The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-14
Special Dispatch 10 the Cincinnati Gazette.

Special Dispatch the Cincinnati Gazette.
New YORK, August 12.-The Times ha
a long dispatch from Narragansett Pier
giving an account Of the Conkling. .spragu,
affair, which substantially agrees will
the account sent last night The Uimit
has some additional views in its dis
patches. tt-.F
A telegram from Washington says
"The outbreak Is traced back, by persons
here familiar with all the parties, to q
Misunderstanding Of old date between
sprague and Conkling, which appears to
have originated in the fact that ConkliDg
was called in to protect the interests Of
the children Of Mrs. Sprague in some real
estate in this city, over which ex.Gov.
sprague has, it is believed, no control.
The misunder, standing has long been no,
torious here, though little attention has
been drawn 10 It, as Mr.. Conkling Is a
man of retired habits, and ex.Goy.
Sprague has been seldom at the capitol.
"Conkling last winter undertook, as a
lawyer, TO free EdgewoOd, Chief Justice
Chases residence, about a mile out OF the
city, from taxes and interest that had ac-
cumnlated in consequence Of defaults in
their payment. The estate, 1t Is under.
stood, belongs principally to Mrs. Sprague's
children. Mrs. Sprague has the manage
ment OF 1t, and lives on 1t with her chill
drcn and apart from her husband, who
has remained in Rhode Island attending
to the business imposed upon him by his
reverses Of fortune. The reason given for
not paying these taxes was that Mrs.
Sprague had been absent In Europe when
they fell due. Mr.. ConkIing appeared in
the case. He induced the Committee OF
the District OF Columbia TO introduce a
clause exempting the estate from the pay
ment Of taxes and penalties as an amend
ment to the sundry civil appropriation
bill, Senator Dorsey introduced It. Pre-.
cisely how he earned the hostility OF
MIR. Sprague in this connection does not
appear, but the fact that he has earned it
has been patent to all Washington for
many months past, and those who know
MIR. Sprague's habits and temper best are
the least surprised by the explosion. The
news IS received here as something ex-
pected."
Notwithstanding the fact that The
Sprague incident has been before the pub.
lie for three whole days the excitement
here is Infinitely greater than 1t has been
atany time since the world at largo first
got wind Of the matter.
1t is asserted byrespectable persons that
Sprague has long entertained strong dis
like to Conkling, and has treated him on
previous occasions with unfriendliness, il
not with positive hostility.
When ex,Gov. Sprague left the Pier on
Sunday oflast week, 1t is said that he went
to Newport with the avowed intention OF
forcing quarrel upon Conkling there, but
missed his man by a minute only. 1t is
stated that Conkling and Levi P. Morton,
whose guest the Senator was, were in the
postottice waiting for the mail to open.
Alter they had received their letters,
Conkling went away and took the next
boat TO Narragansett Pier. Just after
Senator Conklihg left the Newport post
office, Ex-Governor Sprague appeared
there, and is said to have walked into the
P6stHaster's room, talking freely enough,
but not apparently fering from any un.
due excitement. On the contrary, lie ap-
pears to have behaved more nationally
than Is his wont. for ex-Goy. Sprague's
best friends say that lately his converse.
tions have been very disconnected. Itwas
in Newport and on this occasion that ex.
Gov. Sprague made use oi the remark that
''it was time the duello was brought back
to the North, for there were matters which
could only be properly adjusted by that
means" He said, at the same time, that
any newspaper reporters who meddled
with him should besummarily dealt with,
and that Notwithstanding the TACT that the
press has dealt very considerably with
MIN in the matter of'his only too frequent
escapades.
Senator Conkling is known tohave slept
one night, with other guests, at the house
OF ex-Goy sprague here, and it is certain
that he stated to gentleman that 1t was
his intention to stay there for few days.
Ex.Gov. Sprague's wild action can not
therefore, have been anticipated in any
way by him.
A sarcastic citizen to-day said that so far
as he could sec the only person benefited
| by all this hub-bub is the German pro.
fessor, Linck, who has suddenly become
the most widely advertised instructor in
these parts. The attempt to drag him
into the affair was not III advised and uni,
fortunate. Had this not been done the
whole thing would have passed off but as
one of ex.Gov. ,Spragues frantic demon.
strations. Now, the very servants who
know that the difficulty on Friday was
with Senator Conkling and who knew
also, that ex-Goy Sprague followed the
Senator and was heard to threaten the lat.
ter in the street, arc making mountains Of
mole hills and keeping the most insane
versions Of this alleged scandal prominent
ly before the public.
Linck has published a card several col.
ums long in the Providence Journal. II
shows nothing but that Sprague has al.
ways entertained a violent dislike to him;
has ordered him out OF the house, to which
he returned only by IN understanding
with Mrs. sprague; that he was to act as
tutor to her son William, and that Sprague
finally pursued Linck into the town in a
buggy, being armed at the time with gun
Linck managed, however, to avoid him.
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