Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-31
CHICAGO LETTER.
ienoo Public Ledger.I


CHICAGO, May 26, 1881.
When l wrote you Sunday, l was
under the impression that Hon. Jeffer-
son Davis had left Chicago without
allowing himself to come in contact
with any Of her public citizens and
officials. But it appears such was
not the case. He was among the dis
tinguished persOnageS who attended
the informal reception rendered the
Duke Of Sutherland, and received
marked attention on the occasion.
Mr.. Davis presence in Chicago last
Saturday was quite a coincidence.
Exactly ifty-one years ago he trod
these same grounds, when they were a
wilderness, wearing the uniform of a
United States lieutenant. He was in
from Fort Winnebago with a squad Of
men in search of deserters. He tar
ried awhile at Fort Dearborn. Satur-
day the memory of Fort Dearborn was
made memorable by the presentation
to the Chicago Historical Society" of
a tablet commemorative Of the part
it played in those early days. Among
the other noted persons who were in
the city at the same time as Mr.. Davis,
and the duke, were the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher and Mayor KallOoh, OF
st. Francisco, Cal, whose son killed
editor De Young, Of that city. Each
and every one came in for his share Of
courtesy.
A strange story reaches Chicago to-
day from Denver. 1t is hard to de.
termine whether the death it relates
was suicide or murder. This is it;
Macdonald Lyon was young Chicago
citizen Of twenty-three summers. A
few days ago he went west. About
the same time Mrs. Ducat, the lately
divorced wife OF General Ducat, OF
this city. also disappeared. At the
trial Lyon was q witness for Oucat,
Now the news comes that Mrs. Ducat
that was aud young Lyon were DOM
iciled together when the calamity oc-
CURED. 1t is said Lyon took cramps,
asked for liquor, was refused it. but
instead was given morphine. This
wound up his brilliant career, and
made him an angel. The question now
is: was it murder or suicide? There
are some who are u%ncharitable enough
to think that Mrs. Ducat gave him in.
tentionally and with villainous intent
an overdose of the fatal drug. Your
correspondent cannot entertain such
horrible idea. Evidently deatli re
suited from an accident in the admin
istration of too much of the morphia.
Late this evening accounts come that
Mrs. Ducat is in Jail for safe keeping
fears being entertained that grief al
her friends death would cause her tC
take her own life. The affair is much
deplored by all who knew poor Lyon
and the lady SO unfortunately compro.
missed.
For the past few days the Chicago
wheat market has been very feverish
Up aud down; up and down; has been
the order of things. Finally it closed
to-day at Sl.l3 for July deliveries. Il
is more than likely figures will run a,
high as $1.20 before the excitement
subsidies. When the call for margins
was made at closing, this Pm, no fail,
ures to respond were met. This shows
a healthy condition of the bulls anC
bears.
Many Canadians reside in Chicago
These are cast in gloom because of the
late terrible steamboat disaster al
London, Canada. Up to this writing
240 bodies have been recovered from
the grasp of the waters.
Suicided, did James Marinus, the
other day, in his room, in the Pheniz
hotel, Chicago. Laudanum. He wa.
a fine looking man of thirty-six years
and a Dane by BIRTH. He had beer
for some time, aud until lately, in the
United States navy as paymaster's OF
engineers "yeoman." He left an
afectionate message for Miss Eliza.
beth M. Sullivan, of SOP South Sec.
ond street. Philadelphia, to whom
evidently, he was much attached
No doubt he was dear to her
as several letters Of hers found anon
his effects breathed sweet words
of advice and warning against
drink. He also left a message for Z
friend in Denmark, a half brother
saying he would tell his people Of the
fate Of the wandering boy" Poor
fellow. Such a noble heart must have
been frightfully gloomy to have coun
tenanced self. destruction. His true
name was Jens. Marinus Refsttup
and hailed from Copenhagen, although
born at Ringkjobing, Denmark. HI
bore the strongest testimonials from
many of our most prominent nava.
officers.
The "Hennepin canal" convention
now being held at Davenport, Iowa
will, no doubt, decide it TO be a wis,
policy to connect Chicago directly
with the Mississippi river by water
1t is no stretch of imagination to pre-
dict that in the very near future boat
Of large size will steam into Chicago
harbor from New Orleans laden witt
cotton, sugar, molssses, %coffees, fruits
etc., etc., and return loaded will
plantation supplies. Let the gooC
work 20 on. Hon. Carter II. Harri
son, Uhicago's energetic and liberia
democratic mayor, is enthusiastic tina.
this picture shall soon be witnessed.
Last week Chicago tossed arounC
nearly thirty-fve million dollars il
exchanges" and she will not b,
happy until she equals the business Of
New York.
Old Pap Price, in 1861, in Mis-.
souri,, captured Colonel Mulligan'.
7 twenty third Illinois infantry, anc
parOled the men. But the colone.
would not accede to the terms, anC
was kept a prisoner, but was soor