr.. Seward
asked me. do you think you can sign
FIVE millions of bonds in less than 4s
hours7" I said would do my best.
and little while thereafter the
bonds were brought to me and be-
gan to affix my signature to them, one
after another.
From that time on until the last
bond was signed. Just in time to catch
the steamer, I did not leave my ONCE
except momentarily. I ate In the Of
fee. For hours I could scarcely see
the bonds as they lay before me and
appended my signature by instinct. as
a blind man would. The task involved
the greatest exercise Of will power
was ever called upon to exert. My
head almost swan with bonds the
last hours of the IS. and the last of
the signatures must have had only a
fancied resemblance to my regular
one. But did the work in time. and
the bonds were sent by special mes
senger to Mr. Adams. who. in turn.
delivered them promptly to the good
friend of the Union who had ad-
vanccd the Ave millions in gold. And
this'-.Mr Chittenden glanced half
smilingly and half ruefully at his
powerless right hand and arm-'this
is my scar and wound, a permanent
injury. received while doing my duty
as a governments officer"
copyright. 1910. by F. J. Edwards. All
RiKhts Ressrveel