National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-12
LAunsNnM FOR SIX.
A Drug Clerk Administers Ii by Mistake
for Clnchona as a Beverage.


C. A. Boynton, agent of the Western
Associated Press; Charles NJ Becker, of the Asso-
ciated Press; C. A. ORourke, of the City Press AS
sociation and Mr. Dithmar, night editor of the
New York Times, met by chance on Thursday
afternoon near Hedgman's drug store, 2O5 Broad
way. Just ahead of them Amos Learned, OF the
New England Associated Press, an acquaintance
of all these gentlemen entered the drug store with
friend. When Mr. Boynton and his friends came
in, MI. Boyntonsaid laughingly, to Mr. Learned:
well, Amos, you'll have to treat to soda water"
"No, you don't" retorted Mr. Learned; " but III
toss up with You"
Mr.. Boynton lost the toss, and the party called
for cinchona and vichy at his expense, and drank
to his good health. Mr.. Boynton stood holding
his glass and telling story. When the story was
done he lifted his glass to his lips, but barely
tasted the contents.
"I never tasted anything like this" he said,
rather suddenly.
The young drug clerk who had prepared the
mixture started and turned as white as the marble
counter.
"Great heavenl I've poisoned you ALL" he ex-
claimed; "Pve given you laudanum"
Mr.. Boynton alone had not drunk any. The others
lost color in an instant and the doctor in charge of
the store hurried them Immediately to basement
room and administered emeticS and antidOtes. DR..
Harrington, of the Astor House, was sent for, and
he not only approved the treatment already re-
sorted to, but repeated the dose in each case.
Before the party left the store they were all pro-
nounced out of danger. They walked away. Mr..
O'Rourke and Mr. Becker walked up town to their
homes and reported their adventure, and then
went out again and walked in the streets until
nearly eleven o'clock to fight off the stupor that
they dreaded from the laudanum. Whenhe went
to bed Mr.. O'Rourke slept soundly and without a
break for twelve hours, and then able, late on
the day following, to go to his Office. Mr. Becker,
Mr.. Learned, and Mr. Learned's friend, who lives
in Brooklyn, have not yet been able to leave their
rooms to attend to business. They have suffered
greatly from nausea, but have no apprehension
now of further danger.
The drug clerk was naturally very much dis
tressed by the results of his blunder. The lauda-
nun and cinchona bottles have much the same
appearance He said he had put about sixty drops
of laudanum into each glass, but the physician
called said that the dose probably larger than
that, and would necessarily have proved fatal
within an hour had not remedies been applied so
promptly and diligently.-NeU York Sun.
-&---
Letter from Jefferson Davis.
The Louisiana division of the rebel
Army of Tennessee had its fourth annual reunion
and dinner in New Orleans on Wednesday even
ing, 9th instant. The following letter was read:
BEAUvoIR, HARRISON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI,
April ., 1881.
To the President association -1rmy Of Tennessee:
MY DEAR SIR: Please accept my thanks for your
very kind and courteous letter inviting 10 the
union of the Louisiana Division of the Army of Ten
nessee. gratefully remember the honor your asso-
citation conferred upon me- and am proud to be of
your brotherhood, but regret TO say that my health
will not permit me to accept your invitation tie
union of the association the 9Th To the pleasure of
such social meetings is added theimportant cOnsdera
nf
deeds and preserving just regard for the sacred
principles for which you rsked ALL and lost ALL
honor. To no part of Louisiana's history can she
point with more just pride than to the achievements
of her sons who left their homes TO defend the
mon rights of the States batt1e-elds beyond her
own borders. Their names appear in every conflict
from the bOmbardment of Fort Sumter TO the final
surrender, and their solderly gallantry always
graced by knighty courtesy. Believe me, sir, with
fraterna regard for the association cordially and
faithfully, JEFFERSON DAVIS.
L. A. CHALARoN, esq, No. "a Baronne street, New Or
leans