The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-15
THE SPRAGUE SCANDAL.
The Trne Story Of the Difficulty
Between Sprague and
COnkling.j
THE Senator from New York. ssWhite
With Anger" Leaves the Sprague
Mansion and Takes Refuge
in Milk and Crackers.
louisville Courier.J ournat.]

II
counts Of the Conkling -Sprague quarrel 1T
Management Pier show that the affair was
much more serious than at first described,
and OF different nature. Specials say that
OOnkling went to the Sprague mansion on
Wednesday. Sprague had gone away, saying
he was going to Maine. On Thursday night
he returned secretly to the house and oceu-
pied his private room unbeknown to the in
mates OF the house, save one servant. Next
morning he quietly went down town, and In
the afternoon, returning to the house, found
Conkling quietly sitting on the piazza with
Mrs. Sprague. '1ll give you just twenty
minutes TO get off these premises said
Sprague to Conkling; ARE you armed n
Oonkling replied that he was not. "Ihen If
you are not, get away--Pll fire on you"
Sprague is said to have made use Of other
Language, and Conkling, In seeming surprise,
arose In much confusion, and after much heSt-
fation bowed himself down the steps and start
ed down the road The witness and authority
Tor this is Sprague's c0achman. The Senator
HtrOlled along down toward the village until
he reached the drug store, and while In front
OF 1t there came rattling Of wheels behind
him. The druggist says that Sprague drove
up pale with anger and In great excitement
30 much 80 that when he jumped from the
wagon he took the wagon seat with him.
Then he and the Senator had an angry con-
troyersy, In which those who overheard it
heard sEprague say, mo, l won't take any
apology from you, Ct d. you. Don't
armed. shall be armed, and c. d
you, Ill shoot you. There was long and
angry alteration. In which the spectators ex-
pected to see fist fight. The language was
receive any apology, and Conkling, white
with anger, trying to quiet him. Finally |
with the threat repeated to shoot at neXtsight, |
Sprague got into his wagon again and drove
Vf,i4l g. .,,&r~
restaurant and asked for crackers and milk,
which were given him, and which he ate with |
out outward sign Of emotion, save that his
lace was 80 very pale. Then he strolled out
on the beach, and walked up and down. and |
soon returned to the restaurant. While there
Q carriage drove up, and woman who an
SWers III re-. Sprague description called him to |
the carriage. They were In conversation for I
e few moments. and then she drove away.
Conkling whiled away two hours before the
traln started for Providence and In the mean
lime had his baggage brought from the
Sprague house.
Arriving in Providence, he went to Senator
Anthony's, and there dictated the dispatch
sent out by the Associated Press, it which 1t
was made to appear that Spragues trouble
was with the German, and that Conkling in
terfered. The truth is that Sprague did have
trouble with the German, but it was before he
reached the house. when he accosted Conk-
Ling, and Conkling had nothing to do with it
Whatever. There was some talk of having
s printed IN the Providence papers,
pnt lt was not done over their signatures. I'm
mediately after the trouble at Sprague's
house Mrs Sprague packed np and went to
town, and nc xt day went to Providence, tax
Ing the children with her. There we're sew
eral guests in the house at the time, and they
also went away.
Sprague stayed there all night, and next (
day went to Providence. There he was asked
what Conkling had done, and his answer was:
he Tried TO do In my house what he had done
ID Washington."s
:. For months the name of Senator Roscoe
GonkIlng has been associated by gossip with {
That OF Mrs. Kate Chase Sprague. Mrs. I
5prague spent last winter and portion of
asI summer In Washington, and was fire. ! !
9uently In the company of Senator Conkling !
ae Is said not only to have ridden out with i
The wife of the Rhode Island Sena- i
or. but to have left his seat In the Senate on d
Inherent occasions, enter the diplomatic gal ,
cry and there converse for long periods with !
his once famous Washington beauty. A gen 9
leman who had known Mrs Sprague from :
hildhood said to-day: "She is as beautiful as =
syer. ! believe she would discount Mrs n
Iangtry IN point Of beauty and accomplish l.
nents. She was always an ambitious woman
probably more ambitious than any American Z
ady who ever lived. | do not believe Mrs. a
prague Is oyer forty years Of age now; z
low. Tt Is said her marriage was nj Y
. love match. The daughter or q q
secretary OF the Treasury afterward Chief g
ustice OF the United States ami a presi-
ential aspirant, Mrs. sprague, it is said, d
narried for position more than aught else. .
'prague had position and wealth, indeed. =
ghen he met the belle of Washington, as Miss Y
'hase was called He was reported to own
early the whole of Rhode Island. Mrs. nj
prague's greatest disappointment In life was
ne defeat OF her fathers nomination for n
resident by the Cincinnati Liberal Repub-
can Convention in 1872. She even canvassed Il
mong Senators, Congressman and others in q
ehaf of her distinguished fathers nomina- w
on. Senator Sprague spent much money to n
ecure this result. H
Mrs. Sprague longed to be mistress Of the
7 hIte House, as she was OF her fathers man al
on; After the Cincinnati Convention decided At
2 Greeley instead Of Chase the latter died. u
hen Sprague, Hoyt i Co. failed and since y.
Zen domestic troubles have ensued between ~ ~
le Ex-Governor and his wife. II the reports !,
bout Mr.. ConkliHg's attentions to Mrs. ~
prague are true Il is no wonder that Mr..
prague should feel incensed and it is a B;
'onder that he has not put u stop to such at al
entions long since. re
q