Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1879 — The Sprague-Conkling Scandal. [ARTICLE]

The Sprague-Conkling Scandal.

A special dispatch to tho Now York World from Narragansett Pier gives the following particulars of the Sprague-Conkling unpleasantness: The affair occurred on Friday evening. Either on Wednesday night or Thursday morning Senator Conkling arrivod at Narragansett Pier. With him, or after him, camo a trunk and a large valise. These articles of baggage wero takon to tho Sprague mansion by tho direction of Senator Conkling. Ho remained there as a visitor tho next day, and was on a hotel piazza tho next evening conversing with somo ladies. During Friday afternoon Gov. Spragno was observed driving about Narragansett Pier, having been at home entertaining his guests the night previous, though he had been absent for a day or two before. Ho had a gun with him, which it is believed that he loaded earlier in the day. Finally he drove to the rear of the house, which is about a mile and a half from tne pior, and came through the house in a somewhat excited condition. He got out to the piazza, where he found Senator Conkling conversing with Mrs. Sprague, who was at a window. Gov. Sprague then said, addressing Senator Conkling: “Aro you armed, sir?” Conkling replied: “No, I a‘m not.” “Then,” said ex-Gov. Sprague, “I give you five minutes to get off these premises. If you are not then away I will fire at you.” Ex-Gov. Sprague is said then to have made use es some further exasperating language. Senator Conkling, seeming much surprised, but remembering that he was under ex-Gov. Sprague’s roof, rose and took a few steps away, while Mrs. Sprague came out of the house and stood between them. Ex- Gov. Sprague stood looking at Senator Conkling while a carriage drove up which had been ordered to take Mrs. Sprague for a drive. When Mrs. Sprague found that ex-Gov. Sprague was apparently determined on an unpleasant scene, sue called for her hat and shawl, which Mrs. Martin, a friend and a guest in the house, brought her. After ex-Gov. Sprague had repeated his peremptory order to Mr. Coukling to quit his house, there was some hesitancy on the part of the New York Senator as to what should be done, but ne finally took his hat, and, entering —llogo, mJUCuunu IV, r i«.| on the way at Billington’s restaurant. Scarcely had he arrived there and got out of the conveyance than ex-Gov. Spragno, who had followed, came up, and, therefore, it is certain that the latter must have kept his horse hitched up ready for use to follow Senator Conkling. On the arrival of ex-Gov. Sprague at Billington’s another exchange of words took place, but there is not the slightest testimony to show that at any time a hand-to-hand encounter, such as has been spoken of freely here to-day, took place. But it is certain that there was an excited and threatening encounter between the two in one of the most public spots in the whole place, and thus it came to pass that the most exaggerated rumors were set in motion. Sifted down, the foregoing are the principal facts in the case so far as Mr. Conkling and Mr. Sprague are concerned.

The West Uneqtialed in Story-Telling. It is no use for an Eastern man to try to tell a big story when there is a Western man about. Causeur has tried it and got beaten, beaten clean out of sight. He thought he could spin a yarn that would test any one’s credulity, but he always found that a Western man could go him one better. “ When I was a young man,” said Col. 8., “ we lived in Illinois. The farm had been well wooded, and the stumps were pretty thick. But we put the corn in among them, and managed to raise a fair crop. The next season I did my share of the plowing. We had a ‘ sulky ’ plow, and I sat on the seat and managed the horses, four as handsome bays as ever a man drew rein over. One day I found a stump right in my way. I hated to back out, so I just said a word to the team, and, if you’ll believe it, they just walked that plow right through that stump as though it had been cheese.” Not a soul expressed surprise. But Maj. S., who had been a quiet listener, remarked quietly: “It’s curious, but I had a similar experience to that myself /lice. My mother always made our clothes in those days, as well as the cloth they were made of. The old lady was awful proud of her homespun—said it was the strongest cloth in the State. One day I had just plowed through a white-oak stump in the way yon speak of, Colonel. But it was a little too quick for me. It came together before I was out of the way, and nipped the seat of my trousers. I felt mean, I can tell you, but I put the string on the ponies, and, if you’ll believe it, they just snaked that stump out, roots and all. Something had to give, you know.” —Boston Transcript.