The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-09-14
VAN LOANS HOME.
Further Details Of the Life
Of the Ex-B ookeeper of
the Second National
Bank.
RECOGNIZED BY HIS WALK.
He Votes in Canada, Sings in a Choir
and Doesn't Look as He Did.
Special to De Sunday .Morm5no Ns,ga

t3kEttttt ~tttfflINQ LfGt0H-
BELLEvILLE, Canada. Sept. IL. 1890. The
Grand Trunk Railroad, which seems to
have a monopoly Of the greater portion Of
the traffic in this part of the country, runs
two lines into Point Deposit. the place
whore John II. Van Loan is now residing
Why this is done none Of the inhabitants
can tell. Both stations are within sight of
each other, and the travel to the Point,
even at its height during the summer
season, Is not sufficient to warrant such
an extrayagaut outlay Of ties, en-
bankmeft and rail- 1t was at
the station nearest tine town that
arrived in single passenger coach at
the end Of a freight train shortly after
three O'Clock one afternoon about week
ago. The only other occupants of the
solitary coach were Canadian dude and
two young ladies of the prevailing style
Of Canuck beauty, in which one who is
accustomed to the superior attractions OF
the Jersey girlssees nothing to admire.
The dude and his companions made
Their way to the lake shore and taking
cedar beat were soon hardly pereeptible
on that wide expanse of water. wan
qered up toward the town to look for Mr..
Van Loan. After walking a distance
equivalent to three or four blocks l en-
tered building which looked
Ike hotel and registered in
a book which contained the names
OF such distinguished guests as Lord
Dufferin. Ottawa; H. r. H, Princess
Louise. Windsor; Henry NJ Stanley,
Africa, and Erastus Wiman, New York.
was congratulating myself upon getting
into such distinguished company when it
was made apparent to me thar some local
wag had been monkeging with the regis
try.
After few minutes conversation with
the proprietor of the hotel asked after
the gentleman / had come to see. The
proprietor said he knew him very well,
and, going TO the door, pointed cut to me
both the place of business and the
residence of Van Loan He also
informed me that if had
arrived there a few minutes before ]
would have met the ex-bookkeeper OF the
Second National Bank, as he had just
lett the hotel. I went up the street to the
opposite corner, where Van Loan did
business, and was there told he had gone
driving with his wife to neighboring
town. and would not return until even
ing.
THE MEETING WITH VAN LOAN.
1t had been dark for some time when
again called at Van Loans place of bush
ness. Several of the inhabitants were
lettering about the door, and single
Kerosene lamp, suspended from
the doorway. threw an I'M
Just as was about to enter man came
out OF the doorway with a stride which l
first became acquainted with one sum-
nler's day, years ago, when Johnnie Van
Loan beat me in a walking match on the
West Side Driving Park There was
some doubt in my mind about the face.
1t was ornamented with a scrubbing
brush meustache, and had thin, hag-
gard look, which / had never seen
in Van Loans face before. Then, again,
he was dressed in the prevailing
Canuck style which attained here two or
three years ago and wondered if had
not come all these miles on wild goose
chase. But there was no mistaking that
walk, and so l stepped up TO him and
simply said
'HellOi'
Van Loan gave nae one look and began
my Gody' ne exclaimed. who told
you where wasp
Ii is hard to tell who was the most
agitated. Van Loan or L
It did not take long to assure him that
he had nothing to fear from me. and then
he invited me to his home. spent
pleasant evening with his family and
made friends with his little girl, who
was born since he took up his residence
in Canada Then we went out and wan
dered about the town. He took me down
TO the lake front and we sauntered about
the wooded bluff which shuts i'll that
portion of the shore. Those who re-
member the quick, nervous manner in
in which Van Loan used to talk viii I'M
derstand the difficulty / encountered IN
talking with him when it is stated that
he rambled on four times as fast as usual.
He wandered in his conversation, and it
was only with the greatest effort that he
could be induced TO confine himself to
one subject any length of time
1t was while we were walking through
u r. - Iy1-~. ~ ;. Alb r.xl
with me about his dealings with the
bank. He would say but little about the
Coykendall phase of the case, ex-
cept that he was willing to come
on and testify in Mr. CoykendalI's
behalf. He said that he did come TO New
York and there held consultation with
the lawyers in the case. that the law
yefs listened to his story and advised him
That the jury would in all probabilities
dis5eiieve him under the tances,
and he came back to Canada.
HE NOW VOTES IN CANADA.
He said also, that he voted at the last
local election ana that he was afraid that
the way in which he mad voted had dis
pleased several of his friends, though
now he could have voted without being
naturalized he did not explain. His ex-
cellent bass voice did not remain long
IA obscurity after he arrived there, Tor
the rector OF the Episcopal Church. or
church OF England as they call Il here,
soon discovered his musical talents, and
he is now much admired member of the
choir of that church.
In speaking of the manner in which
me Second National Bank overworked
him, he referred to the fact that the Off
GERS were Obliged to secure an assistant
tor the gentleman who took his place
when he left
Il was late in the night when we parted
and went to the place where the weary
ind no rest | saw him again the ne xt
morning before left the village, but his
business occupied his time TO such an ex-
tent that had no opportunity TO speak
to him.