Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-28
The HISTORIC CAPT. RYN.
DERS.
Once the Idol of the Notorious
Empire Club-The Offices
He Filled.
New York Commercial Advertiser.


New York Commercial Advertiser.
| We met the famous Captain Rynderl
the othor day. He seemed remarka
bly, well preserved aud active Tor hil
age lie must be past seventy FIVE
de might be regarded as the last d
the cooked hats" He is the oldest
active politician in New York. H,
has seen a great deal of the rough
life OF "NeW York rounder." He
was an active worker for General
Jackson in 1873. lie has been more
or less a prominent Democratic orator
and leader since then. Hardly one OF
the Tammany Sachems he acted with
6lty years ago remains-Sam Swar-
twout, Cornelius w. Lawrence. Jesse
Hoyt, Thaddeus Phelps, ,Steph snAllen,
Elijah Purdy and many more eminent
leaders long ago passed away to their
fathers. The Captain was for years
the idol Of the notorious Empire Club.
which was organized in l940, aud made
up OF the worst and most dangerous
elements Of this great city-that ele.
ment was more turbulent and danger
GUS than the same material of The
present day. The Captain was mot
only the orator, but moderator Of the
club. He had more influence in re-
straining their mad violence than
"Old Hays and the entire constabu.
larry force. The Captains acduaint.
ance with the distinguished Demo
cratic statesmen Of the country was
moro extensive perhaps than that OF
any man in New, York. He was on
speaking terms with jackson. Van Bu.
ren, Benton, fancy. Woodbury., Calhoun
Grundy, Marcy, Wright, Cass, Poek
Pierce, Douglass, etc. The Captain has
filled many important Offices very
creditably. Though thorough going
party man, he believed in fair play
and fair count on election nights. We
recall an instance in the Captains s life
showing his ability to manage a ID, m.
oeratic crowd. Twenty Eve years ago
Fernando Wood was the great leader
OF the blear eyed, unwashed, pug nosed
and short haired Democracy OF New
York. The Wbigs in the Legislature
passed law reorganizing the police
force iu New York City. 1t was
known as the Metropolitan Police
Commission Il took the control of
the force out Of the hands Of Mayor
Wood. 1t was litigatod on constitu.
tional grounds aud carried to the
Court of Appeals. Judge DEMO
Joined with the Whis Judges
In pronounoiDg It constitutional
This gave mortal offense to the
subterranean Democracy. The
Democratic State Convention shortly
afterWard met and renomiua,ed j ude
DEMO against the almost united pro
test Of the New York delegation. His
nomination provoked serious opposi
tion, and threats we're made that be
would receive no Democratic votes in
New York. The clamor was so strong
against him that HoIatio Seymour wos
prevailed upon to come to New York
and trY'to quiet the opposition. Can
t in Hynders called upon him the
morning Of his arrival aud gave him
assurance that be should be on hand
with a force strong enough to have the
meeting ratiiy the nomination Of
Judge DEMO, Governor Seymour was
on tine, The meeting was Organized
The usual resolutions indorsing the
nominations were read. All were
received and ratified with i'm.
me Dsc applause except that Of Judge
DEMO, which encountered a storm
Of Kisses, mingled with some cheers.
just then the aisles were crowded
with men three abreast, who PASSED
out OF old Tsmmany. Captain Ryn.
ders, who was on the stand, arose and
was hailed with cheers. He waved
his hand for silence. Thoio was A
pause, and in a few moments order
reigned. Fellow Democrats said
the Captain, we are here TO ratify the
nomination Of the State ticket. Judge
DEMO was regularly nominated. All
Democrats in favor ofregular nomina.
tions will rise. More than three.
iouTths Of the audience arose, and
shouts OF "ayel' "aye!" resounded
through the hall, which drowned
the faint murmurs of the small
minority. Captain Rynders tact
and ability Iiumphed to the great
delight of Governor Seymour, who
made one Of his very happy and adroit
speeches, and the meeting adjourned
With Stentorian cheers for "the whole
ticket The Captain had stationed
some 200 or more men in the hall, auC
when the opposition to Judge Deni,
showed itself by kissing, two Of tn,
Captains men escorted one Of lh
opposition down the isle and shove,
him the door. In this way the Can
tain got the whole ticket ratified
The Captains account Of the affair
most amusing.