The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-06
CROKER OFF HIS THRONE
TAMMANY's boss A NOBODY WHEN
AWAY FROM NEW YORK.
BoycOtted by r. ID. Reed, the
self nm Odorous Nuisance.
London cablegram to New York world.

the voyage by donning a high shirt collar.
the first he has worn since the operation in
New York on the eve of his departure. The
trip across the Atlantic was not pleasant.
There were only two bright days, then
strong head winds. heavy sea and dreary
weather generally. 1t was particularly
dreary for Mr.. Croker The ship was full OF
notables, but the Tammany chieftain was
socially sidetracked.
Cookers prestige vanished when the
steamer left New York. At the moment of
farewell he was the star attraction. Ten
minutes later, before the steamer fairly
swung out into the stream, Croker was the
most solitary man on shipboard. Health
Officer Jenkins stuck to him until Scotland
lightship was passed, then he ciambered
over the side of a tug. carrying a great
market basket. That basket had contained
choice old wines and prime cigars, Offer
ings from the faithful to, their departing
chief.
Here, Doc" said Croker to Jenkins, as
they stood together i'm the chieftain's flower
decked cabin just before saying goodbye,
take a lot of this truck ashore with you.
You drink wine and 1 don't. AS for cigars,
we'll. / couldn't puff my way through this
BUNCH" pointing to a small mountain OF
boxes ON the cabin floor, lin ten years"
So Jenkins departed in triumph with cigars
and costly wines with which a lot of small
fry Tammanyites had hoped to regale the
great Croker. 1t was money wasted. He
didn't even bother to look at the cards &C
companying the offerings. The litter they
made i'm his expensive suite Of deck cabins
simply bored him.
Ii was unfortunate for Croker the ships
company was so distinguished. o sir
Julian Pauncefote, Sir Tatton Sykes. the
vAx.l2 80 No. or4fa on1 oil tho fnrafQn
notables aboard Croker was an object OF
rare interest. They studied him furslvely
through their monocles, but always ar a
safe distance. 1t vas a chill scrutiny. cold
er than the head winds that bucked the gal
liant vessel, and Croker didn't like it.
On the nas, second DAY 0 Out an u ,neluen fac oe1
Sir Julian Pauncefote, faultlessly groomed,
and looking the aristocrat all over. sat alone
made. Along strolled Croker in a rusty green
ulster, bandaged neck and a little steamer
hat.
How de do, Sir Julian" said Croker,
dropping into a vacant place beside the am
bassador. Fine day. amt it?'
SNUBBED BY PAUNCEE'OTE.
The watchful occupants of the steamer
chairs in the vicinity saw Sir Julian's lips
move in brief reply. Then he edged along
side, inch by inch, peering seward, as if
sometl ing caught his eye. An instant later
he was on his feet, heading straight for the
seclusion of his cabin.
Sir Julian. before the ship started on its
voyage, had been given a peep at the Croker
cabins, powered in roses and lilies. He
smiled coldly and rebarked. Eyes. quite
right, Tammany can afford to send him
roses. He is reciprocating most substan-
TALLY, If l have been correctly informed"
racy was not so hard for Croker to bear as
the behavior of Thomas B. Reed. When
Croker learned Mr.. Reed was to be a fellow
I'm right glad" said Croker; tom Reed
Is a good friend of mine. He is one of the
best story-tellers in the world. He's just
z Croker oisn' viii in now nov probabiy tone down this
eulogy. Reed fully justified the Croker in
dorsement, taking the smoking room by
storm. But Croker was out of ii.
There was one meeting between them, on
the promenade deck. as the ship left the
pier to the accompaniment of Tammany
part, placid and fabby on Reeds; a few
low-spoken words and the speaker STROBE
away, ostensibly to look up the steward.
Four days later they met again, among. a
little group Of passengers huddled under the
lee of the deckhouse. in a savage gale.
How like some human beings l know Of
watched the gale at work. See that wind,
how it takes the crest of those waves? Well.
just so these people 1 speak or must have
their little rake-off on everything that comes
along"
Men snickered behind the upturned coll
lars of their storm coats, while Croker
looked W with a wooden, expression
less face. Once again during the voyage
Reed scored on the Tammany chieftain.
Croker voiced his views on the Filipino situ>
alton with considerable directness.
1T would be a national disgrace to aban>
don the conquest Of those islands," said he
to a group of fellow.passengers. w must
conquer them and then decide what to do.
We can keep the islands, sell them, trade
them or give them away, but we must not
civilization. American civilization must
never knock under to savagery. not much"
III the pause which followed this unex-
pected outburst an English tourist irrele-
vanity referred to his visit to Chicago, re-
marking that lit was a bit wild" for a big
city.
ffty-seven 'hold-ups,' 1 believe you call
them: during the four days l passed in Chi
cago?"
deep voice of Reed, this is the civilization
which the Filipinos refuse to accept. How
blind these savages are to the beauties Of
good government"
There was a challenge in every word, but
Croker moved off without a sign.
CROKER'S IODOFORM.
Altogether the trip was not an agreeable
one to the Tammany boss. Little things
contributed to annoy him.. The first night
aboard when the passengers assembled in
the dining room there was a general sniff
ing and interchange of suspicious glances.
The strong, nauseating odor of iodoform
was unnaistakable. There was no escaping
II. Women left the table only to return
with the report IL was unbearable in the
upper cabins and even on deck. Lady Mary
Sackville nearly collapsed under the mys-
ferrous infection. quite like a hospital"
said she, whereupon a small army OF stew
ards under the m of Purser Hinley
started out TO investigate. The ships doc
tor was totally i'm the dark for twenty-four
hours. The odorous nuisance made life al
most unbearable. Nine. Emma Eames
Story stood Ii with fortitude for half a day
and then retreated to her cabin, declaring
loudly human nature could bear no more.
strong. athletic women-next beat a retreat
and the ships officers redoubled their ef-
forts to locate the nuisance.
1t was traced finally, step by step. right
to Croker's cabin. A broad grin spread
through the ship. The Croker carbuncle
man applied iodoform with a lavish hand,
all unconscious of the effect on the passen-
gers in general. Croker was chagrined and
did not appear at the table for two days
after the incident
The Tammany chief is accompanied by his
sister, Mrs. Samuel Warren, and her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Stella Bowman. A cruel result of
the anti-Croker feeling aboard was an act
OF regrettable discourtesy To Croker niece,
Mrs. owman She is bright, obliging and
vocalist: A concert was planned for the
last night of the trip under the direction OF
the Countess de Fremont and John Shaw,
of Boston, Nine. Schuman Heinck held a
position In the programme and Cookers
niece was billed among others for two
songs. Musical people were aboard in num-
bers. Volunteers for the piano were MANY
but, strange to say, Countess de Fremont