The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-04-17
York Sun, April Ill
Chandler In Florida.

The only stirring incident thus far recorded
by the reporters who accompany The Presidents
party in Florida is the mishap to Mr. William
E. Chandler, who tumbled out of the wagon that
was conveying him and his fortunes from Matt
land to Winter Park For a second or perhaps
only for the fraction of a second, this member of
the Administration was in bodily peril, his legs
nearer the sky than his head. Fortunately,
when he alighted it was in such manner that
the shock fell upon the muscles of the cheek and
the Secretary therefore escaped serious injury
Trifng as was the accident, it is ominous In
the brief moment of peril, when Mr.. Chandler
was in the air over the wagon wheels, certain
memories and thoughts must have rushed through
his mind with the force, fnlness and intensity
peculiar TO such crises. If Mr.. Chandler is at all
superstitious he cannot while he remains in
Florida, ride Ia wagon, in a railway car or in
any other vehicle without uneasiness He can.
not step into a rowboat without terror he can
not see lightning in a thunder cloud without ap-
prehension; he cannot contemplate the yawning
jaws of an alligator without shuddering.
This is Mr.. Chambers first visit to Florida, we
believe, since 1875. On November of that
year he was at home in Concord, working the
wards for Hayes and Wheeler Early on the
morning of November he was at the Repub-
can headquarters in the Fifth Avenue Hotel
Tilden was elected; everybody had gone home
News came to the committee rooms that the Re.
publican candidates lacked only one vote.
Chambers acute intellect Immediately pierced
the situation aud understood it possibilities He
got no sleep that night. On his own RESPONSE
bilifv he sent desna tchas IN Elf,r;la Tou;s;o,o
South Carolina, and Oregon, exhorting the party
managers to claim everything. The same hint
was given to the leading Republican newspaper
in this city From that night until the day when
Aliunde Joe Bradley gave the decisive vote for
the Fraud, the progress of the conspiracy was
continuous; and when it became necessary for
somebody to go 10 Florida to superintend the
manipulation by which the vote of the State
was taken from Tilden and given to Hayes,
Chandler was the man who did the work
These historic facts must recur TO Chambers
mind now that he is again in the stolen State.
They must have presented themselves with un-
common vvidness when he was pitched head
foremost out of The wagon. II is true that, after
Hayes had been counted into office Chardlc in
IA measure repented his services To the Frand;
but partial repentance did no, lessen his rcSi,on-
sibility. II he believes in earthly reiribu,on and
in the vengeance of nanimate things, he must
shrink and shiver every time he puts his foot ON
Florida soil
BY the way, what is the ex planaton of Mr.
Chambers rrepressible desire to go To Florida
with the President? Not to take rest, for he is
as restless as tumble-bug Not to shoot for
he could not indulge in that sport without en-
dargering the lives of his companions Not to
fish, for he is too uneasy mortal to enjoy the
tranquil pleasures of the rod and line. Not to
perfect his plan for building the new steel cruis
ers by private contract in the yards OF his friends,
for neither John Roach nor any other Of the
ironclad patriots builds in that State
What, then, drew W, E. Chandler to Florida
1t is psychological truth that horrible fascina
ton sometimes impels guilty conscience to re.
visit the scene of a great crime, years after its
commission