THE TRUE STORY OF THE KAHIL CABLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1404, 26 January 1899, Page 7

THE TRUE STORY OF THE KAHIL CABLE.

Strangers when first introduced to Cvrns Square found it impossible to believe that the shabby, insignificant-looking man before them was the Colossus of finance, with whose doings the newspapers had so familiarised them. All doubt of Square’s identity would have disappeared, however, had they been able to watch him in his elaborate soundproof office, where, surrounded bv telephones, speaking tubes and bells, he was enabled to enact the “ Vampire ” of the financial world with all the strength and energy of a perfectly trained intellect. Hated 'by /some, feared by all, and trusted by none, lie gloried in the power that his enormous wealth gave him, and used it remorsely to crush all rivals. The market yet remembered the great Gold Corner into which he had somewhat incautiously been drawn, and from which i'was thought by all tliat lie would find it impossible to extricate himself. Young men tell yet how he by incredible treachery ruined everyone of liis partners in that great deal and emerged triumphant and unscathed.

Bis one regret, as he sat one morning awaiting his son. was that lie. the future inheritor of all the amassed millions, each cf which represented the spoils of innumerable victims, was utterly indifferent to the great game of finance. And now the boy was of age and was to be portioned like every other millionaire’s son. Square sighed—a rare thing for him —and then " Come in!” he shouted, as a knock sounded on tlie door. A youth entered, dressed in the extreme of New York fashion and with a vacuous look on his fuce which gave his father an unwonted pang, as for an instant he allowed himself to see into the future.

Waving his hand, Square pointed to a chair, and the young man, carefully pulling up his trouser legs, sat down and meditatively sucked the end of his cane.

"I don’t see much of you, Robert.” the father began, “ so, as to-dav is your birthday, 1 sent for you to inform you as to your future prospects. I find that you have drawn on me during the last week for a hundred thousand dollars, and although I ain’t more curious than most fathers, still I’d like to know where the money’s gone. Anyway, I have put a million dollars to your credit at the West Central Bank, and you can have your fling on that. When that’s gone I hope you’ll turn to and help me a little, although I’m afraid you’re no good in my line.” His son gazed at him still with the same semi-idiotic expression on his face. " I’ve been doing a bit of' speculating

on my own, Dad,” he said at length, " and I want you to help me.” " There! there! boy, I haven’t time for playing round; ask Hitchens, my chief clerk, to help you,” Square said, impatiently eager to terminate the interview, opened it, and then closing it again gently. His son rose and went to the door and said: “I daren’t, Dad, that’s the solid truth. I wonder if I dare trust you ?” He looked anxiously at his father. Square laughed—a laugh born of intense mental amusement, and he loved his son at that moment better than ever he had bofore. “Well,” he replied, blandly, "as at present you have nothing but what I have given you—l think you can !” “ Now Dad.” Gone was the vacuous look—gone was the drawling speech, and the keen, eager man of business or fraud stood revealed. “ I ain’t the fool you take me for—not much, and so you’ll find. Don’t interrupt me, but say yes or no when I’ve finished!”

Square stared, whilst a stern joy pervaded him at this undreamt of revelation of character. "Of course you know, Dad, how the present row between our people and Spain has come about, and you, I guess, think tliat neither side means business. It’s just there that you’ll be left if you don’t look out. When young Dalby cornered wheat he as nearly as possible got fixed up for good, and he was at liis wits’ end to know how to get out. To my certain knowledge lie has spent half a million dollars in the Yellow Press during the last month, and he succeeded so far that a war scare set in and up went wheat. So far so good; but the country has got fairly roused, and fight they will, you mark my words, and Dalby nor fifty Dalbys won’t clioke them off. He’s devilish sorry about it, but it was neck or nothing with him and he had to come out on top. From certain information 1 have—well paid for too—l know the Executive means business, and I’ve found out what their first move is to be. Rear-Admiral Bulger, with his squadron now at Hong-Kong, is to attack the Spanish fleet at Manila and thus get in the first blow. Our other fleet will blockade Cuba and watch on events. I’ve bought, too, the Navy cipher, and now I want to get back my own again and perhaps a bit more. Bulger must wipe out the Spanish, for his fleet is infinitely the heavier both in metal and in tonnage, so that’s all right. Finger hates and loathes the cable and all iis works, and you bet lie won’t worry " about the rest of the world whilst he is doing his little bit; tliat will be my business ! " I have tlie option on a tramp collier steamer, now lying at ’Frisco, and I can put my hand on a man who for fifty thousand dollars will break every commandment in the Decalogue. That collier will go tor all she is worth to Hong-Kong and wait there for tlie war to break out. Slio will have on board machinery for grappling with and working the single cable from Manila to the British port, and when Bulger has chawed up the Don’s fleet rn he is bound o do-why then our Executive mil get a cablegram purporting to be from him stating the reverse. Down willTo stocks with a run, and there’ll be some bargains Dad, to pick up, if only a man with millions behind him and a head on his shoulders is knocking around! tugood enough for you to take a hand in ?” w-w™ 3 faqua f e 8 ac( l u aintanco with Holv Writ was not extensive bnt “xt y Dimittis ” was, although Wmi . % nc emphatic-enough in its^wav 1 canonica L “ I> 7 God!—l’ve lived -'-id TV n mv life, hut when my tin*V-/-/ ybtoyed that you’ll bo a bngcr nnn n 3 I T linow andfll so T wok%t h tha7'neith t^ll ” 1 : cunning deal of the century p I Wm ®°st mv own son to helf-rnin ' I help* Change and treble/ nav S man o£ fortune P Yes, that I wm?- adr uple “V rang shrill and he chuckled xH*i merriment. CKled with intense* cealed mhdh U o r f the typSJritew 1 ? q al f' Con * Robert Square,

unlightod cigar, strolled gently out of the building whilst the wires worked and the needles clicked in the tiny room above, where his father sat brooding over the vast spoils awaiting him.

PART 11. I : ; was a month later, and the American Squadron lay apparently lifeless in ike harbour at tiong-isong. The junior officers of the British ships spent all their avail able time off duty fraternising with thencomrades of another service, and in envying them their chance. The Squadron was one to bo proud of, consisting as it did of live cruisers—equally armed and of equal tonnage and stripped to thjair fighting shells. Every scrap of unnecessary wood, every luxurious fitting had been sent on shore, and Bulger waited impatiently tor the order to strike and strike hard.

One hot morning the longed-for cablegram came, telling him that war was declared, and that he might “ let slip the clogs of war. ' In a few minutes orderly bustle and confusion prevailed on every shin, whilst the engineers below prepared to get up steam. Suddenly a boat shot out from the shore with the British ensign trailing astern, and in a few moments she was run aloiig side Bulger's fiagship. The British Admiral's Hag-lieutenant boarded the U.S. ship and saluted thei American Commander. , , . ~ “ My orders, Sir, are to hand you the notice in this paper, and to inform you that in twentyiour hours you must leave tins port." Then, breaking into an irrepre3 s ; ble sigh, he exclaimed, “We all envy you, Sir," and then shaking hands cor dially he returned to his boat and war rowed rapidly ashore. . “ Sl’«l> on the port bow!" sang out the “look-out" on the fiagship some houri later, when the China coast was last die appearing from sight. In an instant telescopes were levellcc •at the stranger, which appeared to be heading straight for the fleet. In a few minutes she signalled “ 1 want to speak to the Admiral—will come on board." The whole fleet came slowly to a standstill, whilst a boat was lowered from the collier. .„ , „„ , , “Are you Admiral Bulger? asked pre sently a quiet-looking naval nxan of tilt great Commander. “ Yes, what do you want? “ Wal, I’ve got in that ship a matter oi a thousand tons of coal, and I hope to do a trade with you. I guess you’re on busi ness now, and so am 1. May I hang on to the fleet? I steam fifteen knots." Bulger reddened with pleasure, for the coal might be of priceless worth later on, and hence everyone was satisfied when way was once more got on the fleet, and *• Full steam ahead for Manila" was the cry, with the, collier plunging along in their wake. A council of war was summoned on the flagship, v/hen, from the fighting tops, the island could be discerned as a fault line on the horizon, and the captain of the collier was signalled to be in attendance. At the conclusion he was sent for, and cap in hand he stood awaiting his orders. “Captain," said the Admiral, “ we are about to rush the forts at Cavite, and then to destroy the Spanish fleet .which we believe is lying nnder their guns. It is a big job, and in all probability will take u 3 some time. Now you must for ii.e r resent act as a scout, and I have oeen dis cussing whether we should put an rmcei on board your ship to act for us bat we have decided not to. You wll come as close as possible to the entrance to the lay, lie off and wait till we want yon. We flave bought your coal, so j\.u will lose nothing by so doing." .. a . Captain Hanks replied, Very well, Sir, you will find me when you want me. I guess I’ll get away to my ship row. Gcod AU |le gravely saluted and vent otf ( o Lis ship, with the halo of the Stars mu Stripes upon him, and at once must i rod his crew. „ . ._ “My lads! a very irapiinio t o=t t.on has been given *o me; we are to ita to a-'c wait until the Admiral wants us > a £d + m the meantime grapple for and cut coble and secure the end so as to give him a free Tan! It’s trying grappling, but there will be double pay for all hands. The delighted crew burst into a rousing cheer which Hanks with a grim chuckle acknowledged, and then wen below to rjore over his cable chart. All tnat nign he groped for the cable, trailing up and down over its bed until just at daybreak a che«r from the men told him that success come. Great drops of sweat Btoo'd out on his brow—for was not wealth to A b stillnes e s W as d o'f death hung over the air as the slimy salt-encrusted cable was hauled up, and Hanks .trembling with excitement, could hardly refrain from shouting in his glee. The sea fortunately was smooth as a pond, rendering the task of holding on to the frail strand less risky than it would have otherwise been, and pv-r—n- crg-rlv waited for the sounds r

dawn broke suddenly and daylight succeeded darkness; a change at once followed by the boom of heavy guns. Hanks gavl a signal and the cut shore, end of the cable flew over the side striking up the foam as it fell with a heavy plunge into the s*a Th cannonading grew heavier and heavier, and the excitement on board gf At ten. a o'clock themffiae ceased and the Captain connecting a wire to the end of the^cable still on board clisappeared below, nnd soon the rythmical tick-tack of a telegraphic instrument might have been heard Seeding from the cabin. . In an hour Hanks re-appeared, and piping all hands thus addressed the crew : “Mv lads! by an arrangement with the Admiral, it was agreed that unless a mesreached us out here by one of the deboats bv 10 o clock, we were to unlorstand Y he had gained a glorious aerstanu Q ld Country, and I have wired off to Hong-Kong to that effect. Hip > 1 out over the smooth for md men congratulated each other water, a emo tion of an excitable race. wltl Vr al l indsMet go the cable-that’s it; h D nsho what they will, we Sr°e all right! at .11 events, wi Lay V wenW °th.r and, and Hanks , f ivLl freelv once more. br ® Mow over with all the grayling inns Alfthlkit" he shouted, “if we are SUt Ü bf a Don's cmisar wonld go hard trill, and in halt an hour tenrfpul!l and rank fir beneath tfie water, Hanta hi. forehead and gave

vent to a sigh that seemed to come fiom liis soul, so deep was it. The strain lie. d been tremendous whilst it lasted, and o'yicome by the heat and the excitement he left the deck in charge of the first :im'c tmt went once more to his aabin. H- was just mixing himself a long drink when t he second mate opened the door and coolly entered without a word of explanation. “Now then, Mr Tibbitts—what the X Y Z do you want here?" he angrily asked; for Hanks, although a rogue of the first water, kept strict discipline on any ship on which he served. ~ . , - , “ Come .Captain—l wasn t a telegraph boy for nothing, and I heard a good deal more as I stood outside your cabin door than you intended me to. It 11 cost you ten thousand dollars to get quit of me. Like lightning Hanks reached for his "evoiver, and both men fired almost simultaneously. The second mate Seli m a heap over the table, whilst the Captain, pumping blood up in great mouthfuls, sank back in his chair shot through the lungs. At sound of the shots men hurried to the cabin, but only to find both men dead.

Contents-bill of “New York Herald," May Bth, 1838: BULGER’S ATTEMPT ON MANILA! THREADING HIS WAY THROUGH THE CHANNEL! AWFUL CALAMITY! FOUR SHIPS BLOWN UP! HE HOLDS HIS OWN! Extract from “New York Herald," May Stli, 18 j 8 : “Admiral Bulger to Secretary of State. “ Pacific Squadron. “ I arrived off Manila last night, and at laybreak this morning entered the channel intending to fight the Spanish fleet, which lad run under cover of forts. “ Forts opened l fire, but without any lamage to us, »3 their guns were badly erved. I deeply regret to have to inform mu that the St. Louis, St. Denis, the irant and tho Columbia were blown up oy submarine mines and almost all on ,oard killed or drowned. A mine exploded .ear the flagship, but did no harm. •• I can hold my own for a time, send lelp as soon as you can or all is lost. — 'iulger. “ The excitement on Wall street on the slews of this terrible disaster was tremen:ous. For a time men went nearly mad with panic, and prices tumbled to unpreicdented figures. kk mad rush was made ;o the Naval Department by excited dealers, but the ominous news of ‘ Cable cut' was all the comfort to be got in that direction. Nothing seemed able to stay cue rot that set in even in the gilt-edged -ecuritics, and there were but few buyers. It was reported that some men, reported ; o bo Cyrus Square’s entourage, were quietly snapping up great parcels of stocks, and this made timorous holders the more anxious to be clear, as the wolf and the iamb do not lio down together. “A feeling of intense grief pervades the States. Outside Wall street sombre resentment and a stern longing for revenge seem universal; there is no excitement in the country at large, but a quiet, earnest resoivo to carry the war through at all costs. Etc., etc." Contents-bill of “New York Herald," May 11th, 1838: GLORIOUS VICTORY OF ADMIRAL BULGER! SPANISH FLEET COMPLETELY DESTROYED! FORTS DISMANTLED. OUR SHIPS UNINJURED! NO LOSS OF LIFE ON OUR SIDE! PREVIOUS TELEGRAM A FRAUD! WHO DID IT? HIP! HIP! HIP! HURRAH! Etc., etc., etc. And they say Cyrus Square is going to endow a University to rival Oxford, and in this way make the Old Country take a back seat.—Quien Sabe?—F. G. Engelbach in “ The Luclgate."