Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-29
The Escape of Postmaster Fowler.

AT
THE NEW YORK HorEL-A TERRIBLE SCENE
DETERMINATION TO COMMIT sUIcIpE-A
PURSE MADE UP BY HIS FRIENDS, ETC
ine New York Leader gives what purports
to be an account Of "the last hours spent at the
New York Hotel, by Isaac v. Fowler The
Leader is owned and edited by John Clancy,
a personal and political friend of the late
Postmaster. According to this statement,
Mr.. Fowler learned on Thursday, the 10th
inst, that the Postmaster General, having re-
turned from Florida, had dropped on the trail
OF the deficiency; and the next day friday
Messrs. Butterworth and Hall, of the firm of
Campbell, Hall 4 Co., started for the National
Capital, their design being to solicit time for
an effort to be made by the friends of Mr..
Fowler to raise the amount due the United
States.
Fowlers courage seems TO have deserted him,
and he walked the streets until daylight with
out sleep or food. On Saturday morning he
went down to the Office and found il in charge
of the chief clerk of the Auditors Depart
ment, demand for payment of the deficiency
having been made. Although failure to meet
this demand in ITSELF constituted crime un-
der the law of the United States he seems to
have entertained hopes that the efforts of his
friends in Washington would prove successful,
and was quitecheerful in conversing with his
friends who called upon him He dined in the
evening with August Belmont, and appeared
to be in good spirits, although he left early,
pleading prior engagement
''ln the meantime, says the account, "Mar-
shall Rynders called at the New York Hotel
rather early in the course of the evening, and
was there quite unreserved in stating that be
had with him a warrant for Mr.. Fowler's ar
rest. The Marshal remained inside and around
the hotel but chiefly inside, until about IL
O'Clock; and 1t is supposed that some of the
friends of Mr.. Fowler, knowing the Marshal s
official intention, must have stationed them
selves at the front door, so as to caution Mr.
Fowler to enter through the side door on Wa
verify Place, if he wished to avoid arrest
This stratagem must have been successful,
for at quarter after eleven o'clock on that
Saturday night, Mr.. Fowler was in his bed
room and had sent for gentleman who had
been dining that day in the New York Hotel,
to whom he stated with great emotion and
many tears the whole facts of the case-an-
bouncing that his Office had been taken from
under his charge that morning, and that he
would be arrested, if alive, on the next Mon
day morning, by Rynders.
:" But L do not intend to live he said,
pointing to small revolver with an ivory
handle which lay upon his dressing table L
want to write some farewell notes in the morn
ing; but my nerves are unsteady, and if you
can come and act as my amanuensis you will
do me the last earthly favor that man can
grant
The friend reasoned with Fowler. that the
reports from Washington might be cxagge-
rated, and exacted promise that he would
not iDjure himself at least until the evening of
the next day. Finally, ct one o'clock, he left
him sleeping.
For the remainder of the narrative we quote
the words of the writer:
Scarcely had he gone when a carriage
hrnr To fheaA Ano- r. 4
our late postmaster, Messrs. B. and T., jumped
out. They were told by the clerk that Mr..
Fowler was not at home; but they woro not
satisfied, and insisted on seeing party (Mr.
C) residing in the New York Hotel who is
known at all times to have shared Mr. Fowler
entire confidence. They woke up this third
party. had hurried consultation with him,
and then all three went down stairs, and were
about knocking at the door Of Mr.. Fowler's
bedroom, when the fear struck one of them
that he might think they were officers comm q
to arrest him, and thereupOn make way with
his life-as he had frequently spoke of doing
to one Of the party.
Acting under this fear, Mr. C. procured q
pass key to Mr.. FOwler's parlOr, opened the
door very gently, and the tenant Of the rooms
did not awake until all three of his friends
were standing around his bedside The ivory
stock of pistol protruding from under his
pillow showed that they probably had not been
too cautious.
50 Fowler being aroused. a terrible scene en-
sued; the unhappy gentleman writhing and
groanlng with agony, and weeping and shout
ing incoherent regrets. so that his friends next
began to fear that he would alarm the house;
the nature of Marshal Rynder's visit having
been buIzing round among all the guests with
the usual swiftness and exaggeratiOns attend
ing such rumors.
Messrs. B. and T. (this Mr.. B. does not
mean Butterworth) had to use a peremptory
tone to quiet Mr.. Fowler, Mr.. C. being utterly
overcome and unable to speak. They exhib-
tied dispatches from Washington of still later
date than the dispatch received on his return
to the hotel that evening by himself; and these
dispatches were of such a nature that they
knew Rynders however well disposed he
might be-dare not delay arresting the man
named in his warrant, if said man should be
found in the hotel after daylight that Sunday
morning.
''Hurriedly they packed up few changes of
linen, coats, &c, into a valise, Mr. Fowler
meanwhile dressing himself and beginning to
show relief as fight instead Of death became
the prospect before him. Mr.. c., one of the
truest friends man ever had, resolved to raise
purse next day, which should place Mr.. Fow-
Ter beyond any reasonable want for a couple
Of years-the sum, as we have heard, being
$4,000, which has since, all but 1000, been
subscribed. On this point, however-the exact
amount OF the sum-we are not so sure as on
the other particulars of this narrative.
All the arrangements being soon ended, at
just z minutes past o'clock q. m, Isaac V.
Fowler, leaning on the arms of his friends,
Messrs. B. and T., took final leave las resi-
dentl Of the New York Hotel, and by 8 o'clock
Sunday morning, when Ryndets again called
the rooms which he occupied and had 50 filed
with objects Of art and curiosity were desolate
and bare. All the books, pictures and bronzes
were removed; the many presents made to Mr..
Fowler by female and other friends no longer
were Uttered round the table in that admired
confusion which has so often arrested the eve
Of visitors. Rynders found only naked walls
and ordinary hotel furniture-the clerk an
nouncing to all questioners that mo such gen
tleman as Nv. Fowler boards at this hotel
WHITTIER Mr.. Fowler was taken in the car
riage by Messrs. B. and T., it would not be in
good taste to state. He was, however, well
taken care of, and suffered but little restraint,
his luxuriant black whiskers having been
shaved of on Sunday morning, and pair of
spectacles completely altering his appearance
whenever placed in any situation where those
not in his immediate confidence could see him
The necessity of disguise must itself have
proved, TO man Of HE personal pride, a ter
ribie-almost neutrality-suspicious. But
that ia all over noU and we believe he l. safe