The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-22

NJI Moines. Ia. special meeting OF
Kinsrnan Post, @ a. r.. held IN
his honor. He occupied a place on the
platform beside the presiding ofneer
soldiers qnartettc. as the last number oi
the evening programme. sung God BE
With You. TIL We Meet Again" Before
the singers had concluded the final verse
Of the first stsnzas Minister tonger
broke down. As he sat there facing the
audience with the tears streaming down
his cheeks there WAS not dry eye De-
fore him. II was notable scene, ana
since Des Moines friends became con
WINGED that the American legation at Pc
king had been butchered. 1t has taken on
new significance
Mr. Conger started in politics as coun-
ty supervisor IN Madison county Iowa,
which corners Polk county on the SOUTH
west This nomination and election
came 10 him unsought. He owned 3e9
acres Of land. and was busy farming ~.
This land he had bought because ne
got tired Of the practice OF law in Gales
burg, where he was born and educated.
being a graduate OF Lombard university.
His father owned a part interest In
bank at Baxter. In Madison county,
whose chief distinction ~ the fact that
Minister Conger has always claimed u
AZ his principal residence. Having been
elected county supervisor. he acquired
4 desire or political office. He was
elected treasurer OF Madison county.
He was elected supervisor In sIs Be
was elected treasurer Of state IN ISL
He held the Office two terms. He was
elected congressman from the Seventh
iowa district In 1886, and served three
terms In 1891 however. he was notnin-
ated by President Harrison as minister
to Brazil. and accepted the office He
was removed by President Cleveland as
"an offensive partisan" While In ron-
gress, he formed stauEch friendship
for William Mckinley. and when Nc
Kinley was elected president, he oHer-
ed Congsr the brazilian mission IL was
accepted, and Minister Conger spent
year and a half at that post Charles
Page Bryan, OF Illinois. being named
for the Picking mission. the senate de-
clined to confirm. Allison, Gear and Hun
were called into consultation by Presi-
dent Mckinley, who asked them II Con-
ger would take the place. Hull and
Gear thought not. but Allison said; "Of-
fer II: n request IN command TO sol
dior" II was offered by cable After
nights thought, Mr.. conger told his
family he would accept the mission. On
his way from Rio de Janeiro to Picking.
he stopped in Des Moines and went up
10 Dexter. which he never fails to visit
when In this vicinity.
Mrs. Ida III. conger, widow Of Minister
Congers brother II resident OF Des
Molner, but has just gone to Stuart To
visit friends. and from there will go To
Colorado to remain indefinitely. She
has given up hope, almost. but continu-
ally specuates ON the possibility that
by some means the minister and his
family have escaped. With him in Pc
king when the last letters were received
In Dies Moines were Mrs. Conger, Miss
Laura Conger their daughter, Miss
Mary Pierce, niece OF Minister Conger'
and from Evanston. Mrs. Morgan >.
Woodward. Miss Icne Woodward.
daughter, and Miss Isabelle Paine,
French companion. Second secretary w.
" Bainbridge. OF the legation, and his
wife, who were both in Picking. are Iowa
people. being residents OF Council BUNS.
Tho Interpreter, Fleming ID. cheshire,
was also an Iowan. He has resided In
Peixing for twenty years, however. and
has occupied tho position of interpreter
for the legation during that time.
Mrs CnngeT was Sarah j. Pike, OF
t,aiesburg she and Mr.. Conger were
classmates In Lombard university and
the attachment was formed which sur
vivad the separation incident TO the war
and IN which was contaminated In mar
rage In 1866, MIR. Conxer was 10 when he
enlisted liz the Illinois regiment as a pri-
waite In 1860 He came out OF the war as
major. son was born to the couple, but
died Hts name was i.oren,us A daugh-
ter was born. and II IL she that is with
them In reklns. She IL about ~ years
OF age She married George Lendrum In
p.s Meiues. but their life WAS nm unhap-
by one resulting In separation, lie joined
an iowa regiment for the Spanish war,
and died In ten days In Florida
Miss Mary Pierce, who Is with the Con-
gers In Picking. il about Y years old. She
Was horn In Dexter. where her father and
Mr. conger were in the banking business
together She went to Dca Mnines IN 1891
and went with the Congers to China Ia
lsaS
In November. 1899. Mrs Congsr. Laura
conger and Miss Pierce came 70 Amer;-
Ga aud spens three months in Des Moinnes
and elsewhere They returned to Picking
sng February OF this year, When Mrs.
gangsf was here she took xrea, pleasure
In exhibiting te her friends - ring and
other presents which che hae been given
by the empress OF china. She also left
photographs Of court sce0es, Including
ths pictures Of the American women, with
friends
Msaister Gonger Was a Mason He was
necr saved en that account When he
was serving his nrst year ~ the Union
army ne Was taken alex and MAS left he.
hlna BY hts regiment because Il was
marching forward ana e0ula not take care
ct us afck a camrade volunteered re re-
faMin with him. They were set al the
raaasiac with son4H BAREBACK and a
ean % water Undoubtedly the idea was
tNAt 10 NaNiH eNAN Ntes ANa hAF N&iiAf = 1e
With him could iAsn make his way into
the tawn and Surrender AS n prisoner of
wat Instead. the soldier weaf insc town
Immediately after the regiment had go0s
uveF the bill ana. pr0vins himself =
MAkan secured So sc0m the rlchsS, Ma
Avn ia the CITY despite his rnian array
uniform Tho moUgy sawed CangeF ard
himself C0Mgwg resolved SO lotn the FIRST
Atasanit jts3ss tnas be could GA t9rloBsh.
a. receiver sron his ytrsness, by special
depreciation De NBs xivcN she three A.
greco e. make him Master Mason To
orc hieHt &ud hRs ovgn loyal 10 ,he fra.
trgHity ever aiuec
.s.