Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-04-20
CONKLING STORIES.
"Reminiscences OF the lannon's orator and
Statesman.

Statesman.
PHsjTq P,s'.
'Yyars ago ! was employed by the Phil
sdelphia, WILMINGTON and Baltimore rail
read at the junction few miles ont OF Bal
timore, said a tegraph operator yester-
day. "One afternoon an unusually haui-
some aud athletic man entered the little
station.
"'Djes the limited express for Washing
on stop here me inquired.
Il" No, siS,' replicd.
Cant you stop i,?
4" Not without orders fsorn the main Of
fee
" 4 will explain 10y situation to you,
said ,hs stranger, in the hope you wilt do
all IN your power 10 AID me. l came from
Washington to intercept at Baltimore a
gentleman who is on his way from New
York to the csp'tal. tie is Oh the limited
express. 1t is OF the greatest Importance |
should see him hGtIre he reaches Washing
ton. A railroad conductor directed me 70
the Union station, where, he said, the lin
tied would stop. bat | lost my way, and
wandered here after u long tramp
Telling him | would ses what con!d
DO Tor him, telegrsphed to Philadelphia
tor permission 10 stop the express.
"'YOu might use my name il you think
il would be OF any use, said the gentle
man.
"'And your name it - said l.
'ConkiiDg- Roscoe CUEkhug,' replied
tee gentleman.
'.I flashed over the wire: Senator COnk-
log wants me to stop the limited express
for him to get aboard.
The answer came back: How do you
know it is Conklings' Turning to him, l
said: 'Philadelphis wants Identification.
will this dO?' he asked, displaying hand
some gold watch with the initials II. q.
engraved in the case. At the same time,
either by design nr chaGce, hs removed bis
hat. Gr.spiug the key / licked these
words 10 Phiadelphia: Letters Il. c. on
geutleman's watch, but ] know he's Conk-
ling by his Haunting red beard, ard the
Hyperion curl OF Nsst's cartoons.
straightforward the snuuder raped; Sop
train, by order Of II. F. kenncy, General
Superintendent
"CoakliDg was profuss in his thanks
As the express shot around the curve with
him safely on board, he made courteous
gesture OF farewell to me-"
There will he plenty Of Conkling remI-
nisceDces in the newspapers for week 10
cone. One which yGu will not hear, how
ever, relates to a newspaper mans express
desire to thrash the august Senator
from New York. John b Mccormick,
now prominent figure in New York jour-
naliSm, achieved much fame "a city editor
of the Cincinnati Eqgairtr. While tigUr-
ing in that capacity, and also through his
close relationship to John K. Mclean,
welding much power in Ohio politics, he
attended the Republican convention OF
lsSO, which nominated Mr.. Garfield. Mr..
Corkling was there "a the leader OF the
svtr-iamous SEQ Grant delegates.
After an Introduction by a mutual
friend Mccormick solicited newspaper
interview with the Utica statesman, which
favor the latter graeiousiy accorded and
named a certain hour in the evening for
the ordeal. l should mention hero that
George Alfred Town'ead, widely known
by his nom de plume Of Gath" had pub
Iisbed in the New York Herald and Cfr-
cinnati Enquirer about ten columns 81
what purpOrtsd to be formal interview
with Mr.. ConkliuH IL was really q mo-
safe Of scraps of priyste conversation had
during friendly relationship Of several
years standing,
Mr.. Conkling ind ignantly reiuted the
utteranees credited to him, and Mr.. Town
sends pen hiss been a stranger to the Her
gIds columns ever since To return tC
our mutton, Mr.. Mccormick, who had
been introduced to Mr.. Conkling as the
representative of the Cincinnati Enquirer,
waited upon Mr.. ConSliug at the appoint
Cd time. He was received most gracIously,
and after some visitors had been bowed
from the room the New York Senator said
to the newspaper mar:
"Ah! by the way, what paper did you
say you represented
1.-THE Cincinnati Enquirer" replied Nc
Cormick."
"Ahr exclaimed Conkling, with ineffa
BILE disdain. THAT Is the paper for which
that person." and here the man with thu
famous curl curved his upper lip mos
eontemptuousIy, hssitated as though seek
ing a fitting disdaiplul term, and theI
drswled ont the next word with ironics
deliberstion-"G-a---h writes for.
would talk tU you if you were employed by
any other newspaper in ChristendOm, but
| / have not q word for paper which eoun
tenanees such man"
Then why did you bring me hereT
asked Mccormick aDgrily. The Senate
shrugged his shoulders. Mccormick wa
apgrg. He had sent word to his office Il
keeo opsn three columns for an interview
with ConkliDg, and he expected 10 have