RUSSIA THEN AND NOW 



sioners to go to Russia and deliver the Indiana's 

 cargo and a liberal gift of money, besides myself, 

 were Hon. Rudolph Blankenburg and Anthony J. 

 Drexel, Jr. As I was obliged to resign the appoint- 

 ment because of the serious illness of a member of 

 my family, Dr. A. L. Biddle was appointed in 

 my place. 



So prompt and liberal were the good people of 

 Philadelphia and other towns, in responding to 

 the appeal for money, that when the Indiana sailed 

 for Libau, Russia, on Washington's Birthday, 1892, 

 loaded to her utmost capacity, the inflow of money 

 was at its height, and there were no signs of an 

 ebbing tide. Then came the resolution to send a 

 second cargo, and again came the offer from the 

 International Navigation Company of another 

 free steamship, the ConemaugJi; and again the 

 word from our big railroad men offering to carry 

 the shipment free of all freight charges, even 

 though it was to be transported from afar, as was 

 the greater part of the Indiana's cargo. Coal 

 companies freely supplied the steamship with 

 fuel for their engines, and stevedores worked 

 without wages to load them; grocery men gave 

 provisions for officers and crews; rich men gave of 



