The daily gazette., 1879-08-11
CONKLING AND spRAGUE.
AN AN1RY 4LTKRcATroN AND
sTRNaETHREATs By sPRA0UE.

AN ANGRY ALTERCATT0N AND
l sTRNoETHREATs By ePRAoUE.
NAhRAeANsErr PIER, August TO-
Early this morning there was an un-
usual stir in the hotels. for it had been
announced that Sunday paper which
would arrive here from Newport would
contain full and complete account of
the Sprague versus Conkling sensation
Of which telegraphed you some unofH-
clal particulars last evening. Unfor-
tunately for all the parties concerned the
truth has not yet fully appeared here,
but l give 1t you now from . source Is
to which there can be no question. The
trouble arose not between any professor
OF German and Ex-Governor Sprague,
but between ex- Governor Sprague and
Senator C0nkling. The affair, as was
stated in to-day's World, occurred on
Friday evening. Either on Wednesday
night or Thursday morning Senator
Conkling arrived at Narragansett Pier.
With him or after him came . trunk and
q large vallse. These articles OF bag
gage were taken to the Sprague mansion
BY the direction Of Senator Conkling.
He remained there as . visitor the
next day and was on . hotel piazza dur
ing the next evening converting with
some ladies. During Friday afternoon
Governor Sprague was observed driving
about Narragansett Pier, having been a.
home entertaining his guests The night
previous though he had been absent for
a day or two before. He had gun with
him which it 10 believed that he loaded
earlier in the day. Finally he drove to
the rear Of his house, which Is about q
mile and half from the Pier, and came
through the house in somewh excited
condition. He got out to the piazza,
where he found Senator Conkline con-
verslng with Mrs. Sprague, who was al
a window. Governor Sprague then said,
addressing Senator Conkling, "Are you
armed, sir ?" and Conkling replied "Ne,
l am not" "Then," said Governor
Sprague, ~ give you five minutes to get
off these premises. If you are not away
| will fire at you." Ex-G Governor Sprague
is said then to have made use Of some
further exasperating language. Senator
Conkling seeming much surprised but re-
membering that be was under ex-Gov-
ernor Sprague's roof, rose and walked
few steps away while Mrs. Sprague came
out Of the house and stood between them.
Ex-Governor Sprague stood looking at
Senator Conkling while carriage drove
up which had been ordered to take Mrs.
Sprague for drive.
When Mrs. Sprague found that ex-
Governor Sprague was apparently deter
mined Oh an unpleasant scene she call
ed for her hat aud shawl, which Mrs.
Martin, friend and guest in the house
brought her. In the house at the time
as guests were Mr.. and Mrs. Martin and
Miss Martin and Mrs. Alexander, as
we'll as Senator Conk'ing. A story
which has been circulated here that Sena-
tor Conkling carried an invalid out of the
house Is nonsense. He went away en-
tirely alone. After Ex-Governor Spra-
que repeated his peremptory order to Mr..
Conkling to quit his house there was
some bestancy on the part of the New
York Senator as to what should be done,
hut seeing no hope Uf n ratiVnal solution
he finally took his hat and entering the
carriage went dowE to the Pier, stopping
on the way at Billineton's restaurant.
Scarcely had he arrived there and got
out of the conveyance than Ex-Governor
Sprague, who had followed, came up
and it is therefore certain that the latter
must have kept his horse hitched up
ready for use to follow Senator Conkling.
On the arrival ofex-Governor Sprague
at Billing on's another exchange of words
took place, but there is not the slightest
testimony to show that at any time
hand-to hand encounter, such as has
been spoken Of freely here to-day, took
place. But it is certain that there was
an excited and threatening colloquy be-
tween the two outside of the most public
spot in the whole place, and thus 1t came
to pass that the most exaggerated rumors
were set in motion. Sifted down the
foregoing are the principal facts in the
case so far Us Mr.. Conkling and Mr..
Sprague are concerned. As to the alleged
cause of the hostility of Mr.. Sprague to
Mr.. Conkling it is only certain that the
German teacher 80 indiscreetly and fool
ishly brought into the matter had moth
ing whatever to do with it. On Thurs
day night, according to Ex-Governor
Sprague himself, he could not sleep.
He said to q tradesman here the next day
that his mind was troubled, that he could
get no rest and that some one had to be
cleared out OF his house that Friday
night.