New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-28
THE RIVERS.
Above low
Below high water mark of 1871.
Eclipse of Genius.

There are but few citizens in our mids
unacquainted with the name and fame o
Ephraim George Squier, one of the mos
talented American psychologists, who will
not regret to learn that his mind has sue
cumbed to over-study, and that within few
hours he will be the inhabitant OF lunatit
asylum, where his mad vagaries will be re
pressed. Early last week an application
for writ of de lunatico inQuirendo was
made by the brother of Mr.. Squier, Of
Brooklyn, who is resident and member of
the National Guard of that city, to Judge
Donohue, of the Supreme Court of New
York, for three commissioners to take evi
dence in the matter Of his brothers in
sanity. The petition was made through
Counselor Joseph Bell, of Broadway,
and three commissions were appointed
as requested, and took evidence before
a sheriff's jury in the matter, and the
verdict arrived at was that the unfortunate
discoverer and author was found to be of
unsound mind. DR.. Meredith Clymer,
president of the Neurological Society,
formerly Surgeon General of the depart
ment of the United States army, examined
him, and pronounced him non cOmpOs
mentis. The result of this verdict will be
that Mr.. Squier's fine technical library, con-
sisting mainly of works on travels and
explorations, will be brought to the ham
mer. It is no exaggeration to state that
no such private library. so rich in special
works Of this kind, has ever been COM
piled on either side of the Atlantic. Mr..
Squier's estate is roughly estimated as be-
ing worth upward of $4,000. He has a
large number of friends, who are unre-
uniting in their attention upon him, and
who do all in their power to try and screen
him from the fact that his mind has be-
come deranged. His venerable father, who
is minister of the Gospel, is one of his
constant visitors at his residence at No. 4
West Twenty seventh street. The duty of
the three commissioners appointed by
Judge Donohue enfOrces them to see that
Mr.. Squier is placed in comfortable and
humanely. conducted lunatic asylum.
E. G. Squier was born in Bethlehem,
Albany county, in this State, on the seven
teenth of June, 1921. While acting as
United States minister at Nicaragua he OBJ
tanned materials for which he wrote, in
1852, Nicaragua: Its People, Scenery, An
Gent Monuments and 1nter0ceanic Canal"
In 1861 he published monographs of Au-
thors who have Written in the Aboriginal
Languages of Central America" In add.
ton to that he has written several other
works on American antiquities. The knowl-
edge and erudition of Mr.. Squier on these
subjects has rarely, if ever, been surpassed.
lie was pecuniarily interested in the Hon
duras railway enterprise, which was subse-
4uently taken up by English spectators.
ne has resided in this city, with brief ex-
ceptlons, for the last dozen years, devoting
MS tlme TO literary works, and also hold
ing the official position of Honduras consul,
the vice consular Office being filed by Mr..
Ansoatequi, whose Office is situated at No.
40 Broadway. 1t may be mentioned that
&r. Squier was the owner of a small island
in tse sound, laid out in the most exquisite
menner, asd here he received multitudes of
friends during the summer, and as late as
last year his clafc bakes we're memorable
affairs. while his hospitality knew no stint.
Neiu York Herald.