The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-31
C0NGER'S VARIED LIFE.
Incidents In the Career of the
American Minister to China.

Incidents In the Career OF the
American Minister to China.
GIFTED WITH AsPLEND1D MEMORY
Once In the Civil War
by General BENJAMIN Harrison,
Then His Ranking Army officer.
His Career In Congress and as a
Diplomat-Home Life of the Con-
gers.
The thought of the incredible tor
lures and the violent death suffered has
stimulated interest in the personalities
Of Minister Conger, his wife and daugh
ter, his niece, his guests and the de-
voted little band of Americans-70 all
told-who took reguge in the British
embassy at Picking when the American
compound was no longer safe. A re-
cent report from China had it that Nj.
de Giers. the Russian minister, had
been boiled to death after brutal ill
usage What, then, was the fate of
Major Conger, and what manner of
man was this chief of the company of
American martyrs in China?
A man of many parts was Edwin II.
Conger says the New York World.
Soldier, farmer, stock breeder, lawyer,
banker, legislator, diplomat, he exhibit
ed the versatile qualities of the typical
American and was successful in his
every undertaking. Without having
ever won national prominence as
statesman, he was recognized as a man
of fine ability, a solid man, a safe man.
He was transferred to his present post
from that of minister to Brazil, which
is far less important. The change in
volved curious bit of diplomatic his
tory. President Mckinley had NOM
mated Colonel Page Bryan of Illinois,
who was neither experienced nor able,
services, for the vital mission to China.
Serious developments in China, de-
handing the presence of an efficient
American diplomat, made the nomina-
ton of Page Bryan source of embar-
rassment TO the administration. 1t was
opposed by Senator Frye and other in
fluential men. The difficulty was dis
PEELED by friendly arrangement under
which Bryan consented to accept the
Brazilian post, while Conger left Rio
for Picking. where he was most needed.
Each mission pays salary of $4,000
a year. Minister Conger received his
first appointment to Brazil in 1890 from
President Harrison. 1t was a COM
pensation for severe discipline inflicted
on him during the civil war by Harri-
son.
At the siege of Atlanta Conger was q
captain in the One Hundred and Sec
ond Illinois volunteer infantry. Colo
mel Benjamin Harrison of the Seven
tieth Indiana was acting brigadier
general Of the brigade. After the evac-
uation of the city an order was issued
by Colonel Harrison that no officers
below the rank of colonel should visit
the captured town. Captain Conger
was of an adventurous turn of mind,
and he yearned to obtain a view of
Peach Tree street and the ruin that
followed in the footsteps of war. His
regiment was encamped four miles
away, but with several Junior officers
he rode up the road toward Atlanta.
On the way he met Acting Brigadier
Harrison and staff. He saluted his
superior officer, who returned the COM
pliment. Captain Conger saw all that
he desired Of the late Confederate
stronghold and returned to his regi-
ment.
On his arrival he was informed that
he might consider himself under ar
rest and that by direction Of Colonel
Harrison he must surrender his sword.
For number of weeks the captain re-
| NAMED in the seclusion of his tent.
Finally, not hearing anything further
| in his case, he addressed a communion
ton to the brigade commander re-
questing court martial or relief from
his ignominy. An order was returned
restoring him to duty, and not long
afterward he was brevetted major for
gallant and meritorious service in the
| field" The next time that Captain
Conger met his old commander was
4
| when the latter was a senator at
! Washington. The episode of Sherman S
campaign was discussed by the two,
and a friendly understanding was
reached.
In 1890 Conger asked the president
for the Spanish mission. General Har-
rison could not grant this boon, but he
said, "Why not Brazil?" Major Con
ger accepted the post at Rio rather
than nothing at all. On the occasion of
a call on the president to tender thanks
for the appointment General Harrison
laid one hand affectionately on the
majors shoulder, and he observed that
he was compensating him for his pun
| iShment during the war.
Minister Conger was 5S years old,
having been born in Knox county, Ills,
on March Z, 1913. He studied at LON
bard university, in Galesburg. One of
Wis fellow students there was Miss
Sarah J. Pike, beautiful and studious
Illinois girl. He fell in love with her
/ .I,.~ IL, Il