The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-10-18
TIE BANQUET OF EMPTY CHAIRS
AND MOURNFUL MEMORIES. g. =
Nine Down.

Half Il score of years ago Mrs.
Bigelow kept large and fashion
able boarding house at % Grea:
Jones street. Among her boarders
were ten gentlemen who had lived
| together many years, and with
whom the bonds of friendship had
become cemented. They often din
ed, together, and in little parties of
two. three and four visited the
places of amusement, the whole
party meeting in the sitting room
before bed time for the purpose of
comparing notes of their days
| business and evenings fun. The
breaking out of the war OF. the re-
bellion changed the current OF life
OF several of this social party, and a
number expressed their determine
ton to join the Union ranks. Many
were the regrets at the dissolution
| of their fraternal society, aud it
was decided that they should have
a farewell dinner on the evening of
September 10, 1862. Arrangements
were made accordingly by their
amiable hostess, Mrs. Bigelow, and
at s O'Clock precisely On the evening
named the ten gentlemen entered
| the dining room and took their ac-
customed seats at the table. Each
and every one was then full oflIii,e
and hope, and the future prospects
of each were the subject Of animated
conversations during the early pro-
/ gress of the meal. Speeches were
made, songs sung, and toasts drank.
| and it was not until two O'Clock in
/ morning that the party abandoned
their festive board and sought their
rooms. p E - boz s.zZ odi
| Before their departure, however,
each rose in his place and made, .
solemn VOW that if he was living
ten wears hence he would meet the
rest of his companions at eight
O'Clock in the ,saIRe 1place and dine
with them, as they had dined that
night. Each one was TO occupy the
same seat, aud as nearly as possible
they were to have the same kind oil
dinner. Since then the house has
become the Maltby House, under
the proprietofship of Mr.. j. b.
Smith. Some,days ago Mr.. smith
was requested by, Mr.. Edward x,
| Windshfp, broker, of. 81 Broad
street, to prepare dinner for ten
! CNCU1uS vi GOCJLs
10, 1872. Mr.. Windship briefly nar-
rated the circumstances. of the com.
pact, and that, being the Oldest Of
the party of teu,s he had been APP
pointed on the evening of their din
ner in 1862 as chairman.
AT precisely eight o'clock last
Tuesday evening MIR. WiHdship, the
sole survivor of the party, entered
the dining room OF the Malsby
House, and the doors were quickly
closed behind him. No one was
there save George Bently, head
waiter. and one or two other color
ed walters. The rooms and ztables
were arranged precisely as they
were ten years ago, and Mr.. Wind
ship, with head moved and with a
saddened expression, took the same
seat which he had occupied years
ago. AIIaround were empty chairs
and empty plates and untitled
glasses. .7s.... :
i The meal was begun, and the sol.
itary banqueter was served with tLe
prescribed courses. Mr. Windship
occasionally passed a word with the
head waiter. poor boysi They're
all gone," said he. some went down
in the monitor in Mobile bay. An.
other was drowned in the. same
waters. Two were shot in Mobile
], One lost both legs by a ball, and tho
) other was pierce through Tho
heart. Another died in PhilaGiel
phia, and a sixth died in New York. ;
4 He said that while in February las
he was walking up Broadway onG
4 nUnWttFsaR ha Fd1f a e. 4 = 4. 80
der and voice asked him whethe!
he knew Mr., Co.. II do 5" repli,
ed Mr.. Windship. EHe died at fouI
o'clock to-day" said the voice
Though Mr.. Windship turned quick.
iy upon feeling the tap aud hearing
the voice, he was unable TO ascer.
tain who il was that addressed him
he afterwards learned that one o.
the party or ten died that day and
at the hour indicated MrfWind.
ship said that the Oldest of y4lIe
party. next to himself was onIs
twenty-pine. si'..s
1 An unsuccessful expeditions ha
returned TO San Francisco from th,
Arizona diamond-ields. They de
nounce The excitement as 2 fraud,
The following is the vote eacl
! State is entitled to cast in. th,
Electoral College: New Yore 35
! Alabama, 10; Delaware, 81. Geor
gia, IL; Kentucky, 70; Maryland
8; Missouri, IS, Tennessee, i2
Texas, 6 Virginia, a II West VIII
ginia, ); PeBnsyivaDia 49, Endi
!. ana, 15; ARKANSAS, g.; Connetieat
, 6; New Jersey, 0; Florida, 4; Chic
; %; Louisiana, 8; Nevada, 8; Merit
2 Carolina, 10; New ,Hampshire,, 8
1 Iowa II; Maine, =; Massachu
sets. 13i Michigan, II; SoutI
Carolina, 9 I, Vermont. 8, Caiffoi
MIA, 5; Illiifbis, 2f;;s Kansas. 3
: Minnesota, 5 Mississippi, 6; NJ
braska, D., Oregon, o Rhode ii
! land, Age wisconsin. . 10.,sT oli
: electoral vote, s367 necessary to,
q choices 1s4. ssss - aoasG 81 aass.
. bHG BIB zBa0fse. Egagss 44a A. .o