The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-06-12
WAsHINGToN, june Q, ISL

WASHINGTON, June 9, 1873.
The two important events Of last week
we're the hanging Of Tom Wright, and the
arrival of part of the PolGris crew.
Ju1. before Christmas Tom Wight a
colored desperate murdered Rogerski, a,
Polish peddler, for the sake Of getting
some Christmas money He was ar
rested, tried, found guilty (by a jury Of six
white and six colored men, and sentenced
to be hanged ON the SOth of May; but
that being Decoration Day, reprieve was
granted which postponed his execution I'M
til the 9Th inst. His demeanor while in
jail, and the history of his life as ehmina
ted during the trial, arc facts well calcula-
ted to set people to thinking. Dozens of
his stamp just as brutal (''half brothers
of the Gorilla" a Sunday paper calls
them can be found within stones throw
Of his old quarters at any time. Well may
the question arise, how is it to end?"
The other topic for comment and specu-
lation, the arrival of a portion of the Po-
laris crew, is as yet shrOuded in mystery
A sworn investigation has been agreed up
on so the poor fellows are under orders
to keep silent and can only reply by "a
wink v so the reporters say, at least who
have tried to interview them, and they are,
Of course, strictly reliable Captain Hall
and his crew left so many personal friends
here, that it is no wonder their fate should
have excited intense interest, and that
hundreds should throng the Navy Yard
continually in the hope Of catching any
stray bit Of information regarding them.
From all that has transpired so far, it ap-
pears that the reports concerning the pois-
oniDg of Capt Hall, and the willful aban-
donment Of this portion Of the crew, were
wholly unfOunded In few days, how
ever, the result of the investigation will
probably be published and the public
mind set N rest.
Among the many projected buildings
for our city ~ an Academy Of Music, which
has been talked and written over not lit
tie, without, however, coming any nearer
to its realization The cause of this dila-
tcriness is PROFESSIONALLY a lack of real
appreciation Of good music in our wealthy
people. Of course they would deny the
fact and, in refutation, point to the number
Of for and five dollar tickets purchased
whenever an opera troupe is here but !
nevertheless cling to my opinion. Go to
any thoroughly good musical entertain
ment, and you'll find that the vast MAORI
ty Of faces lighted up with intense feeling,
belong to the refined portion of the middle
classes while wealth is mostly lost in ad-
miration Of faces and to:lettes. chatting
small talk, or airing twaddle called criti-
cism, but which in reality is nothing like
50 sensible as genuine nonsense Not
many weeks ago | was present at a must
cal soiree, given at one Of the best houses
in the city. The appointments were per-
feet the musical instruments of the high
est order, and the musicians none of the
common sort, but masters and passionate
lovers Of the art Well, they played to
make. one forget earth and all that in it is,
for the time being yet, at the conclusion
Of some beautiful symphony a yes, very
nice, would come from the would-be au-
thorities, while a wild gallop or sweeping
waltz put them into raptures. Is it won
der the academy scheme hangs fire
One Of last weeks entertainments was
the defeat Of one of our boat clubs in a
race with the Chesapeakes, from Norfolk,
Va The defeated club, the Analostans
won the last race of the season last year,
and, Of course, wore their laurels SO tri-
umphantly that success seemed inevitable
They consider themselves the club, high
toned, &c, &C., in short just little
above remaining humanity, which may all
be true, but did not answer in the place of
wind and muscle, as a wharfman ele-
gantly observed Well, they don't look
so'proud now, and are in fair way to be-
come real pleasant mortals. Several more
races are looked forward to; and any mum
Der of pairs Of gloves, boxes of handker-
chiefs, etc, to say nothing of sums of mon
ey, viii change owners in consequence be-
fore snow falls again. LIE NARD