The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-08-12
CoNKLTNG-iSPRAGUE
SCANDAL IN "HIGHER LIFE"
Ex-senator Sprague Threatens to
Shoot Senator Conkling-An
Exciting Scene at Mar
agansett Pier.

New York, Aug. l1.-The Sun has a
long story about the Conkling-Sprague
affair. in which it is said the trouble
was not-with Conkling at all, but with
German school master named Iinck.
Conkling was in the house but saw
nothing of the tronble. The SUMS ac-
count concludes by saying that the re-
port that Conkling had a personal en-
counter with Sprague has no founda-
tion whatever. Nothing of the kind
occurred and the only tliing to give
rise to the story is what is above re-
lated. 1t was Uonkling's misfortune
to be in Sprague's residence when the
Linck aitercation occurred, but he took
no part in it and was in no way involy-
ed in the affair.
The Suns Utica telegram says: 1t
may be again stated that Mrs. Conk-
ling will institute no divorce proceed
ings. All stories to the effect that
there is a rupturesin the senator's home
are unfounded. This is authentic.
The World still repeats its story more
circumstantially, in which occurs the
following passage: During Friday
afternoon Sprague was observed driv-
ing aboutzNarragansett pier. Having
been at home entertaining his guests
the night previous, though he had been
absent sor day or two before. He
had a gun with hin, (which it is believed
he loaded earlier in the day. Finally
he drove to the rear of the house,
which is about mile and half from
the pier, and came through the house
in an excited condition. He got out
to the piazza, where he found Conkling
conversing with Mrs. Sprague, who
was at the window. Sprague then said,
addressing Conkling; "Are you armed,
sirp' Conkling replied: '.No; 1 am
not" Then said Sprague: "I' give
you five minutes to get off these prem
ises. If you are not away will FIRE at
you"
Sprague is said then to have made
use of some further exasperating Ian
guage, Conkling seeming much sur
prised, but remembering he was under
Sprague's roof, rose and walked few
steps away, while Mrs. Sprague came
out of the house and stood between
them. Sprague stood looking at Conk-
ling, while the carriage drove up which
had been ordered to take Mrs. Sprague
for drive. When Mrs. Sprague found
that Mr.. Sprague was determined on
an unpleasant. scene, she called for her
hat and shawl, which friend and
guest in the house brought to her.
Conkling, entering the carriage, was
driven down to the pier, stopping on
the way at Billington's saloon. Scarcely
had he arrived there and got out of the
conveyance, than Sprague, who had
followed, came up, and it is therefore
certain that the latter must have kept
his horse hitched up ready to follow
Conkling. On the arrival of Sprague
at Billington's, another exchange of
words took place. It is certain there
was an excited and threatening COLO
guy between the two outside, in the
most puDlic spot In the place, and thus
it came to pass that the most exagger-
ated rumors were. set on motion.
Sifted down, the foreghing are the
principal facts in the case. AS to the
alleged cause of the hostility of Sprague
to Conkling, it is only certain that the
German teacher, SO indiscreetly and
foolishly brought into the matter, had
nothing whatever to do with it.
Washington, Aug. 1.-THE report
of the personal difficulty between Conk-
ing and Sprague gives rise to much
comment here, but is received with lit
tie surprise. The intimate relations
existing between the senator and Mrs.
Sprague have been an open scandal in
Washington society for more than two
years.