The morning call., 1894-01-08
CONSUL HOGE'S FALL.
He Went to Ell Paso After He Left
This City.


Ex-Consul Hoge. whose brief but eeent-
fu! career in this city while on his way 10
his post of duty in Annoy. China. some
weeks ago. and was the subject Of good
deal of newspaper notoriety, seems to have
caused the Treasury Department not a
little trouble before he was finally uD-
loaded.
A gentleman whom a CALL reporter
met Yesterday said that he dined with
Assistant Secretary Josiah Quincy just
before the latter resigned his office, and at
which time Mr.. Roge and his peculiar
conduct were thoroughly discussed.
"Mr. Quincy felt terribly over the mat
ter" said the gentleman. las it was
through him that Hoge received his ap-
pOnGment Before the appointment
was really made, but while it was yet un-
der consideration. an anonymous commu-
nication was received by the treasury Off
Gals, in which they were warned that
Hoge's infatuation with the cup would
ultimately get not only him but the de-
partment into trouble. Mr.. Quincy was
so impressed by the warning that he not
only sent for HOge but for all of those
| who had urged his nomination, and ques-
! toned them closely as regards the former S
| personal ha bits.
| 'HOge'S friends admitted that he had
| in the past been addicted TO drink, but
| claimed that it was in years long since
| past that he had been troubled in that
W ay. and that he had thoroughly reformed.
The department was apprlsed OF his
| debauch on his Western tour before he
reached this city, and efforts were made TO
! communicate with him by wire, but to no
avail. HOge's family is said to have in-
! t1uential frlerds here, " no have succeeded
! ID keeping in the background. put who
| =
! and on The way to lis post before the
notice of recall could be served on him,
| thinking that by so doing the trouble
! might be averted for a time and ultmately
| forgotten in Washington or smOothed over
by his friends there.
But Hoge himself proved obdurate. and
! after he had been informed of his decapi-
tatiOn or suspension lie shook OF his
friends as soon as he could and went off on
a Orse spree than ever. He finally laude
in FL PasO, where the Government officials
succeeded in locating him.
The Collector of the Port at that place
autographed to Washington stating that
! HOge was there, drunk and dead broke.
and asking for instructions as to whal
course he should pursue.
Assistant Secretary Quincy telegraphed
back to sober the man up and send him on
to Washington, but the Collector evil
IDENTIFY found this to be more of an under
ldkIIlS lUdU lie was dDle 10 accom- llSI, as
he sent on word that HOge absolutely re-
fused to be made sober and didn't propose
to leave FL Paso until he got ready.
After the lapse of few days word
came on from E. Paso that H0ge had com.
paratively sObered up, ana instructions
were asked as to how funds should be
provided to pay his debts and send him on
to the capital, 10 which word was sen,
! back to draw on the fund for returning the
| bodies of dead ConSuls.
While the collector at Ell Paso was doing
| all in his power to get H0ge away from
newly found associations the latter flew
! off in tangent and got gloriously full, and
! it was not until his patient little wife jour
neyed clear across the continent that the
man could be persuaded TO sober up and
! go East.
During all the trouble H0ge's brother.
who is an influential politician in Virgins
| and who was a candidate for the Demo
cratic nomination Tor Governor of thai
| State last fall. together with some Other
! influential friends hastened ION TO Wash
iDgton and made an effort to smooth mat
tiers over. They probably would have
succeeded in their mission had they have
had only the charge of intoXicatlon 0 con-
tend with, but about that time a Telegram
came on to Washington about tr0ubl,
| HOge had had here with check Of some
| kind. Just what the puTpOrt of the latte
| charge was cid not learn, but it was suf
ficient to cause the department to take
decided stand and cause Mr.. Hoge's imme
| date and unconditional retirement"