Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-05
CONKLING In A FIGHT.
A Story of a Meeting in the Great
Blizzard of 1888.
GOULD COMPLETELY CORNERED.
The Millionaire Abashed and Silenced by
q Trsmp'S Remarks.
BRIEF ANECDOTES OF GREAT MEN
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH. ,

rcoRRKsPoNpkNcE OF THE DIsPATcH.l
NEWPORT, r. l., July g. There are
many very lovely spots along the sea In
Europe where people idle and bathe. Our
own coast has countless witching places for
summer enjoyment But after one has ex-
perienced all their delights, think there is
an e1cusable longing in the heart to get
back here to noble old Newport 1t is a
restful old spot, and the dreamer and the
thinker can give full swing to his fancy
while idling away the summer days here. A
few old memories came to me, and they may
interest the reader.
As strong a motive and purpose as can
move any man to highest physical effort
took me through the great March "blizzsrd"
storm of 1888, from Harlem to the Astor
House. in New York. 1 think sm one of
less than half a dozen who performed that
feat, but its reminiscentisl interest now
chiefly hes in single incident of the seven
hours struggle. Leaving the vicinity of
One Hundredth street at 2 in the afternoon,
I fought my way to my destination by 9
o'clock at night. a speed of about one mile
per hour. The hope and despair, the effort
and vsnquishments of the struggle are un-
necessary to recount; but 1 shall never for
get one meeting on the way. Pounded, torn
and all but overcome by the storm, 1 had
been dashed against the building at the
southwest corner of Union Square and
Broadway, and while holding to its window
frames with freezing fingers, a violent gust
of the storm tore me awav and sent me
crashing against the tall, well-wrapped fe-
ure OF q man who was being hurled toward
Union Square along the west side of Broad
way. We both went down from the COL
lision, stunned and gasping; but with mu-
tual apologies, assisted each other to our
feet, when l found 1 had hold of no less a
parsonage than Roscoe Conkling. This was
about O'Clock in the evening. 1 urged
him to take shelter in q popular restaurant
near at hand; but he refused in that strong,
quiet way OF his admitting of no further
plea. He then said he would cross the
square and be at his club directly. 1 told
him he should not do this; that no human
being could Withstand the furies that had
full sweep and action there; and that he
must make the western circuit of the
square, thus getting slight protection
from the buildings, or he would never see
his friends again. / implored him to heed
me; but be made light of the danger; and
Strengthening up in that tall grand way he
had, said lightly:
'Oh, will get through there nicely. 1t
does one good to be tested and tried by a
storm occasionally. 1 nave seen other great
storms in my time" He added, Good
night, STRIP as our hand grasp loosened, and
the words leaped involuntarily from my
lips:
81 saw you in one when it came something
like this-in 1SSo-at the Chicago Exposi-
tion building. There were 1906 of you in q
political Union Square then" He turned
instantly, took my hand again, gave it
quick, firm pressure, and while fsncied his
face was trife paler from the memory, re-
sponded: eyes, sir; there was something of
a blizzard about that occasion. But think
1 kept my feet and head then. Good night,
again 70
Grand, great, ever-heroic Conkling! He
kept his feet and his head somehow that
awful night in Union Square. But that last
battle killed Roscoe Conkling.