The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-09-24
AQaeer story.

AQueer STORY.
The train that came into Wichita
on the 18th day of August. brought
TO the Occidental hotel q fine Gp-
pearing gentleman, who registered
his name as d. b. Gerrwig, of Pitts
burg, Pa. AS soon as he secured
his nights lodging, he asked the
clerk when the stage started for
Cheyenne Agency, volunteering al
so to tell his business, which was
with a soldier there who was serv-
ing out an enlistment III the Fourth
Cavalry, stationed at the agency.
This soldier, before his enlistment,
says the Beacon, had fallen Eeir to
$4,000 worth of property, real es-
tate and bonds, at Pittsburg. Gerr-
wigg said he had been guardian for
this boy, and while such, the boy
had sold him a piece of property in
PittsbDrg for $4,000, but being un-
der age his deed was worthless, and
that now he had just become of age,
he was hunting him up to get a
quitclaim deed to the same, as the
property would soon be in the court
for u division. GerrWig showed a
letter from Gen. Pope allowing the
soldier thirty days leave to fix up
the matter, and next morning he
coached for the Cheyenne Agency
where he arrived the second day,
presented his order from Gen. Pope
to Major Davis, in command, who
thereupon offered to give the sol
der free transportation, but this
Gerrwig refused, and pulling out
500 in money, handed it to the SOL
der, and together they came TO
Wichita on the return stage. On
the way up Gerrwig borrowed fifty
dollars of the hundred back. When
the stage reached Wichita the par
ties stopped at the Occidental. Gerr-
wig took u room, and after washing
up met the soldier in the Office and
borrowed the other fifty dollars,
the balance of the 500, and then
he said let's 90 and take drink.
which they proceeded to do. From
this time on the soldier disappeared
rom the hotel, but about 10 o'clock
y H., four hours before train time,
Gerrwig came in, paid the bill OF
the soldier and himself and gave 30
cents to the porter 10 carry the bag
gage OF both TO The depot. After
wards GerI wig returned 10 town,
6ouYht "a quart flask of whisky and
meeting the soldier on the street
gave it to- him, audi invited him to
Leo Sage's billiard hall to drink
some wine. Thither they went. At
ter several promiscuous drinks, and
when the soldier was nGudlin,
Gcrrwig called for writing materials
and proceeded to settle up his bust
ness. He gave the soldier. John
Cummings by name, eight different
notes, of $500 each, all dated De-
cember 25th, 1875, and payable in
twenty-four months, for which he
got Cummings 10 make a quitclaim
deed, which it now transpires was
for the entire share Cummings had
in the inheritance.
After this proceeding, Gerrwig
told the soldier to go over to the
Occidental, as he wanted to settle
the bill at Sage's, and would meet
him in q few moments, whereupon
the obedient Cummings started and
went about half across the street,
when Gerrwig caught up with him
and said he had forgot to allow in
terest on the hottest he would run
back to the billiard room and
change them and then hand the
notes 10 him when they met at the
hotel. This was the last of GerrWig
and the notes. The soldier got up
into the hotel. went to the water
tank, took a drink out of the flask
and rceled into the open parlor
door, then fell like a corpse. The
clerk and porter dragged him into
the baggage room, covered him
with blankets and he lay there stu
petied until morning. When all the
facts became known to him he i'm
medistely telsgraphed to the con-
ductOr of the train to report at what
station Gerrwig got off. He then
employed Adams. English & Rug
giles to attend to the business. They
telegraphed to law firm in Pitts
burg, also gave him urgent letters
to Gen. Pope to extend his furIongh,
and q bank here, through somebody,
furnished him the means to go to
LeavenwOrth, thence to Pittsburg,
to attend personally to the matter.
John Cummings, the victimized,
left on last Wednesday nights train
full of trouble and anxiety, all Ow-
ing to inordiDate credulity and
reckless abandon concomitsnt with
an Unsuitable thirst for the modern
brain-firing element yclept Bour-
bon. John Cummings, though IN
fortunate in renewing the acquain-
lance of his youth and home friend,
was fortunate in meeting with his
mishap here, as many new friends
have sprang to the rescue who will
not let up on Gerrwig until his pun
ishment is meted out: and had he
been caught and brought back here
within a few days after his rascally
transaction, his punishment would
have been sudden and severe. This
lesson is full of kindly teaching to
John Cummings, and may be the
means of making him and saving
his property. If so, and his act has
not barred him, he is still fortunate.
I-Leavenworth Commercial.