The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-23
CONKLING- SPRAGUE.
The Ex-GoyernOr's Version of the
Difficulty.
An Unsparing Denunciation of the
New York Senator 81 Will Shoot
You on Sight"
W. Chicago Tribune.l

IChicago Tribune.l
BOSTON, Mass Aug 1G.-The Globe has th,
following dispatch from Narragansett Pier
Senator Sprague has been In consultation
with his lawyers, and absolutely declines I,
make statement for publication directly
but an intimate friend relates the substanc,
OF what occurred between Senator Spragut
and Senator Conkling on Friday, August 3, al
the story came from the lips OF Mr.. Spragut
himself. Its publication would not be Der
mltted even now but for the letter of Mrs
Sprague.
Gov Spraguo's version of the affair is ae
follows: lie had been down in Maine on 8
business trip, expecting to be absent unit
Saturday night. He finished his business be.
fore he expected to, and returned late Thurs
day night, but did not see Mrs. Sprague al,
though he knew she was present III the house
On Friday morning he learned for the first
time, and down at the pier, that Senator
Conkling was up at his house and had been
there day OF two. The Governor was angry
beyond measure, and the cause OF his anger,
he said to his friend, was the intimate rel,l-
lions between Senator Conkling and his wife,
which had long been highly obnoxious to him.
Theexistence Of these relations wareno secret
to him. He had seen the scandal growing and
becoming more and more public, and
HE SPOKE BITTERLY
OF the conduct Of Senator ConkliDg toward his
wife at Washington. Bitter words had often
been spoken between his wife and himself be-
cause OF that intimacy. She was fully aware
how obnoxious to him was that intimacy and
what were his feelings toward Senator Conk-
ling. But in spite OF this, said Mr.. Spraguc,
In spite Of all the scandal and the violence to
his feelings, that she should invite Senator
Ccnkling TO be guest 1T his house during his
absence, and that Conkling should have the
brazen effrontery to come there at all, incensed
him beyond all measure. AS he expressed 1t,
Senator Conkling was trying to do for his
home IN Rhode Island what he had already
done for his home in Washington, and he had
determined to put an end TO 1t at once and
forever.
With this deliberate intention he hurried
back to CanOnchet as soon as no heard CoIk-
ling was there Near the house he met Linck,
the German professor, but he declared posi-
lively that he had no row with him, aud had
no idea of shooting him. He did not even
have his gun with him ut the time. He did
order LincE to leave the house, and was Op-
posed to bis being there not, however, he
cause he had anything against the man him
self, but because he could not afford to have
such an attachment to his establishments and
he felt that the display Of such extravaganza
at Canonchet
WAS INJUR1NG HIM
in his efforts to save the wreck Of his vast
interests and to get on his feet again
financially. But he hardly gave Iinck a
thought. Probably he did speak antrriy, he
said, for be was very angry; but his lndigna-
ton was against Conkling and not against
Linck.
He found Conkling In the house alone, and
ordered him out on the instant. Conkling re-
fused to go. A few high words ensued, and
then he (Spraguc) went up stairs to get his
He found that he had no percus-
sion caps for his weapon, and went off tn the
n .tG ha p,.rtIa
procure them he hurried back, and ConkliHg
was still there. He again ordered him to
leave and Conkling refused to so, and tried TO
mollify Sprague and excuse himself from
leaving SO suddenly on the ground that he
had no carriage for himself Or his baggage.
which was not even packed. Thereupon Mr.
Sprague drew out his watch and told Conll-
ling that he would give him thirty seconds to
get out and that ii he was not out BY that
time he (Sprague) would blow his brains out
AT that moment a carriage appeared in
sight, which had evidently been sent for
while Senator Sprague was absent in his
search for caps. At any rate, Conkling i'm
got into it and drove away, leaving
his baggage behind him. What happened |
afterward in the house is not related, except {
that ConkliDg's luggage was hustled out of |
the house at short notice. Not satisfied that I
Conklng would quit hanging around the
place, and determined to make him fully IN
derstand that he (Sprague) was thoroughly I
IN earnest, and that it was not a mere /
passing fit OF rage the Governor, as soon
us ne had said his say at the house, and or
1ered COnkIing's luggage out, jumped into /
his own wagon and drove off toward the Pier /
to lind Conkling, and he
CARRIED HIS GUN WITH HIM.
He found Conkling pacing up and down in
'front.' OF a cafe. Jumping from his carriage
le beckoned to Conkllng to come to him and +
said, curtiy:
II want YOU
Conkling came, and another scene ensued.
Jonkling spoke low and mildly, evidently
seeking to avoid attracting observation and
ried again to pacty the Governor. This only
snraged MI. Sprague the more. He de
lounced Conkling violently, and told him
plainly that he had had enough of his in
imacy with Mrs, Sprague. The Governor re-
minded Mr.. COnkling that he had broken q
he once made in Washington to give
10 his acquaintance with Mrs. Sprague
Finally, the Governor cut COnkling short in
IN attempted reply by asking him abruptlyif
le was armed. Conkling, bristIing up replied
hat he was not; that ii he was he (Sprague)
would not 90 on as he was going. Without
loticing the threat, Sprague replied:
"Ihen go and arm yourself, and hereafter
20 armed. don'tintend to shoot an unfrmed
nan, but will tell you now that If you ever
ross my path again 1 will shoot you on
ight.'
With that threat Gov Sprague jumped into
lis carriage again and drove off, and Mr..
'onkling returned to the cafe. This Is I'm
oubtedly substantially correct story of
what actually happened between Senator
,onkling and ex-senator Sprague.
The Last OF the Narraxansetts.
ALMOST a TRAGEDY.
IN. Y. Graphic. August 1871
ct. 1.-The e1-Husbaad Sous. Enter Mes