The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29
MAJOR PINGREE As 4 REPORTER.
Helped n Correspondent on the Rumor Tina,
Don VI. Dickinson Was q Chained Mailman.

Helped n Correspondent ON the RumoF That
Don VI. Dickinson Was q Chained Madman.
II never see the name Pingree without recall
ing a visit to him when he was Mayor of De-
troit. and 1 am sure that he was scared out of
his boots for once"
With this Introductory a retired correspondent
told a Sun reporter w!:at follows:
1T was soon after the passing of the first
Cleveland administration ! was in the mid.
die West. looking after general news, holding
myself in readiness, always with one grip
packed. Just after ] had retired one night l
was called up by another correspondent, who
informed me that he had q great sensation, but
all immediate trip to Detroit was necessary be-
fore the sensation could be sprung. He could
not go. But he was instructed by his home
office 10 let the newspaper which l represented
In on the sensation II | would make the trip.
i found that | could make Il train in an hour.
! was four miles from the station. ! had to call
at my Office on the way. l made ii, however.
and had seven minutes leeway in which 10 turn
over the mission ahead OF me. ! looked over
my mental annexation, made while was pre-
pairing for the trip, from the hurried statement
don NJ. Dickinson crazy in his own home.
Great secrecy. No one knows 1t but his wife
and the physician. He is kept chained In order
that he may do himself or others no harm.
Condition said 10 have been the result of a big
political row with Cleveland. Be careful. Men.
lion it TO no one whom you cannot trust i'm.
IllClllS. SO your JuuRuitnl- W OTln u page.
That was the sum total OF the story as it
was told TO me. and l was heading for Detroit,
where ! knew no one frion At n n aalSsimazoo ! LEI, =
knew TO he II personal. and commercial friend of
Mayor, Pingree; They were in the same bust
message was. in effect, that ! had been sent to
Detroit hurriedly, and that the success OF my
donce Of PlhnSree; 10 that end j asked tp my 4
eaeo friend 70 wire PingTee to lot me in; Then
] went 10 sleep. i loafed about Detroit a half
DIV during which time I uaSaal the hOusA of
the Hon. MI. Dickinson several times, wonder.
ing in which room he was chained, and II l
Il was at luncheon at 2 p. NJ. in the Russell
Chicago friend. was informed that Mayor
Pingree had been asked TO receive me into his
sf ths ms.. %rS M sS assist .w mae The lp, last r %STds
my acknowledgment and added: See to-
morrow,s 81 d' putting in the name OF the paper
1T was 8 o'clock before ] could reach Mayor
Pingreci After ! had told him my name he led
without, whose instruction was TO halt any
body who, came within n hundred yards. He
sil'l II m lmS r moS' ne earnest illn Mnhher but Il did mt
Don NJ. dickinson is mad, / said.
Mayor lfnRrec spranR from his chair like
soon as no scquestered as they say in Boston
from his excitability, he listened to the rest OF
:" I remember he said. that 1t has been said
tnht hr. DICKINSON WhS somewhat ChHKrlned
over his failure to have the influence with Mr..
Cleveland which he had expected To have. or
which he had led his friends to believe he had
DickinsOn's Is II hign-strunR makeup
" Can you ascertain what truth there Is in
the story.f asked, looking imIa!ien,ly at my
watch. That Is the first thing, ! added. Il
me know that he is mad, chained or unclaimed.
and l will melt the wires between here and New
YORK and bet ween here and Chicago
Will find out before ] go TO bed, else / am
not pingrec,' he replied AZ he picked up his hat
and led tho way. We were driven TO the Dick.
inson mansion, and May or Pingrce loft me in
paper instinct l did not envy him.
III came out In less than ten minutes. lie
whispered 10 the jehu. The Mayor took his
seat beside INC and said: We shall know in n
few minuJea.' ] used every artiilce | could
command TO guess what Mayor Pingree had
learned, or what no thought, but he lodged
most adroitly. Tho cab stopped before II great
building, brilliantly, Lighted Was i the asy,
TO be a private entrance. OF course they would
not take Mr.. Dickinson through the front door
we passed through a corridor, ] heard music,
In a moment we were in a private box. | was
introduced to Mr.. Dickinson. who was tho
centre OF a brilliant party. They were enjoying
the horse show,
II never learned the origin OF the rumor. But
Tor eighteen hours two newspapers in this. cCun
try were hanging ny their eyebrows