The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-04
UP LIKE A ROCKET.
so NOW DOWN COMES ISAAC J.
ADAMS LIKE THE STICK.


Didn't Care Who Knew IL; Nor Msny
Equal Bis Pace When Later Fortane
smtIed-FIrst Charged rs an Embezzier
of Vast Sums. and Now He Butts His
Once Proud Head Against the Walls of
= Maniac's Cell.
Chicago, Aug 3-When the insanity
experts in New York City certified last
week that Isaac E. Adams, formerly OF
Chicago, is 2 confirmed peretic, they I'M
Willingly wrote the final chapter TO a
sensational! story of real life. II is a
story in which many prominent people
in various parts OF the world. men OF
influence in business an dpolitics and
women who lead in social matters, Will
have direct personal interest.
II Is the story Of man, who. when
penniless boy, worked his way through
college, sometimes going hungry. but
never falter:ng in his purpose 10 equip
himself for the battles of life. Ability
and pluck Won for him wealth and en-
,viable position in mis- profession. He
was admired, praised and honored by
a generous public. as we'll as by his as
sociates. Then suddenly, when he had
seemingly hewn his way to the threshold
OF success. and attained the goal OF his
ambitions. dark clouds, raised by reck-
lessness and indiscretion, began to gath
re around him and ne was forced TO
withdraw in disgrace from the scenes OF
his early trials and brilliant conquests.
If reports be true, Isaac E. Adams is
merely one man more who has gone the
pace that kills, but ne has done so in a
way far removed from the ordinary. II
is only artists who attain the acme of
success in what they deliberately under
take. AS honest man and as alleged
rogue. dazzling and daring in both
roles, Adams was an artist. Chicago
knew him as a brilliant lawyer. dashing
ciubman and social favorite, man
whose commanding intellect and abil-
:ty gave him the confidence and friend
ship of master characters like Storrs and
lngersoll. There came a time in his
career when he was charged with large
entertainments. One day. harassed 10y
the complaints against him, Adams left
town and took refuge in New York City.
where he is now ending his earthly days
SO the doctors say, in hopeless lunacy.
This. in brief, is the record OF Isaac E.
Adams. The particulars Of his meteoric
life make a much longer and more racy
chapter.
There is a warning lesson in the
story. Adams friends. and he has
many of them here yet, attribute his
downfall to an insane greed for gold.
He had consuming desire to get ali
the money in sight-not that he cared
to hoard wealth, for he was prodigal
who dispensed his riches with liberal
hand. His needs were large in the
social station to which he aspired, and 1,
took large sums of money to meet them.
IT was his methods Of getting this
money that caused him trouble
1t was twenty-one years ago that Isaac
f. Adams, the son OF a Methodist cir
cult preacher in eventual Illinois. entered
Northwestern University in Evanston
with the firm purpose of getting an ed
ucation. Up to that time he had spent
his days on a farm with the exception
OF a short service in country printing
office. He was even then a lad Of IN
usual promise, bright and ambitious.
sturdy n body, but lacking the finish of
college course. Under the congenial
influences at Northwestern he developed
fast and quickly became favorite with
his classmates and the people he met
socially. Without being obtrusively for
ward. he had happy knack of putting
himself 10 the front. and his friends ad-
m.red his push and encouraged him in
his efforts. close and apt studer {.
young Adams readily acquired substan-
tial knowledge and won high rank in
the university.
Adams was the poor boy Of his class
Is regards financial means Not a dime
OF spare change did he have when he
began his collegiate course His board
and tuition fees were paid for with
money earned by sticking type" in the
office OF the Evanston Index He was
not an expert compositor. and his in
come from this source was too small
10 give him decent sustenance. One OF
his classmates. who was also his social
intimate and confldant, says Of this poin,
in his career:
Adams was the most abstemious boy
l ever knew. His personal needs were
few and frugal For weeks at a time
his food would be mainly musu and
milk. because he did not have the means
10 afford anything better. He made No
effort 10 conceal his condition, but was
200 proud and independent to accep,
financial aid even from his closes;
friends. Through il all he pushed
along with uldiminished ardor and grim
determination 10 complete his education.
His was one OF the most magnificent ex.
emples Of self-denial and pluck ,hs,
have ever come under my observation. -
After some months OF service at the
case young Adams got an opportunity
TO show the editor OF the Index tina, ne
could write good editorial paragraphs
This work brought him a little mora
money, and. what was OF greater import
ance. caught the fancy OF Wilbur F. Sto-
rey. Eno was then at the head O. the
Chicago Times. Who ia writing .boss
bright paragraphs for the Index" Mr.
storey asked. He found out. and AS.
ans was engaged to contribute simila,
matter 10 the Times. a connection he re-
tanned until well established in the prac-
ttce o. law. With increased income Ad.
ans preened his plumaze and began Z
attract attention in the social circles o.
Evanston He dressed in good taste
was fine booking. and took pains 10 make
himself heard wherever he went Every
body vEo came in contact with him wss
cap;iva,ei by his magnetic qualities and
predictions % brilliant future for HIN
were made on al sides. When he grad
usted in 1873 he was a man OF excep.
tiSnal Billy