Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-11-30
Ihe Death of Morgan.

The mystery of the disappearance and
fate of William Morgan. of Batavia, New
York, more than fifty years ago, is revived
by the publication in the New York San
recently Of Il thrcc-coumn statement from
the late Thurlow Weed, which was sworn
to before u New York notary on the 2Sth of
September last After relating at length
the disappearance Of Morgan, his confinc-
ment in Fort Niagara, the finding Of body
supposed for Z time to be his, and the marv
unsuccessful efforts to trace his murderers,
he brings the narrative down to one evening
III 1881 and proceeds as follows:
Col. Simeon Is. ,Jewett. of Clarllson: Mai.
samuel Barton. Of Lewiston, and John
whitney, OF Rochester, passed that evening
at my house. Jewett was prepared to test-
~ that he furnished Il carriage for those
who were conveying Morgan secretly from
Canandaisua to Niagara, John Whitney
was one of the party. Major Barton would
have testified that he furnished the carriage
which conveyed the party from Lewiston to
Fort Niagara, John Whitney being one of
that party. Whitney would have sworn
that Gen. Gould, OF Rochester, supplied
money to enable him to escape from ius-
tice." In the course of the evening. the
Morgan affair being the principal topic of
conversation. Col. Jcwett turned to Whitney
with emphasis and said: "John, what if
you make clean breast of it 2" Whitney
looked inquiringly Y at Barton, who added:
$50 ahead"
"Whimcythcn rclatedin detail the history
OF Morgan's abduction and fate. The idea
of supprcssing Morgan's intended exposure
OF the secrets of Masonry was first suggested
by q man by the name Of Johns. 1t was
discussed III lodges at Batavia, lie Roy and
Rochester. Johns suggested that Morgan
should be separated from Miller and placed
on a farm i'll Canada West. For this pur-
pose he was taken to Niagara and placed in
The magazine Of the fort until arramscments
Tor settling him in Canada were completed.
but the Canadian NIasons disappointed
them. After several meetings Of the lodge
in Canada, opposite Fort Niagara Il refusal
to have anything to do with Morgan left his
'kidnappcrs'' greatly pcrplexed Oppor-
tuncly Il Royal Arch Chapter was installed
at Lewiston. The occasion brought large
number Of enthusiastic Masons together.
After labor" in Masonic language, they
'rctrcd to refreshments Under the eX-
hilaration of champagne and other viands
the chaplain, the Rev. +. H. Cummings, of
Rochester, was called on for toast. He
responded with peculiar emphasis and in
the language Of their ritual The enemies
of our order-May they find grave six feet
deep. six feet long and six feet due east and
west" Immediately after that toast,
which was received with great en-
thusiasm, Colonel William King, an Of
liccr i'll our war of 1912, and then Il member
OF Assembly from Niagara county, called
Whitney, of Rochester; Howard, of Buffalo:
Chubbuck. Of Lewiston, and Garside Of
Canada. out of the room and into a carriage
furnished by Major Barton. They were
driven to Fort Niagara, repaired to the
magazine, and informed Morgan that the
arrangements for sending him to Canada
were completed, and that his family would
soon follow him. Morgan received the in
formation chcerfully, and walked with sup
posed friends to the boat which was rowed
to the mouth Of the river. where a rope was
wound round his body. to each end of which
Il sinker was attached. Morgan was then
thrown overheard. He gasped the gunwale
Of the boat convulsively. Garside. in fore
ing Morgan to rclinquish his hold, was Sc
verely bitten.
"Mr. Weed says that hemet Whitney att
national republican convention at Chicago
30 years after this. when the latterreuuestcd
him to write out his recollection OF what he
| (Whitney) had told him about Morgan's
fate. to be signed in the presence of witnes-
scs and published after Whitney;s death,
but Mr.. Weed was called away himself be-
fore he could comply with the request In
1861 Mr.. Weed says he went to Europe, and
while III London wrote letter to Whitney
asking him TO get Alex. B. Williams. then
resident of Chicago. TO do what he Weed
had neglected. That letter reached Chica-
go one weekafter Whitney's death, closing
the last and only chance for the alleged rev.
elation of that event