The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-06-11
Howard, the Proclamation Forger.


saying that the campaign in Virginia was
virtually at an end for the present season,
appeared in the kilograms from New York
few days ago. OF course this document
was promptly disowned by the Government,
and means taken by Gen. Dix to bring the
forger to justice. After considerable
search be was discovered in the person Of
J. Howard, Jr., city editor of The Brooklyn
Eagle. He was arrested and acknowledged
the forgery, saying he did it to make money
on tie Stock Exchange. He was sent 10
Fort Lafayette, from whence he writes the
following humorous letter to the Eagle. He
certainly makes the.best of bad scrape ::
CELL 6,31I, SECOND TIER
Fort Lafayette, May "a.
DEAR EAGLE: In the language of the
magnificent Vestvali, 81 am here
think I shall stay here, at least till get
out.
Perhaps you are surprised at my sudden
departure. So was I.
But | received a pressing invitation from
General Dix to come down here, which l
didn't feel at liberty to decline. so I didn't
Bob Murray brought me here. Bob Muir
ray is United States Marshal, and he mar
sbaled me the way should go; so thought
it best TO go.
Bob is a nice man; lie has very taking
way with him; BIT I wouldn't recommend
you to cultivate his acquaintance.
You may have heard of Fort Lafayette;
it is a great resort Of the friends of the Ad-
ministration-over the left.
Yoo,t;o, e TT 7 &C, = a.
water between the Atlantic Ocean and West
Point.
1t is a good site for a marine residences;
but haven't seen any marines yet. It is
inaccessible on all sides, except the inside.
It's Out-accessiblity is what most object to.
The way you get in is curious, and may
interest you readers who haven't been here.
You can't 90 by railroad, or steamboat, or
horse and buggy. The entrance is effected
in highly military manner, invented, be-
leve, by General Dix or some other man.
You go to Fort Hamilton,
Which is just over the way.
A 1850 pound shell with the inside out
is provided for the purpose. You get in
the shell 1t is then put in a $40 inch
mortar and rammed down on a barrel of
powder. The mortar is touched off and up
you go. You keep going up about fifty
miles. You then come down and land right
in the middle of Fort Lafayette.
The artillery artist has attained great pre-.
cision in the range, and you alight exactly
in the center of a hollow square Of military
people drawn up to receive you.
The sensation as the shell goes up is ter
rife
When you have reached an altitude of
forty nine miles, eight furlongs, the view is
magnificent.
You Lave bird's-eye view of Bath, Co.
ney Island and New Jersey.
made sketch of it.
I'll send it to you.
Perhaps you think this is strange way
of getting into the-Fort. but it isn't cir
cumstance to the way of getting out, which
1 haven't discovered yet. When I do I'll
let you know.
The people who keep the fort are of the
military persuasion; it is their forte. They
mostly wear guns or swords, and do every
thing in a military way, which is not civil
way, though they have been very civil to me.
The forts is a substantial building. There
i; no apprehension of burglars. Sensible
people would rather break out than into it.
! As a hotel it is not equal 10 the Mansion
House, though the terms are more reasona-
BILE. They don't charge any board. The
only charge military people are given is to
to charge bayonets.
The bill of fare is wholesome, but lacks
variety. There is too much pork. The
bill of fare. however. is varied. We have
pork and crackers for breakfast. crackers
and pork for dinner, and pork aCth crackers
for tea. think we shall have a change
next week, as the commandant has sent an
order to New York for barrel of pork.
When you write to me, enclose bunch
of radishes in the letter.
The society of the Fort is select. They
are mostly people of Southern complexion,
who have been recommended here for the
benefit of their health. They don't gener-
ally see it.
There is no female society here.
Nor no Union Leagues.
Nor no Philharmonic CONCEPTS.
Otherwise it is pleasant.
Somebody may inquire why came here.
I'll tell you conidentially. The govern
ment is making extensions to its mansion
at Fort Hamilton; likewise at Fort Rich
mond, on Staten Island. They wanted a
reliable person to look after the architects,
to see that they didn't pocket the bricks.
Fort Lafayette is half way between, and so
situated that you can see both forts at once,
and is just the place to see what is going on.
A meeting of the cabinet was called at
the White House. Secretary Stanton in
troduced the subject.
The President said it reminded him Of a
story he once heard in Illinois. A man
who lived in Sangamon county, in CONVEX
sation with medical student, said he didn't
believe in vaccination. SSays he, cit DOM
do child bit of good. Lad child