und deserted, the triumph of Tilden having long
before sent everybody to bed. Mr. Reid then sought the room of Senator
Zachariah Chandler, chairman of the National Republican Committee.

While upon this errand he encountered in the hotel corridor "a small
man wearing an enormous pair of goggles, his hat drawn over his ears,
a greatcoat with a heavy military cloak, and carrying a gripsack
and newspaper in his hand. The newspaper was the New York Tribune,"
announcing the election of Tilden and the defeat of Hayes. The newcomer
was Mr. William E. Chandler, even then a very prominent Republican
politician, just arrived from New Hampshire and very much exasperated by
what he had read.

Mr. Reid had another tale to tell. The two found Mr. Zachariah Chandler,
who bade them leave him alone and do whatever they thought best. They
did so, consumingly, sending telegrams to Columbia, Tallahassee and New
Orleans, stating to each of the parties addressed that the result of the
election depended upon his State. To these was appended the signature of
Zachariah Chandler.

Later in the day Senator Chandler, advised of what had been set on foot
and its possibilities, issued from National Republican headquarters this
laconic message: "Hayes has 185 electoral votes and is elected."

Thus began and was put in motion the scheme to confuse the returns and
make a disputed count of the vote.

VII

The day after the election I wired Mr. Tilden suggesting that as
Governor of New York he propose to Mr. Hayes, the Governor of Ohio,
that they unite upon a committee of eminent citizens, composed in equal
numbers of the friends of each, who should proceed at once to Louisiana,
which appeared to be the objective point of greatest moment to the
already contested result. Pursuant to a telegraphic correspondence which
followed, I left Louisville that night for New Orleans. I was joined en
route by Mr. Lamar and General Walthal, of Mississippi, and together we
arrived in the Crescent City Friday morning.

It has since transpired that the Republicans were promptly advised by
the Western Union Telegraph Company of all that had passed over its
wires, my dispatches to Mr. Tilden being read in Republican headquarters
at least as soon as they reached Gramercy Park.

Mr. Tilden did not adopt the plan of a direct proposal to Mr. Hayes.
Instead he chose a body of Democrats to go to the "seat of war." But
before any of them had arrived General Grant, t