New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-07
Cruiser Starts To-day on
Relief Voyage with Aid
for Americans.
DIPLOMATS ON SHIP
FACE RISKS OF WAR
Delay in Putting $780,
600 Aboard Due to
Bankers Fears.
INSURANCE RATE HIGH
Danger on Seas from Foreign
Craft-WarShip to Coal in
Neutral Port.
Sixt.on tons Of cold doubloons!

Neutral Port.
Sixteen tons Of gold doubloons!
Early this morning the United States
steamship Tennessee, srmored cruiser,
will poke her nose aceanward and start
on her voyage to fighting Europe.
The Tennessee was TO have sailed at
10 o'clock last night. The delay was
assumed at the navy yard to be due to
the desire Of the Navy Department to
have her wait for the North Carolina
which is to meet her off Cape Cod and
accompany her across the ocean.
The North Carolina last night was
loading provisions in Boston, and was
expected to sail early this morning.
Sixteen tons Of minted gold
That is the cargo she carries. She
has other cargo besides, such as
the Assistant Secretary Of War, an
ambassador, consul generals, just plain
consuls, other members Of the diplo-
matte corps, army and navy officers
sent over BY the government to OBJ
up the rest of Europe, and supernu-
meraries in tho shape of five men sent
bv the New York banks TO see that the
yellow stuff didn't walk away. All these
are rs naught in comparlso7 win those
Sixteen tons of gold dollars!
Each and every one Of them bearing
the stamp of the United States govern
ment. perfectly at home anywhere IN
the world. and likewise perfectly GOOD.
Don't know how many dollars there
arc in sixteen tons of gold Listen
There are more than S,50000O. That s
how many. That's the value OF gold
that Captain Benjamin c. Decker =. D.
y, has charge of, along with the len
nessee.
Golden Cargo in Kegs.
They we're carried on board mainly
in kegs, each keg counting S0O'VVV.
No, not one of them was carelessIy
dropped overheard when they were
boisted from the deck of a revenue
cutter 10 the deck of the Tennessee,
where Commander Jesup, executive ON,
Ger. ali dressed up in a sword ana
pistol and smile. stood there TO re
I ccive them, and where Lieutenant T. u
4 Rlskeslee checked them of with ms
' pencil and bit of pao.
Back Of Commander Jesup and the
Pest, including reporters and moving
hicture men, stood a small group OF
fmen with serious faces. They we're
Z there as representatives of the New
York banks which were shipping the
greater part of the treasure for the
relief Of stranded Americans abroad.
Il was dead serious business 1or
them, and il is dead serious work and
dangerous work for every officer and
Il Nm Clnn tho
enormous responsibility resting upon
Captain Decker was pointed out.
Nothing would be easier than for
the Tennessee to be mistaken for a
hostile" cruiser and become the ret
cipient Of several broadsides before
the mistake was discovered. All war
ships are painted pretty much the
same sombre gray, and all look pretty
much aiike-especial IN the night
time. War is an eXcitable time. Eacr
warship works on the theory that il
pays TO put over the first punch. Cap.
tain Decker, his officers and men al
know this. There is real danger fol
every man aboard the Tennessee.
Danger of War for All.
Officers and men are not the only
ones who understand this. The New
- York bankers consider they are taking
d IL big risk in sending gold over. There
Wwas a last solemn conference among
y them yesterday morning on the subject
The time for sending the gold from
its repositories to the warship came
and passed. An hour and another
slipped by and still no move was made
10 effect the transfer. The curiou:
crowd which had gathered in large
numbers to watch the gold pass
through the streets wanted to know
the reason for the delay. Here il is
At this final conference several
bankers plainly stated that their colo
should not be shipped unless the con
signments were covered by marine in.
surance. The protection of American
warship and flag was not sufficient.
This view had the sympathy of al
the rest and IL was voted that insur'
ance must be had. II took over three
hours 10 arrange to insure the gold
Details of the arrangement and the
rate charged we're strictly withheld
from the public, but II is understood
that tho rate was high, high even for
the risk
This arranged, q truck drew up be-
fore the Sub-Treasury building. II was
loaded with s2.500,000 in gold and taken
TO the foot of Wall ST., where IL was
transferred 10 a revenue cutter wait
ing. Then the truck was driven back
20 the Bsnkers Trust Company, Wall
and Nassau SITS, and loaded with
$4,000 900 in gold. This quantity was
also transferred 10 the revenue cutter.
Police Gusrd Money.
No chances were taken. There
wasn't a chance for any Jesse James
work.
Martin Sheridan, giant extraordinary
and now hammer thrower ordinary,
headed squad Of six plainclothes men,
and these, with six Burns detectives
and a few uniformed policemen, formed
the Guard. They all managed 10 watch
the crowd and the gold at the same
time. The American Express Company
vans assisted the truck in carrying the
gold. Each van carried twenty kegs.
The tine taken in the transfer was
twenty minutes.
When the revenue cutter lay along