The Warwickshire Herald. — 1892-10-13 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

LIEUTENANT PEARY'S MISSING COMRADE.  The family of John T. Verboeff, the missing member of Lieutenant Peary's Greenland expedition, still cling (says the Boston Herald) to the belief that he is alive and exploring Greenland independently. Verhoeff was in many ways a singular character, and his eccentric energy, remarkable determination and push lend colour to the theory that he did not perish in a crevasse, as Lieutenant Peary supposed, but is actually alive. Many times before, his family and friends say, he has disappeared mysteriously for weeks, and sometimes months, finally reappearing after accomplishing some difficult and hazardous project. An old college chum is strongly of the opinion that Verhoeff voluntarily deserted Peary's party in order to be left behind. and Leila a story of his college life at Yale that seems to support the idea that he is seeking fame in Greenlar-d. It is a story of base deception and fraud which resulted in Terhoeff's expulsion from college and the clouding of his life. It grew out of a game of cards. ••Verhoelf," said his friend, "was a man who never had any time for cards. He was a hard student, and was bending all his energies toward attaining high honours at his graduation, then hut a few weeks off. He was persuaded to play on one occasion, and the game took place in his rooms. Theyt was a point in dispute between Verhoeff and one of his opponents, and Yerhoeff wagered 100dol. that he was right. The wager was accepted, and it was decided to let Richard K. Fox, the eroprietor of the Police Gazette, settle the matter. Yerhoeff was an unsuspecting man, and thought everyone as honest as he was himself. Fie entrusted the writing of the letter to Pox to his opponent. Ihe lat:er torged a letter in reply, deciding in his favour. Verhoeff paid the money without complaint, but was not satisfied with the decision, an,l wagered another 100dol. on the ,tecialon, leaving the matter to a well-known sporting authority in New York. Again he left the matter of writing the letter to his opponent, and again an answer was forged giving the decision to himself. Verboeff paid his second 100dol. over without saying a word. Be afterwards became suspicious, and, on investigation, learned the truth. Stung to the quick by the fraud, he forced a confession from the forger, and a cheque for the 200 dol. he had paid—which, however, was afterwards stolen from his room. This led to a fresh quarrel, which came to the faculty's ears, and Verhoeff was expelled. The forger escaped because he was not under the jurisr"ictioe of V.e faculty. A few days after his expulsion h.• soddenly disappeared. It was thought that he had committed suicide. When he was heard of several months later it was out in Portland, Ore. He was always talking at college to me about exploring the Arctic Regions, and that was his idra in going out to Oregun,to join some expedition going to the Arctic and outlive the unfortunate ending of his college life. Th- next I heard of him was when he was on his way to Greenland with Peary. lam sure that this explains the mystery of his disappearance and his supposed death. Be is no more dead than! am, for I believe that he saw a possibility of penetrating further north than Peary did, and determined to stay there alone, as long as Peary would not give his permission. This belief is borne out by Lieutenant Pearv's statement that Verhoeff had asked him if he could stay there alone." Miss Marie Verhoeff, the missing man's sister, denied the report that she received • message from her brother through one of the Kite's crew, but says she is sure he is alive. She says, however, that one of the Kite's crew skews a piece of paper containing Verhoeff's Louisville (Kentucky) address, written by himself, and says that Verhoeff gave it to him and told him to write there. The man's reticence and refusal to talk further is assumed to mean that he has Verhoeff's secret, but is bound sot to reveal it.  While playing in a school football match at Barnes, on Saturday, an accident happened to two lads, named James Geary and Horace George Wilkins. Geary was in the act of kicking the ball when Wilkins collided with him. The former fell heavily to to. ground and broke his left leg just above the ankle, whilst Wilkina's shoulder was dislocated and his leg sprained. The 500th performance of Mr. Imre KiraHy.* beautiful spectacle, "Venice, the Bride of the will be given at Oiy.ania, on Thursday evening. On this occasion • isuvenhr will he presented to every purchaser of a ticket in the shape of a pianoforte setting of some of the brilliant music given in the spectacle. An almost entire change of costumes will mark this perforssance, me gentleman so often mentioned in novels, riveted people with his gaze, has now obtiin.'„l permanent employment at • boiler manufactory. That "love and war are much the same" Is a saying I dispute, Because in love no man ai swum Tooth send • substitute. She: "And how did you feel tower* him whnhe marvisrlehe girl you were iini:cita P" He the : • felt as e man did towards his tote who wa killed In the war "  ___.....lowiNN