The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-06
HOWGATE MADE
THE WEATHER
Ills FlCklenGSs, Therefore, Should No! Sur
prise Any PeISOn.
A MAN OF MAGNIFICENT SCHEMES
The Romantic Story of His Descent
from the Head of the Signal Service
to Prison Cell-For Twelve Years
a Fugitive - Caught After a Long
Chase.
For the Nattlrdau Tribune.

From the head of the signal service to
prison cell; from the first circles of Wash
ington society, with an unsullied name
and brilliant army record, to the felon's
dock; travelling in every part Of the coun-
try with alleged "shrewd detectives after
him for ~ years; six years in business in
New York city and actually serving on
jury while fugitive from justice Such
are the salient points in the career of Cap
tain Henry W. Howgate since 1881.
Nor is this all He was veteran Of the
Army of the Cumberland, an officer in the
regular army end scientist Of some stand
ing and withal the protector Of a scheme
for reaching the north pole which met
with such approval that it came very near
being adopted by congress, and all this
ended in his defrauding the government
Of about 1875, 900 and fleeing from Wash
ington with woman whose beauty was
long popular toast in that city.
Henry W. Howgate was born in Eng.
land, and his first enrolment in public
service was as a volunteer In 1869 in the
Twenty second Michigan infantry. AL
most exactly 32 years later he was enrolled
as prisoner in Washington city-but this
Is anticipating He had some military
knowledge and was elected second liouten-
ant, was promoted to brevet major for spe-
cial gallantry at Chickamauga and came
out captain after which he secured
lieutenantcy in the regular army. In 1868
General Albert j. Myer was organizing
the weather bureau and found great diff
Guilty in securing assistants with the sci
entitic knowledge ana special aptitudes de-
sirable. In Captain Howgate he believed
he had secured treasure, and the latters
promotion was rapid.
In 1876 he projected scheme for reach
ing the north pole which made scientific
explorers laugh, but congressman were so
impressed that bill to carry out his plan
was introduced and favorably reported by
the house committee on naval affairs. His
nlan was to go to convenient point In
the far north and establish post and base
Of supplies. The next summer posts were
to be established farther north at inter-
walls of 80 miles, and thus ON till the pole
was reached. Congress having rejected his
scheme, he astonished the world by an
nouncing that he would carry it out at his
own expense, and soon the little steamship
Gulnare was anchored in the Potomac
and fitted out for the voyage. She start
ed and was abandoned in the far north,
the navigators in charge declaring that
she was totally unfit for such work and
would have been crushed to splinters in
the first ice pack encountered.
Everybody wondered where Captain
Howgate got the money for such work.
The answer was soon forthcoming-he
was stealing it from the government.
He had become chief Of the signal serv-
Ice and disbursing officer of the bureau,
lived In tiptop style with his wife and an
unmarried daughter, maintained mis-
tress in luxury, was socially prominent
and owned Washington real estate valued
at S1g5, 600. All at once irregularities,