Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-16
AN ANCIENT MARINER
Who imposed on a GuiIeIsss Re-.
porter With q Sea Yarn
About the Jeanette Expsdition-captain
Spsncers UnenyiabIe Position-New
Yo.k and Chicago Papers Pro-
nounee Him fraud.

One day the latter part Of last week, the
enteTprising Journal leaped upon aprodigy,
no less than q survivor of the Jeanette ex.
petition. This was Capt. 3. w. Spencer,
an engineer who had just come to Wheel.
ing and stopped at the Howell House, on
the wharf. A columns interview with him
was printed and the dear little sheet went
on its way rejoicing in
AN IMMENSE "soooP."
Capt. Spencer went on to make grsys
charges sgainst the government contractors
for furnishing rotten stores to the Jean
nette and further said the vessel was poorly
manned and equipped for the voyage.
Then he gave particulars Of the voyage,
talked with JUNCTION of the Esquimaux and
so dilated on the horrors of the winter in
The Arctics, that the short hair of the Jour
nal man stood up straight in sympathy.
This interview appeared in The evening
| and was Immediately pounced upon by
| the enterprisipg correspondents OF the
metropolitan papers. Here in the city was
q genuine survivor of the Inflated Jean
nette, q friend of De Long and Jumbo
curiosity and they wsnted their papers 10
know of it. A query was sent to Chi
cago paper and the reply come back as
| follows:
| NOT TO BIZ IAPosED ON.
The person referred to in your dis
| patch has besn pronounced an imposition
by those acquainted with the Jeanette ex
petition. We are assured that no person
| Of that name was in tie crew.
This seemed rather startling and when
| communicated to REGISTER reporter, filled
| his mind with a wild desire to see and con
verse with Capt Spencer. So he hied himself
| to the Howell House and enquired for the
| Ancient Mariner. w. B Howell, the port
| " proprietor, said Capt Spencer was a
! Martins Ferry and would probably not re
turn before Saturday.
EVIDENTLY A SAILOR,
Mr.. Howell was told OF the suspicion
that Spencer was Munchausen, to which
he replied:
''Of course l know nothing about him
further than what he tells; but he seem
to know what be is talking about. H
must have been a sailor and must have
been in the Arctics, for he has maps aud
| note books and curiosities aud can tall
about it as only a man could who has been
there. He knew De Long and all the
others and talks about the expedition like
book"
ayes, that is why i wished to see hin
and get his reply, defense or whatever h'
has to say about the imputation that he i:
| an imposter."
Failing to find Capt, Spencer, the REEFS
1 TER man undertook 10 find something Con
I cernine the Jeanette and Greedy expeIi
lions in the New York papers, Wall
scanning these, he picked up the Times
and found
| cARD OF REPUTATION
which threw considerable more light OF
the matter. 1t ran as follows:
| To tie Editor Of the New York Times.
In your to Days issue appears an article
dated Wheeling, w. Va, April 10, and
head, The Jeanette Expedition-What
! One of the Survivors Says About Food and
1 Treatment" which seems incredible should
have the censorship Of so respectable pa
| per IS the Tin %. No such man as K. W.
| Spencer was ever connected with the Jean
nette expedition. He is an impostor, who
has been palming himself of on unsus
pecting people as q survivor OF the Jean.
nette in order to gain their sympathy and
assistance. At last accounts he was heard
from in the Oh cago Times. 1tseems now
be has turned up in Wheeling, W. Va.
Your correspondent has been taken in and
imposed upon, but in order to prevent
others from being duped likewise, | would
| the article. J. A. Walton.
New York, Friday, April II, 1884.
In order to give Capt Spencer the benefit
| OF statement in his own behalf, the REG.
IsrER man yesterday sought the Howell
House again, but he had not returned.
| This card makes him out q veritable fraud
and in poster, but if he has any defense to
| make or explanation to offer, the columns
| of the REGISTER are open to him.
TWENTY FIVE pieces Guinet Silks at 81 co.
| guaranteed to be worth $3.50. E. NJ. Nc
4 Gillin e. IN