Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-12
CUMMINGS WILD CAREER.
Costly Eccentricities Of the Man Who
Was Frozen to Death in the Andes.

Norwalk, Conn, Dispatch to New York Herald.
The information contained in the communi
cation to the State department at Washington
from the secretary of the United States lega
ton at Santiago, Chile, Of the death Of Thos
B. Cunning of this place on May "a by freezing
in the mountains was verified in letter re-
ceived here by Mr.. Davenport, an intimate
friend of the Cunning family, from Frederick
Seymour, of the law firm of Dill, Chandler a
Seymour. Mr.. Davenport, who is a member oil
Davenport 4 Leeds. the New York law firm
told me today that Cunning went from here to
New York, thence to India and from there to
South America, where he was frozen to death
while crossing the Andes. Mr.. Davenport is
now taking steps to collect the life insurance
that Cunning carried.
Cunning first appeared in Norwalk about
three years ago, when his extravagant notions
filled the modest people of this locality with
amaZement. He married Miss Christine
Lathrop, niece of Senator Leland Stanford
the California millionaire, and it was apparent
that he was assiduously trying to run through
her fortune. He bought up several of the best
farms at South Wilton, a suburb of Norwalk, al
the owners prices, erected costly buildings for
stables, tobacco store rooms, granaries, hem
neries. &C.; purchased the best stock in large
numbers at fabulous prices, employed an army
of farm hands and servants, carried into prac-
tlce the most extravagant and visionary ideas
of modern agricultural theories and rode
around in regal style. Queer stories were told
OF his eccentric notions before he came here,
A FAMOUS BARBEcUE.
Some four years ago the newspapers gave
graphic accounts Of gigantic barbecue that
he gave near New Rochelle on election day.
when he hired all the carriages, coaches and
vehicles Of every description and all the horses
In the town to transport the guests to his place,
where whole oxen were roasted and liquor ran
like water. Heads of whisky barrels were
knocked in and the contents dipped into CUPS.
dippers, pals and whatever utensil; came
handy. Everybody got into a boisterous con-
dit1on OF hilarity, and such a reign of terror
was inaugurated that even Cunning himself
found it advisable to lock himself mp out OF
harms way.
Last fall there were murmurings among Gun
ning's neighbors at South Wilton and a growing
suspicion that Mrs. Cunning was becoming
tired OF his wild and reckless expenditures, and
the climax was supposed to have been reached
when Mrs. Cunning caused q lawsuit to be nolle
pressed which Cunning had brought against
the German coachman for theft, which charge,
1t seems, was unjustifiabie. Cunning left sud-
denly few days afterward, leaving no clew to
his whereabouts, but it is supposed went to
Canada. He left an enormous amount of debts,
among his creditors being the contractors who
took with him all the available cash belongin,
to his wife which he could lay his hands upon
which amounted to several thousand dollars
MRS. CUNNING DRIVEN INSANE.
Later he returned here aud gave bonds to keep
the peace, Mrs. Cunning having complained
that she feared personal violence at his hands,
He then disappeared from Norwalk, and rumor
has since located him in various parts of the
world. He was great traveller, and it is not
surprising that he should go to India and later
to South America. The estate passed into the
hands of creditors and Mrs. Cunning obtained
a divorce from her husband. Her mind finally
gave way, and two months ago she was taken
to an asylum at Litchfield for treatment For
weeks there was little or no improvement in
her condition, but the latest reports are that
she is so much better that she has been taken
to her mothers home in Saratoga Springs The
house on Mott avenue, in this place. into which
Mrs. Cunning and her children moved when it
became necessary for them to leave the man
sion at South Wilton, is closed, and the elabo-
rate furniture and fixtures have been stored.
Further details regarding Mr.. Cummings fate
are awaited with great interest by all who knew
him in the days OF his apparent prosperity
here.