Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-09
WAS OVERWORKED,
Excessive labor Turns the
Brain of W. R. Covert. of
the Order of SOlen.
HIS WILD VACCINATIONS.
He Claims He Can Imprison Some
Prominent Politicians.
PRESIDENT HARRISON ON THE LIST
Three Million IOllars for the MayOralty
Canvass.
HIS WILD VACCINATIONS.
PRESIDENT HARRISON ON THE LIST
Three Million LOllars for the MayOralty
Canvass.
THE AFFAIRS OF THE ORDER GIVEN

rotunda cf the Seventh Avenue Hotel
about O'Clock. yesterday evening were
aroused from their dreamy attitudes by
loud cry, apparently from man in distress.
Upon looking up they saw well-dressed,
but wild eyed man standing in front of the
clerks desk, with pen In his fingers. He
was about to register.
No more attention was paid to the new
conner until alter lie had written his name
down in the book. The signature was that
of W. r. Covert, Pittsburg, Pa MI. Covert
was assigned to a room, but instead of re-
pairing to it at once, he fingered around the
Office and tried to draw some of the bystand-
ers into conversation. Suddenly turning
around to the clerk he said in stentorian
tone: "Do you know who am? am
the new attorney-in-fact OF the Order OF
Scion and have the entire charge of its
boundless wealth. 1 have thousands OF
dollars in the banks surrounding this hotel
and nv word is law. Hereafter my home
will be here"
All this was said in quick, loud and
nervous way, and the clerk at once realized
that he was dealing with man not in the
possession of his full senses In the mean
time the guests in the rotunda had congre-
gated about the excited man. He seemed
pleased at having secured an audience, and
at once entered into a long discussion of
the wealth he controlled and the plans he
had in view to secure more, finally ending
up with long TRADE against the city
officials, in which he said: II am now boss
of this city, and can be elected Mayor ii 1
SO desire
Didn't Like His Room.
After this Mr. Covert went to his room,
which could not have been to his liking,
for in a few moments he returned to the
office, and after censuring the clerk for
assigning him to such quarters, he cleared
his throat preparatory to making another
speech Before he could begin he was in
terrupted by friend, who, after coaxing
him awhile, secured his consent to go out
oil the street.
The friend who took him away from the
Seventh Avenue Hotel was E W. Morse.
The latter accompanied by several other
gentlemen upon calling to see Rev. w. r.
Covert al. the Home Hotel about 8 o'clock
last evening, were informed that he mad
lust left after demanding his bill Know
Mr. Morse andthe others instituted a search
for him and subsequently, located him at
Seventh Avenne Hotel
Mr.. Covert has been stopping at the
Home Hotel for ten DAYS, but it was not
until o'clock yesterday morning that it
was'saspeeted that he was suffering men
tally. At that hour he entered his tempo
rary home, and walking up TO the Office
tried to engage the attaches of the hotel
ir,-n (NunnIn6hqm W
was there at the time, stated that Mr.. Gov
ert talked in loud and wild manner.
Among q great many things he said: 81
discovered the whole conspiracy in the Or
der OF Solon, and only received $50 for my
labor where the Investigating Committee
received s., QUO. The Order of Solon has
voted that l should receive $50, OOO for un-
covering a conspiracy which saved the
order 100000, but have not been paid.
After the Big Fish.
''There's Ben Harrison, John Wanama-
ker, Matt Quay and Chris Magee, continued
bir. Covert, 81 have evidence against this
combination that will send them all to
prison for life. They allowed my letters to
be opened even when pleaded with them
to have it stopped. This was a great
trouble to me, and still my troubles are not
ended. l am now in a scheme to elect the
next Mayor 1 could get the place myself
but Chiefs Brown and Bigelow are against
ME. l do not care for them, however, as
they are like clay in my hands. When 1 |
get started these other politicians will not |
be in it. 1 have SIS, 000,0 600 toinsure my cleo |
tion as Mayor, and when am in office 1 |
will settle the Homestead trouble and social |
evil problem"
After talking in this strain for over an |
hour, Mr.. Covert finished his discourse by |
saying: Il have not slept for nine days, but |
that is nothing when it is considered have |
been training for this work Tor 13 years. 1t |
demanded muscle as well as brains to gain a |
victory over these people, and have both. |
Did l not secure my training in the Harlem |
claim? L secured 81 600, 900 out of that trans
action and have the money in my pocket, |
and thank God thai L am now able to buy |
my enemies out two or three times.
Wanted in the Papers.
Immediately after this Mr. Covert went |
to his room, and nothing more was seen of |
him by the hotel people until hewent out |
last evening aud WAS subsequently brought |
back by his friends During the afternoon |
he sent word to a reporter that he would |
like to see him. as he had some very |
edifying news to give to the public. |
The reporter went TO Mr.. Coyer.'s s room, |
and there for nearly an hour Mr.. Covert |
held his listener spellbound over a recita- |
tion OF his schemes and troubles, all OF |
which were outlined in such a manner as to |
leave no doubt in the reporters mind that |
the speaker was suffering from a mania or
hallucination of some character.
Many OF Mr.. Covert's trends are very
sorrowtui over his alarming condition.
They say since his arrival in Pittsburg he /
has been working diligently in behalf of
the Order of Solon, and he is probably
wrought up over the matter to such an ex-
tent that his mind wanders.
Glenn l. Folsom, Supreme President of
the order, said yesterday: ''There is no
doubt that tine Rev. W. r. Covert is insane
from overwork. Whether he was always
subject TO such mental impairment do not |
know, but we think it is all due to the
mental strain be has undergone. We have
sent two men to the Home Hotel to cire
for him. He has done a great deal of good
1or the order, but in his present predica-
ment he will be more of an impediment |
than a help"
Well Known Preacher.
Rev. W. r. Covert is a Winebrenarian |
minister At one time he was pastor Of q
church of this particular faith in Pittsburg, |
and is we'll known in this city. About three |
years ago he lett Pittsburg to go to Stoner- /
vile, Westmoreland county, where he took |
charge of a church, the congregation of |
which believed iu Mr.. Covert's doctrines
He has recently been preaching in Ohio.
He is also one of the many claimants OF the
Harlem tract, and during the past few years |
he has always been connected in some |
capacity with immense schemes of Q similar |
nature.
The ease against the oficers of the Order