The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-05
MIGHTY LONG AGO
In Wichita With John ]. In
gals at a Hotel.
AND WHAT HE SAID
Take Thy Beak From Out
My Heart"


printed in Kansas papers. The tribute
follows:
7 first saw ingalls, twenty-three years
ago. 1t was the night that Dennis Kear-
ney spoke from the bslustrade OF the
capitol at Washington. He was in the
corridor of the National hotel discussing
KeaIney's sand lot agitation with Cen
eral Benjamin F. Butler. I was grow
ing out of boyhood and with mouth wide
open haunted public places to see great
men, merely for the purpose Of seeing
them. I looked at Butler more than I
cid at ingalls,, for at that time the great
est produce of Kansas genius had no
fame. SO far as I had heard, except that
DE was known as a strong advocate Of a
movement to beautify Washington. A
few weeks later I was in a delegation
that attended a reception given TO
Thomas Omeaghr Condor. an Irish pat
riot recently released from prison on
condition that he would leave the British
empire ingalls, was there having had
some fame in Irish circles as a twister
of the British lions tail. I was intro
duced to him by no less a person than
the late General James Shields, who was
I
On this occasion Ingalls, impressed me
by the grace OF his movements L did not
dream that I would ever again speak to
him. The next year came TO Kansas
and began hearing about Ingalls,. Ten
years later I was in Washington again.
Joseph Chamberlain. the present colonial
secretary Of England, was in this coun-
try making speeches or an anti-Irish
nature. Parneu deemed It wise to send
Thomas Esmond, grandson, believe
Of Henry Grattan. and one of the O'Con-
nors both members of parliament to
this country to follow Chamberlain and
destroy any and-Irish prejudice he might
create. A monster meeting was held at
Washington and. of course I attended it.
ingalls, had been selected for president
Of the meeting, but at the stated hour
ne was not present and the late ex-Sena-
tor John Sherman, took his place. On
the stage were the venerable Fred Doug
las. who was the friend of Daniel O'Con-
nell, the Irish emancipator; Senator Her
bert. who was afterwards secretary Of
The navy; Senator Joseph Hawley, and
several other distinguished Americans.
John Sherman was making one Of those
icy statistical speeches for which ne was
noted, when somebody at a rear door
ripped the air with yell that shall
never forget. Then it seemed as if a cy-
ulOne had struck the Masonic temple.
The audience was going wild beyond de-
scription ingalls, walked up the aisle,
slow, majestic and-wen, grand. When
he reached the platform. Sherman took
his seat ingalls, looked over the audi
once for a minute, as pale and apparent
ly as immovable as q marble statue I
10 not know what his first utterance
was for 10000 Irishmen were standing
un their seats sending their hats to the
ceiling and then for the first time in
my life, I was more proud of being
Kansan than an Irishman.
From that moment down to this my
admirs ton for Ingalls, has been on the
borderland of idolatry. When Ben Har-
rison was inaugurated / was the first
man in Kansas TO be forced from g. gov
ernment position. ingalls, did it, at the
solicitation of a legislative supporter.
but my admiration for him never weak
uned.
1T was after that that became init
snately acquainted with ingalls,. 1t was
after he had been in Europe. He dropped
into Wichita one Sunday gloomy
misty Sunday that shah never forget
and took q room at the Carey hotel I
knocked at his door and the responsive
come in" came like a voice from
sepulchre
senator 7 said 7 do not desire to
disturb YOU. but I couldn't help calling
10 pay YOU my respects for minute or
two
You must stay all day with me- he
said The time was when my room
would be packed with callers, but / am
not what 7 once was; let me thank you
for calling TO see me- For ten hours
remained in his room We were alone
nu the time I do not believe that In
gals ever told a man more about him
self than he told me that day. His con
hGence in me is incomprehensible 20 this
moment.
.-He knew 7 was a Democrat and yet
be told me party secrets and state sec
fels. He. OF course, did all the talking.
md il was remarkable the range of the
topics he brought up. Poor Riddle
berger he once said; and then he told
me an about his difficulty with the Vir-
ginia senator while he was presiding Of
ncer ef the upper house Of congress. He
fully expected that Riddleberger would
KIN him the DAY he had MIN elected from
The senate. Poor Riddleberger. poor
RiddlebeIger~ he often repeated with
tenderness that was marvellous 10 me
what sensations did you experience
when you nrst stood upon the battle
field at Waterloo" ] asked.
ingalls, was pacing the floor. He
stopped. What sensations do you sup
pose an American would experience on
seeing mound sixty feet high with
bronze Iion on top of it, That's an he
said. and I knew what he meant
Late IN the fan OF 1895 ingalls, was
Bgain In Wichita. was reporting for
the Eagle and he sent for me Ii was
nishtfan when 1 called at his room and
as the door WIS open I walked IN. He
was lying on his bed Ike two bladed
knife partly open.
Good evening. senator Z said
lie must have been half asleen. for
he rose on his elbow with a start, say
ms
The voice is that Of David. the form
that OF the devil Then reaching after
his glasses he adjusted them To his nose
ana looking at me for half minute be
SAID in a low dramatic voice.
4 was right in both voice and form
II this shot was embarrassing 10 me.
the one that followed was worse
i konw.' he said. that you are the
most notorious liar in Kansas. but
know that you VIII tell Ingals the
truth
What are my chances in this sec
ton Of the state7 he asked hiuBtly..
Overwhelming defeat awaits you I
said.
Then ingalls, assumed a dramatic pose