The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-09-15

eiuof Spfague, Us he Is invariably
called. Indeed, no one who knows the
story OF his life can feel otherwise than the
deepest sympathy for hin. William
Sprague did not 90 through the hardening
process necessary 10 the accumulation OF a
fortune. He inherited his vast business
from his father and uncle, and entered into
public life with all the generous impulses
OF II boy. What q grand entry that was!
With a strange instinct, for It could not
have been reason, he anticipated the late
civil war. For two years he maintained
at his own private expense two full bat.
teries OF artillery, and when the call was
made BY President Lincoln for troops he
was the only Governor prepared to re.
spond. He marched into Washir g.on a,
the head OF three thousand men, well
drilled and disciplined, armed and
equipped.
dis short career as a soldier was so bril-.
liant that men regretted his translation to
the Senate. He was as brave as Cesar,
and as cool under fire az on a parade.
lt.was at the height OF his career that he
met Miss Kate Chase, the beautiful and ac.
complished daughter OF the Secretary OF the
Treasury, and as true Il queen OF society rs
the palmiest days OF France ever presented.
He wooed, won and wed her with the en-.
tire appreciation OF the social and political
world. Il was considered a most admirable
match. The fact is, from the start ii was
most unfortunate. Kate Chase lost her
mother when babe, und was brought up
by her father. Kate grew up brainy
woman, but she grew her brain n, the ex.
pense OF her heart She never loved but
one man-she never had respect but for
one man. and that man was her father.
She had but one objective point in life, and
that was to make her father President. To
this she sacrificed much, and was prepared
to sacrifice all-William Sprague included.
On the other hand, Senator Sprague was
not only immersed in q business that
mounted up among millions, but he had
all that was in him interested in politics,
at time when politics WAS Redeemed with
blood, and invaded every household with
intense excitement. He soon found that
he had no home, and the differences be-
tween himself and his vile began at the
end OF the honeymoon and continued until
they eliminated in the scandal OF the sep.
aration.
The immediate cause OF this separation
was the death OF Salmon P. Chase. So long
rs he lived he kept peace between the two
parties. The remote cause OF the trouble
was money. suppose Mrs. Sprague was
the most extravagant woman ever married
to millionaire, and William Sprague,
with all his dislike for his wife, was proud
OF her, and never dreamed OF putting 4
limit to her expenditures until he found
himself embarrassed by debt OF nearly
100000 that he had to renew every ioar
months, and which was growing upon him
with frightful rapidity. He at last appealed
10 his wife, told her OF his financial con.
diion, and begged he, by economizing in
her mode Of living, to aid in saving him
from bankruptcy. She knew little about
his business, and, caring less, took this Us
another specimen OF his cruelty toward
her. .
Finding that he could have no influence
over his wife, he begged her to call in some
friend in whom she had confidence and
let him state his case. To this she readily
consented, and, 10 Mr.. Sprague's utter
amazement, suggested Roscoe Conkling
Now, Sprague and Conkling had person.
ally, through their political differences,
been such enemies that they did no,
speak to each other. Mr.. Sprague's frs,
impulse was to object TO the referee, bu,
so desperate were his fortunes that he con.
Guided to humiliate himself and lay bare
all his business to his political opponent.
This he did without any beneficial results
from his debasemen,. Spragne claims
that Conkling encouraged his wife, which
is most likely a mistake, for she needed no
encouragement in that direction.
1t was long after this, and while the un.
happy Senator was running over the coun.
try striving in every way 10 save himself,
that he picked up n paper one day and
read the story OF the Sprague.C Conkling
scandal. The husband, as we all know, is
the last man ever to hear OF his wife's i'm.
prudence, and this fell on the ruined man
with crushing force. He, returned to
Washington and challenged Mr.. Conklin..
More prudent and cooler.headed friends
persuaded him out OF this course, and he
withdrew his challenge. He, however,
served notice on Senator Conkling never
to set foot in his house again. -
Shortly after this the gallant Senator
mysteriously appeared at Canonchet. Sena-
tor sprague had been called away as wit
ness in an important Law case, and ex.
pected to be absent week or ten days
from his unhappy household. | say un-
happy, because bis wife contrary 10 his ex.
pressed wishes, came to Canonchet to pass
the summer, with ten servants, and about
twenty gay and festive visitors Among
the servants was one especially offensive TO
Spraguc in the form OF German tutor for
his sou Willie. This man Sprague be-
lieved had been employed to get Willie,
Who sympathized with his father, out OF
the way Of Conkling, and so Governor
Spraguc had notified the German tutor
that If he appeared at Canonchet it would
he instant death. He believed that the
learned German. indeed he was informed,
was on his way to tho chateau. The dis
futes between Governor RpragIe and his
wife over the heavy expenditures made the
place any thing but pleasant.
He EFT in accordance with his summons,
and had gone as far as New York when he
was met by a telegram informing him that
the case was co1tinued. He returned i'm.
mediately, arriving at kingston a. midnight.
He walked from that place ts Caaonchet,
a distance OF eight miles, and, letting him,
self in with his night-key, retiredto his
bedroom. He was agekencd by his
son Willie, who told him inst Senator
Conkling vas at breakfast with the family
in the dining room bcloy. Senator Sprague
sprang from his bed in state Of intense
excitement The fact dashed before bis
mind that be hsd left home with ths
knowledge Of his wife. to be absent ter
days or two weeks. His unexpected 70
turn, twenty:iour hours after, found in his
house the man lie had forbidden to appear
there, and whose name in public estima
ton in connection with his vile was syn
9nymops with dishonor. 1t is myster!