Omaha daily bee., 1885-02-10
LOOKING FOR MIR. CLEVELAND.
An Unfortunate Victim of Some
would-be Wyoming County Wits,

~ AA't
BATAVIA, n. Y, Feb. AT the Cen.
trail railroad station, Ia batavia, thi,
morning, a man of medium s'ze, attired
In a long ulster, attracted the attention
of the loungers. He had Just sliehted
from the train from Attics. Huriying to
the telegraph office he handed tho opera
tor the following message, written on a
half sheet of common note paper:
To P~resident.elect Cleveland, Hoffman
House, New York City:
Will be st Hoffman House on arrival
In city. L. G. AUSTIN.
The man was the political CRANK
from Attica, whose eccentricities during
past years have won for him newspaper
notortety in that section of the state. To
byttauders he said he was bound for New
York to meet the president
elect in esponse to a Geographic request
from MIR. Cleveland to Join him in consul
tstion. The telegram was, Of course, a
forgery, concoctsd by some light headed
would-be wit, but 1t would have been
impossible to convince him of this fact,
Notwithstanding the fact that he has been
sent from pillar to pest on many FOOLS
errands by cruel people who think them
selves wags, and who take q childish de-
light i'll playi G upon his hallucination
that he is a great man.
Beneath his ulster Austin wore a cut
away frock coat and a white vest. His
necktie was also white, and on his head
rested a silk bat. He would not be taken
for a .''crink, as he is a pleasant talker.
The cruel telegram which sent him on
his foolish trip has convinced him that he
can have any office In the gift of the ex-
e~cutlve, even a secretary S portfolio. In
speaking of the matter he said there
would, of course, have to be many con-
c~essions made In the interest of harmony,
and he was willing to do all in his power
to aid In perpetustirg the democratic
party. He boarded the train for the
east upon Its arrival and set out on his
mission.
Austin is the son of a farmer near the
village of Attics, Wyoming county, who
at one time WAS reported to be one of the
wealthy sgriculturists. Eugene G.. Aus.
tin has long been weak minded regarding
political matters. For years he has bsen
known through Wyoming county as the
butt of various stupid jokers. Aparty OF
these once waited on him and told him he
had been nominated for the assembly,
and arrangements had been made for him
to deliver an address at the county seat.
He went to Warsaw, was met at the sta
ton by a large crowd, escorted to a car
riago drawn by four horses and driven tc
the village square. There he began an
address, but was eqged by his tornentors.
Early IN the presidential campaign OF
1880 he was a republican, and was in
duced to 90 to Mentor to see Gen. Gar
field. He went, but his magnifed i'm
portance obtained no recognition for him
at the home of the republican candidate,
and he returned to Attica disappointed
detected, and a democrat. His vote was
cast for Gen. Hancock. During the state
campaign of 1882 he was an ardent sup.
porter of Mr.. Cleveland, and after the
~latter's nomination last summer Austin
went to Albany to personally congratu'
late the victor. .
When Mr.. Cleveland went to Buffalo
about a month ago to attend the Charity
Ball the crank went to the "breezy city
Going to the Genesee house he inquired
for the presldent-eiect, and was shown in
to the presence of a lsrge, good -natured
gentleman, who treated him with the ut,
most consideration. Matters of party
policy were pleasantly discussed, and
Austin was much elated. He accepted
with profuss thanks an invitation tt
drink, and the Jolly drummer" fol
such the pretended president. elect was,
"set 'em up" for the crowd that hsdgath
cred and quietly withdrew. As soon as
gone Austin leaned over the bar and ask
ed if he could buy the glass out of which
the president. elect drank. The harkeep
er granted his desire, the politician pay
ing well for the article which he carried
home.
The various receptions which have
been practiced upon Austin have cost hin
in the aggregate several thousand dollars
His father, who has lived tn
term of years allotted to man
is not strong mentally, and Eugene OBJ
tains from him the funds with which h,
Is able to crafty his crazy ambition TO
political preferment. A few years agr
the old man placed a mortgage for So, 50I
upon his farm to satisfy the financial de
mands of his deluded son, and befor,
that $1,000, which had been deposited il
al Attica bank 80 that Eugene coulC
withdraw it, had been swallowed up,
fact which must seem excruciatingl.
funny to the average Wyoming count,
practical jokers,' who have succeeded
in swlndling Austin when other confd
ence operators and ~swindlers, who pro
fessionally make such unfortunate people
their dunes. have failed
Austin now believes that he will be re
ceived by President-elect Cleveland, snC
although he has never exhibited any in
dication of violence, the rational people
of the county who see nothing funny IL
sending Austin on his FOOLS errand fea,
trouble may come, and say it would be
wise act to watch him or place him unde
restraint.
Low Rates to Inauguration Ceremo
MES at Washington.