The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-04
TILTED FOR HIS DAD.
The Sad Fate Which Befell Ex-
Warden Bamber's Son.
NOW THE FATHER is REMOVED.
DowafzlI, and Engineer Palmer
Succeeds Him.

The appointment of G. L. Palmer. OF
South Prairie, as warden OF the United
States penitentiary st MeSeil's island, in
place OF Ira s. Bamber, who was removed
for cause. has brought to light not only
Mr. Bamber's abnormal appetite for eggs.
but romantic story connected with the
lite OF Bamber. in which the old man,
figuring as = gay Lothario. cut his osn
son ont of the affections of his best girl.
married her himself and lef. the young
man in such desperate strait that he
went out 10 commit suicide, but was per-
suaded from mis- rash act By interfering
friends.
This happened over year ago, shortly
after Marshal Drake went into Office
and appointed Bamber to his position.
Bamber vas then we'll preserved widower
of about 80, with son about q and two
daughters we'll grown. The family moved
over to the island where the young man
made the acquaintance of young girl
named Gertie Chord. IL was apparently
love at first sight on both sides. and the
two were soon engaged TO De married. a
fact which they did not attempt TO conceal.
The Old man about this time discovered
charms in the girl which ne felt he vas
not too old to appreciate, and which, as
head of the family, he thought he should
possess, Notwithstanding his sons alleged
PRIOR claim. Having reasoned the matter
out TO his own satisfaction while the two
were incoming around the woods, he set
himself TO work to upset the young mans
plans and capture the prize TO himself
All the old tricks which he had prac-
ticed in his youth were resorted to
and he had but little difficulty in convinc-
ing the girl of bis susceptible heart. Three
weeks from the time of their first acquaint-
ance the old man and Gertie were married.
On learning the truth the young man be-
came so worked up with his now useless
affection that he picked up loaded revolt
yer and started for the woods vowing to
shoot himself Sofae of his friends. divin-
ing his purpose, followed the young man,
took the revolver away from him and per-
suaded him that life might still be worth
living. He thereupon returned and has
since made the best OF the situation.
Bamber's administration of his Office,
however. has not given satisfaction. and
not long ago special agent was sent TO
McNeips island TO make an investigation
of his accounts. Among other items
which he unearthed as hardly in line
with the bill of fare of convicts
were a number for eggs aggregating $50
in one month. The special agent ques-
toned him. suggesting that the prisoners
must be living pretty high. and an inquiry
among the prisoners failed to discover that
they ever got either egg or shell. SO the
matter was reported 10 Marshal Drake,
who at once fired Bafnber and appointed
Palmer
Palmer, the new appointee, is a civil en-
gineer on the Northern Pacific. lie had
been Republican until the last election,
when he changed his coat and voted the
Democratic ticket. He is man about 40
years old and during the recent railroad
strikes had charge of large force of
special deputies. Bamber's removal and
Palmer's appointment have set the Demo-
cratic politicians talking, as the following
dispatch shows:
TACOMA. Aug Especial. r. Politicians
are gossiping about the removal of Ira
| Bamber as warden of the McNeil's island
| penitentiary. He was formerly book
| keeper in Hugh Walace's real estate Of
| fee and his appointment was credited up
| TO Wallace's glory. His successor is III.
L. Palmer, formerly deputy United
| States marshal under Marshal Drake. and
| he has been considered q Drake man. Per-
| haps he can se-ye Wallace and Drake
| equally we'll, as far as that goes, but the
| political gossips will persist In talking
about i. and some are bold enough to hail
| Marshal Drake as the coming Moses of
| the state of Washington, who is to lead
| the Democrats somewhere or somehow.
| Mr.. Drake makes no pretensions. however.
| lie saws wood. People who know the
! Bambers domesticaily say they scented
his removal weeks ago.