| From the Richmond Daily Dispatch |
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| February 12, 1863 |
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| A mystery Explained |
| The prevailing cries of "scarcity of
supply" and "supply will soon be exhausted," were
suddenly exploded in Columbus
Ga., a few days since, by the occurrence of a fire. The Sun gives the
following account of the exposure of the speculative trick: |
| Sugar had become very scarce. Consequently
the price had gone up enormously. Dealers constantly spoke of a
probability, not very remote, that the supply would give out entirely,
as "transportation" had become
impossible. Still the "supply" kept adequate to the demand.
When the hogsheads ran low fresh ones made their appearance. The
"supply" remained "steady and firm" There was
always plenty on hand at the price asked for it. Railroad men said it
had occasionally found its way out of the city of late but seldom into
it. There was a strange mystery about it. Steamboat men made similar
statements. Still the "supply" never gave out, although the
price continued to go up. The fire occurred, the curtain was raised,
the denoment appears, and the mystery is solved. Broad street is
literally full of huge hogsheads well filled with what had become so
rare a luxury in our market. Where did they come from? Did they drop
from the skies like the manna of old? Did they spring from the earth
like Minerva from the head of Jupiter? Or, can it be possible that
they emerged from quiet cellars and back rooms, in apprehension of the
destroying element? |
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