Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-11-05
HE'S HOMO AGAIN.
aUNOLE" JOHN HOWELL BACK EROM CHI
CAGO,
Where BE Has Been Presiding Over the West
Virginia State Building ALI
Summer.

"Uncle" John Howell, who has been
the custodian Of the West Virginia
State building at the Worlds Fair
grounds all summer, and who while
there ministered to the thousands Of
tired, hungry and thirsty Wheeling Wis
it0rs who thronged the building during
the continuation OF the great exposi-
tton at the White City by the Lake, ar
rived home yesterday after an absence
Of six months, lacking q day.
Mr.. Howell was to the West Virginia
building just what the building itself
was to the many visitors from this
Satisfactorily the right thing, and this
will be subscribed to IL necessary by
thousands who had occasion to ask for,
or receive without the formality OF ask
ing, innumerable little kindnesses at his
hands, for OF a truth John usually
knew about what q visitor wanted as
soon as be saw him wandering toward
the West Virginia building, and thence
forth he didn't rest until that want was
supplied, and the stranger was happy.
TO say that Mr.. Howell was glad to
get back home doesn't half express it.
81 feel just like a convict must when
he's let out OF the pen," said the old gen
tleman, cbeerfully, as he blew into the
City Hall yesterday, with 3. & o. Gin
ders still in his whiskers. $50 back
why wouldn't go back again for the
West Virginia building. Pm sick Of
Chicago, and the Fair too. Wheeling's
good enough for me-"
what will become of the furniture
in the State building? VIII it be sent
to this city for sale at auctiOn?"
mo. At first it was intended to
make that disposition Of it, but it has
all been turned over to the Governor,
and will be sent to Charleston. Moth
ing has been done in the way Of dispos-
ing of the building as yet"
as everything in the building in good
shape?"
with but one exception. Some one
stole the two silver John Brown spoons
which were kept in the little case al
the head of the stairway, on the second
floor. The case was pried open with
ome sharp instrument and the spoons
carried off. Capt. Bonnfield was notified
and he sent one Of his detectives around,
but nothing could be done towards re-
covering the articles. That was about
the only thing Of value missed from our
building, but some OF the other State
buildings were almost looted towards
the end. Why, they stole a piano from
one building, and another article Of
considerable value taken was q Persian
carpet, valued at fifteen hundred dol
lars. But that was stopped as soon as
the Fair was officially over. Nothing
was allowed to be taken from the
grounds without a special permit, and
there is more red tape now than at any
other time. Why, l was three days try
ing to get my own trunk out, and only
succeeded then with the aid Of officials.
The people behaved very badly towards
the last. Midway got the worst treat
ment, and the morning after the last
day it looked as though a cyclone had
swept through the place. l went the
whole length of the Midway that morn
ing, for the first time, and it was a
sight"
Are many people coming inside the
grounds nOw?"
ayes, twelve or fifteen thousand a
day are paying to get in still. There's
a good deal to be seen yet, and will be
for some time TO come. All the State
buildings are closed. In fact, they all
closed up for good the night Of the last
day Of the Fair, but we kept our build
ing open one more day. The main
buildings are open, however. All
the restaurants are closed up, and
nothing is to be had on the grounds
either to eat or drink. To show how
strict the Exposition authorities are
now, when | was trying TO get my
trunk out l stood for an hour or so In a
line 10 get a permit TO move my stuff,
and when l at last got up TO the official
and made the application, he said be
couldn't issue 1t. | asked the reason,
and he said West Virginia hadn't settled
up yet. Then l made inquiries about
that, and found that the contractors for
the building had a standing claim against
him for forty dollars, arising in this
way. While the building was under
construction the contractor had some
bricks and sand hauled there, and
left them outside over night. That
night the Exposition cleaning depart
ment carted the stuff away and charged
him forty dollars Tor it, and when the
contractor came around next
morning he found his stuff
gone, couldn't get it back, aud
had to buy more bricks and more sand.
Aud that was tho claim of forty dollars
| against West Virginia, which prevented
my getting my baggage away. l ex-
pect l would nave been there yet, If 1t
hadn't been for some of the officials l
knew giving ms q little lift"
Mr.. Howell mad a hundred laughable
incidents OF his long stay at the Fair
TO relate, and entertained a number Of
his friends about the City Hall for quite
q time, yesterday, with his narrative.
SECOND HAND PIANOS