Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-24

JACKSONVILLE, FLA, May 23-We learn that
there is in our midst an individual calling him
self Wise, who under the pretence of repre-
senting some mythical firm in the lumber
business, is ostensibly secret agent of the
Department of the Interior at Washington
and was sent here by Carl Schurz late Secre-
tary Of the Interior, for the purpose Of in
vestigating the prtrdte acts of Dr. G. c, Girls
sey, Col E. A. Protois and Mr.. B. D. Jones'
These gentlemen are special agents of the
General Land Office, recently engaged in ex-
amining the claim of indemnity Of the State of
Florida against the United States for the loss
Of certain lands, sold by the United States
subsequent to the passage Of the swamp land
grant of 1850, and which lands the State claims
properly belonged to her under the act. If
this is really the business in which Mr. Wise is
engaged, he has thus far succeeded admirably
In an interview with Gen. BoliY. Lewis, ye
Jovial host of We Duval Home tRSw Lewis is
nothing If not excessively polite and SOlon
knowing his weak points, buttered him up and
then devoured him at Rulp) he elected the
fact that Col. Protois and Mr. Jones, when in
the city, usually put up at his house; that Col.
i. sometimes had q back room, sometimes a
front room and sometime es two rooms; that he
breakfasted at 8 a. m. dined at 4 and supped
at 2. m. After this hour Col P would ap-
pear in full evening dress, ready for anything
that might turn up from hop in the parlors
to stag party in another part of the house
not freQuented by ladies'; that between break
fast and dinner Colonel p was usually to be
found at his Office writing, etc. From other
sources he ascertained that Mr.. Jones ate at
the Duv4l House, but Toomed outside, and that
DR.. Crissey lived at private boarding house
with his family, He also found out the number
OF todd1eS Jones got away with during the cav
for the benefit of his bronchial affec ion. wbi e
in waiting orders, and the number of excursion
trips taken by the doctor and his family to and
from Green Cove Springs and other points on
the st. Johns river, and the number of times
the doctor attended divine service for the pur-
pose of offering up prayers for the blessings
kind and benign Providence had bestowed
upon him.
He slso made the acquaintance Of Can't. Bill
Kendrick, whom Colonel Protois sometimes
employees as a guide, and of Colonel Gibbes
Colonel Hopkins, Capt. Blocker and Mr.. Dancy
gentlemen representing the State of Florida,
and from them ELECTED the facts in regard to
the method of operations in the field, how ex-
aminationS were conducted, ETC., by Colonel P
and his associates, the number OF partridges,
deer and allgatorS they shot, etc. Having
aScertained to his entire satisfaction how these
representatives of the United States lived
while here, and how much Colonel Protois
paid for his eplcgrean style of living, the
number of times he used to drop in at the
corner" and the combination he usually
played in the number of visits he paid Child'S
Christian Asso iation Club, the number of car
TI5S0S uo nlF0u from Jn6 SU. James livery
sgaoles and their cost, the name of the ladies
to whom the Colonel occasionally gave car
riage airing, all the balls, solreeS and dinner
parties he attended. and the names OF the
booied the fact in a voluminous re-
port and transmitted the same 10
Washington, but whether it is to be sub
mitted to the Senate or not we do NOT
know. There is one thing sure. however, if it
was submitted, good bye dead lock- We un-
derstand that while the report represents Col
P. as anything but saint, and the Dr. and Mr.
Jones as moral young men belonging to differ
ent religious societies, not word is said in re-
gard to the work accomplished by these gem
tlemen during their sojourn in Fl l1rida. So far
so good, but what does he know about it?
We understand also that the Commissioners
of the General Land Office to whom
the matter has been referred, being somewhat
of a bon UiUGnt himself, and, above all things,
a just man, has concluded to promote the
Coionel to the highest position in his bureau,
over which he has jurisdiction, and he will not
forget Mr. Jones, but to what extent we have
not learned AS for the doctor, he is as high
as he can get at present.
If General Williamson takes this view of the
matter, he has our thanks and support No
agents of the General Government, who have
come among u.s. have made a better impres
sion upon our community, and Colonel Protois
especially, having the largest region of co1n-
try to travel over, has made lasting friends
wherever he has been. In South Florida there
is not a man, woman or child but who wishes
him we'll, and will ever retain the kindest
recollections Of him. Besides, we claim
the Colonel as citizen of Florida,
being the owner of very pros
porous grove on Lake Griffin. where he
intends at some future day not far distant we
hope to make his home. Now, if this sage has
been sent here for the purpose.of investigating
the official acts of the agents above referred
to, we wish him joy, and the sooner he gets
out of town into the swamps, and has
parley with the frogs and alligators, the
better for him, the better for us, and
our blessings go with him. We have
some knowledge of the hardships and trials ex-
perienced by Col Protois and his associa es in
making their examinations, which we have
every reason to believe were thorough and
conclusive. In fact they could not have been
otherwise, considering the standing of the
agents on both sides, and of the witnesses pro-
duced by the State in support of their claim.
AS far as any friendship or intimate relations
existing between Colonel Protois and Mr..
Wise, which he claims to exist, we are author
lied to say that Colonel has no knowledge
of Mr. Wise, personal or official Neither have
Dr. Crissey or Mr. Jones. Now, what is this
man Wise here for? Schurz is out Of Office,
and why does he not follow him? We would
like to know who is footing the bills, and out
of what appropriation he is being paid. None
that Schurz left behind him, we are sure.
We remember some years ago two officiouS
agents here, who did their utmost to defeat
Col ?. in his efforts to bring to justice certain
parties for violating certain laws tof the Uni
ted States. They were both dismissed the SER
vice. One joined the Y. NJ. Q. Association and
is now peddling tracts out West and the
other is, Micawber like, waiting for something
to turn up.
We would advise Wise. If he is rCise. to ask
to be sent to a cline more suited to his pecu-
liar talents There is no room for him here.
w. H. B.