Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1883 — A Faithful Messenger. [ARTICLE]

A Faithful Messenger.

Several years ago the Express Com-, pany refused to carry the currency between Washington and New York on terms which Secretary Bristow deemed reasonable. The company, thinking that he could not get any other reliable means of transporting the currency, were obstinate. He, therefore, took away the contract, and for a long time provided other means which they could never discover. They finally came to his terms. The Secretary selected for the trust Thomas Cavanaugh, a special agent of the treasury, tall, broadshouldered, deep-chested, who used to

set out from the office of the Secretary of the Treasury after night with a valise stuffed with Government currency. One night he had in his bag $750,000 in greenbacks. The Secretary had absolutely no protection bevond Cavanaugh’s individual honor. If he had run away with an odd million he could not have been prosecuted for more than a breach of trust. If it was even suspected that he was carrying such sums, he would ha've been attacked. If he had been robbed—nothing but his death in defending his trust could have saved him from being classed as a guilty participant. Toward the last Cavanaugh became very nervous. A close coupe took him down the avenue. In the sleeping-car he slept but little. Some one seemed always reaching across his gnashed throat for the money placed in his trust. It was a (preat relief when the dreadful responsibility came to an end, and he was able to go back to his ordinary duties.