Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-10-17
Mlistellanenns &eaaita.
EDGAR ALLAN POE.
WHAT A SAN FRANCISCAN KNOWS ABOUT HIS
DEATH

WHAT SAN FRANCISCAN KNOWS ABOUT HIS
DEATH.
"You say that Edgar Allan Poe did not
die from the effects of deliberate dissipation p
asked Chronicle reporter. ....s ... .......
"That is just what I mean; and I say fur
ther that he died from the effects of deliber-
ate murder" ...,...... .......
This was a strange assertion-strange in
being fiat contradiction of fact, or other
wise theory, recorded in detail in the history
of American literature. The author of the
assertion was we'll known member of the
city's advanced and inverate Bohemia, a gen.
tleman who has long since retired from the
active pursuits of his profession, and spends
his days in dreamy meditation, frequenting one
of the popular resorts of the craft, but ming.
ling little in the idle babble of the throng.
When drawn into conversation, it is generally
to correct some error from his inexhaustble
mine of Renaissance, and on such occasions
his words are few and precise.
"Then you know something Of the poet and
his history, Doctor?" ...~.. .....
"With few others was one of his init
mate associates for years. Much that has
been written of him regarding his death is
false Poe was not what is called a periodi-
cal drunkard, holding himself to spells of 80.
briefly, and then giving way to violent bouts
Of intemperauce; but he was steady drink.
er and when his means permitted, he would
drink to excess. His hahitual resort was the
Widow Meagher's place. This was an oyster
stand and liquor bar on the city front, cores
ponding in some respects with the coffee shops
in San Francisco. 1t was frequented much
by the printers and men engaged iu the ship
ping Offices, and ranked as a respectable place,
where parties could read the papers, enjoy a
game Of cards, or engage in social converse.
ton. Poe was a great favorite with the old
woman. You would always see him sitting
Just behind the oyster stand, and about as
quiet and sociable as an oyster himself He
went by the name of Bard, and when parties
came into the shop it was. Bard, come up
and take nip or, Bard take a hand in this
game HI, was sort of pepsioner on bis &C.
quaintances, as far as drinks we're concerned.
Whenever the old woman met with any Incl
dent or idea that tickled her fancy she would
ask Bard to versify it. Poe always complied,
writing many witty couplet, and at times
poems of considerable length Much of his
poetical work, quite as meritorious as some
by which his name has been immortalized !,
was thus frttered into obscurity. 1t was in
this little shop that Poes attention was call
ed to an advertisement in Philadelphia paper
of a prize for meritorous story, and it was
here that he composed the famous Gold
Bug which took the prize. | heard him
read it before he sent it to Philadelphia, and
when it was announced that his story was
successful, the Widow Meagher gave him the
money to go on and claim the prize" So .
But how about his death ?"
Poe had had been shifting between 8alti
more, Philadelphia and New York for sever
al years. He had been away from Baltimore
about three months, and turned up one even
ing at the widows. l was there when he
came in.. Bard had been making a little
raise North, and it was drinks all round
with repeat until the crowd we're down jolly.
1t was the night before an election, and the
party started up town. There we're four of
US, and we had not gone half dozen
squares before we we're nabbed by police
men, who we're looking up voters to Coop
1t was the practice in those days to seize peo.
PIE, Wnetuer uTuuk UT sOUeT, IoCh. Iueui up
until the polls were opened, and then march
them to every precinct in control Of the par
ty having the coop This coop was in the
rear of an engine house on Calvert street. 1t
was part of the game to supply the prisoners
with drugged liquor. The next day we we're
voted at thirty different places and over and
over, it being as much as a mans life was worth
to rebel Poe was so badly drugged that he
was carried on two or three rounds, and then
the gang said that it was no use trying to
vote dead man any longer, so they showed
him into cab and sent him to the hospital to
get him out of the way"
"Well, he died from dissi patton"
Nothing of the kind. He died from laud
anum or some other poison that was forced
on him in the coop. He was in dying con-
dtion while he was being voted, twenty or
thirty times in Baltimore. The story told by
Griswold of his having been on weeks
spree and being picked up on the street, is all
a lie. I saw him showed into the cab my
SELF"
"Well, what about the general character
given to Poe by Griswold and others ?"
II have nothing to say, only that Poe was
a great poet, and he owed me nothing when
be died. San Francisco Chronicle.