Newspaper Page Text
VOL. XVIII.
ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY MOANING, DECEMBER 1, 1886.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
COLONEL PIKE,
OF ST. JOE.
A GENUINE GHOST STORY.
By E. B. Valentine.
[Copyright 1885.]
The dny express of the Missouri Pacific
railroad was bowling smoothly and merrily
Along westward bound ns I stepped into the
smoking car to enjoy a quiet pipe. I am not
an inveterate smoker, yet few days pass with*
out my consuming two or three cigars and
filling my pipe ns many times. I like u pipo,
and I think thero is no
form of smoking out of which so much
???olid comfort can bo extracted. .Trav
eling about ns much as I do, it is jilniost in
dispensable. I am tho agont *Tor one of the
largest manufacturing concurs in the cast. Our
cpccinlty is the construction of car wheels. Wo
own several valuable patents and supply rail
road companies in all* parts of tho uniou. I
havo been many years with the firm, my posi
tion is a most responsible one, fairly lucrative;
tho sole objection to the occupation is the con
stant necessity for moving from place to placa.
I look forward to tho day, however, when I
???hall havo saved sufficient to enable iuo to
settle down in ono sfiot.
As I walked towards tho forward end of tho
smoking car somebody brushed by me. So
trivial a matter I should not havo noticed, did
not this stonr tarn on tho fact. 1 did not see
tho man???s face, 1 simply huve a vague im
pression of a soiled linen duster, but it is an
Impression uml nothing more. That olio pas
senger should bo passing into a car and an
other one l>e pawkiug out at tho same time is -
certainly not a remarkable coincidence. Tho
car was just about us dirty a car us smoking
can usually arc. There were fixed tables for
card playing, and well-woni and shabby seats
covered with imitation lcathor on cacli side of
them. I sat at tho farthest table with my
back to tho door, loaded and lit my ptpe,
R iled out a St. Louis |>upcr and began to read,
t my mind refused to allow itself to ho con
centrated on tho nows, so I let my hand fall
lazily by my side and looked in ?? purposeless
way out of tho window. Then I turned aud
raised the paper again, aud in doing so my eyo
fell on something that glittered at mv foot. I ???
stooped and picked it up. It was a large and
very curious diamdtid riug???<\n antique. Thero
^vgw^ehMgMtge^offlqaWater, anmmUdbd
stead of a massive^hoop' of gold, to support
co handsome a sotting, thero
was nothing but two pieces of thin gold wire to
encircle tho finger of tho wearer. How so
valuable an article had l>ccu dropped was very
dear. Ono of tho gold wires bad a piece ap
parently cut out of it???tho other was worn
almost through. Tho ring had evidently not
fitted tho owner???s finger and hod slipped off
Without his knowledge of tho loss.
At this moment thero was a hurried footstep
behind mo and a sharp-featured, bluek-
mustochcd man camo and stood opposite me.
His faco wore rather an anxious look; ho was
well-dressed and had a winning, pleasant, off
hand manner. '
???Excuse me, sir,??? ho said, in a low, but very
distinct voice, bringing his head close to mine;
???I have just lost some! king of great valuo. It
it a ring???a diamond ring. Have you seen
anything of it? 1 wouldn???t part with that ring
for $5,000.???
???Is this years???? 1 asked, as I held out tho
glittering jewel, the bhuo from tho stones al
most making bun wink.
???Why, certainly,??? he replied, taking It from
mo gently nnd transferring the frail wiro
hoops to m?? finger. A great weight seemed to
bo lifted from his miml and his countenance
beamed with gratitude. ???I am Colonel Pike,
of St. Joe,??? ho continued; ???everybody knows
me. My otUco is in the Moiiroa block. Now,
don???t fail to look mo up whenever you-ro
down my way. I'll give you u first rate time.
Come out and havo a drink with mo when we
stop at Knobnoster. I???ll just run hack to tho
parlor car nnd tell Mrs. Piko Pvo found it.
You never saw a woman so scared in your
life about a thing, nnd,??? lie added, looking at
his ring with a puzzled air, ???1 must have lost a
hit of the wire.??? ??? , .
He knelt, but failed to find tho missingpioso
on the floor of tho car. nml while hastily brush-
ing off the dust from his knees, said:
???I guess I???d better put it in my pocket for
fear I might lose it again, i'in ever so much
obliged to you.??? , w
Then he hurried away to luform Mrs. 1 ike
of the good news. ..... .
A few minutes afterwards tho train stopped
at Knobnoster. I bad my drink with Colonel
Pike, who quickly left me to rijoiu Mrs. Pike,
Who, he said, was not well. I went hack to
the smoker, resumed my sent, relit my pipe,
and while lazily watching tho sluggish clouds
of smoke as the train continued its journey, I
heard a voice asking if anybody had found a
diamond ring. I was not the person aid rawed,
but after the pleasant little episode with Colo
nel Pike 1 naturally took some interest in the
^???What???s all this about a diamond ring???? I
turned and inquired. . ,, ??? , .
???Yes, I've lost one,??? said a shabbily dress *1
young man iira state of breathless excitement.
???I???m sure I dropped it in this smoking car,???
he gasped, ???just where you???re sitting.???
???Well, I wonder how many people on this
train are going to lose diamond rings,??? I said,
with pronounced sarcasm. ???I???ve already found
cue and now " ??? ??? . . ,
???It???s mine, it???s mine, I tell you,??? shouted
the new claimant. ??? ??? ,,
???If it is yours,??? I answered coolly, you d
better go back in the parlor ear and see Colonel
Pike, of St. Joe. You???ll find him next to hU
wife. Settle the matter between yourselves,
lie???s the rightful owner of the ring a rid he???s
got it. He identified his property and I hand
ed it over.???
Ti??e excited, shabby young man rushed out
of the car, slamming the door after him, and
in two or three minuted returned to my table
pallid with rage.
???Ikm*vyou were lying,??? he hissed. 3Iy
temper te considered good, but there are few
men who could call ine a liar with impunity.
My first impulse was to knock the man down,
but I thought better of it and said to him:
???1 would advise you to moderate your lan
guage. I???ll go with you to Colonel Pike and
ninstigate the matter.???
We went into the parlor car together. It
wms but half full, but there was no Colonel
Plk?? there, nor anyone answering to hi* de
scription. I called the Pullman conductor and
asked him if Colonel and 31re. Pike had occu
pied chain in the car. There were no such
OB his list. Then we pasted into the
next ear, and so on to the end of the train, bpt
I ccuhl ftec no Tike. All this time the shabby
ycurg man was following nic about like a cat
after a mouse.
???I hope you are satisfied now,??? ho muttered
with a sneer. His maimer was very olfimsivo,
but 1 was calm. At this moment tho condctor
of the train came along. ???Look here,??? said
the voung man, pointing to me, ???this fellow is
a thref.??? The situation was getting interesting
to the other passengers. ???He found my dia
mond ring in the. smoking car and ho won't
give it Iwck to me.??? I allowed him
to go on nnd tell his story. ???Ho
suys,??? ho continued, ???lie gave it to a pas
senger on tlie train nnd ho can???t find him.??? I
saw by the way that the conductor received tho
information that he was not in sympathy with
the loser of tho ring, who had an unprepossess
ing expression and a disagreeable personality,
besides being carelessly and* shabbily dressed.
It was now my turn to speak. ???I certainly did
find a ring, and I handed it to Its owner, Colo
nel Pike, of St. Joe, just boforo the train stopped
at Knobnoster.???
???Colonel who, of St. Joe ???? said a voice from
the end of tho car.
???Colonel Pike,??? I answered, walking toward
the inquirer in the hope of obtaining a clue to
the mystery.
???Wa-al,??? drawled a lank, wiry, well-pre
served westerner of about 55, ???I???ve been livin???
in St. Joe for nigh onto twenty year and I
never heerd of no Colonel Pike.???
???Oh, yes,??? I said, ???ills office is in tho Monroe
block and he says lie???s well known.???
???Tlic Monroe block, ch? Wa-al, tho Monroe
block was burnt down about fifteen months
ago and ain't been built up yet. It warn???t
there last Week, anyhow.???
A look of insolent triumnh passed over tho
countenance of the ring claimant, who ono
more demanded that I should return liis prop
erty to him. I must confess that I felt per
plexed. I certainly had given a diamond ring
to a man who called himself Colonel Pike, of
St. Joe, and who had unaccountably disap
peared. The conductor shook his head doubt
fully nnd winked at mo to convey the Idea
that he did not believe tho young man???s story.
1 scarcely knew what to say. ???What was tho
ling like???? Tasked.
???A large diamond encircled by small diamond
stare, nnd two wires, one of them broken to
hold the netting on the finger,??? was tho imme
diate rcspdnso.
???That???s tlic article I banded to?????????I was going
to say Colonel 1'ikc??????to a well dressed man
with a black mustache.???
???Had be on a blue scarf with small, white
spots???? the conductor inquired.
I remembered that ho had.
???I know that fellow; ho was in tho last car.
He had a ticket for Kansas City. I have
missed him for tho last hour.???
???That man,??? I said, ???has the ring. Hope is
my card. I am financially responsible, but I
don't see wlmt I can do against a smart thief
like that.???
???I know tho thief,??? exclaimed tho young
man, shaking his fist la my face. ???You're the
thief.???
myself once more. I am very
powerfullyJmllt, am ovor six feet inhclghth,
??? ???* * *?? ???' ??????* * 4t ???-*h rough
iCSl fear. This puny individual who
suited me, I cotila havcpuuisbedl&osfc
with ono solitary blow.
There was a pause tot a few seconds, then
the conductor spoke, addressing tho pertina
cious claimant, and holding up a finger in n
cautionary way. 9
???See; here, young fellow, this kind of thing
has got to stop while you???re uhoOrd this train.
If you want to call gentlemen thieves wait
till you get to tho point you???ve bought your
ticket for. Now, PH tell you what I think of
tliis yam of yours nbout tho diamond ring,
You can???t play off on me. It???s a put-up job
between yon nnd this Colonel Pike???a black
mailing scheme. Don't believe you ever owned
a real diamond ring in your life. You look
like n duck who???d wear $5,000 jewelry. This
< no we???ve been hearing so much nbout is, I???ll
bi t $1, bogus, so von Just go and take your seat
uml keep quiet.???
Within the next ten minutes so terrible an
occurrence took place that I can scarcely re-
member every detail of what passed after the
conductor???s speech. I moved towards tho smo
king car, with my pipe in my hand, intending
to resume my old place. 2When I reached the
platform of the ear next to it I felt a nervous,
bony lmnd on my shoulder. J turned and saw
the loser of the ring. Ills teeth were clenched
nnd he glared at me fiercely.
??? Keep your hands off me,??? I said, disenga
ging my t elf and dropping my pipe in doing so.
???I won't 1??? he veiled. ???You???ve got luy riug
and I???m going to have it.???
I now begun to get angry at tho fellow???s per
sistency.
???Let me pass, or it will bo the worse for
you,??? I cried, at the same time seizing him by
the collar and holding him nt arm???s length,
lie was on the platform of the smoking ear, I
at the edge of tlic next ono. Tho high Words
ai d the struggle caused a number of the pas
sengers to rush out. They surrounded ns.
The train bad reduced spew slightly to cross a
bridge over a rapid river. The weight of
the locomotive was just on the rails of tho
structure. There was a frightful, crashing
???hook, followed by an appalling bump. I clutch
ed lit something to save myself. The cur on tho
platform of which I stood hung over the bank
of the river resting against the trunk of a tr ie,
while the engine, baggage car and smokerwero
lying in a confused heap below in tho water,
having fallen sixty ??*r seventy feet, killing or
maiming some thirty human beings. Flames
hurst out from the wreck. The re
mainder of tbc train bud junijicd the track,the
passengers in the coaches being by a miracle
unhurt. The bridge bud suddenly given
away, and my asraiteut, who had caused mo so
much annoyance, 1 could see as I held on to
the rail of the platform, in a shapeless, lifeless
ruaw. with his legs doubled under him on
what was formerly the roof of the smoker.
Shall I ever forget that day? Tim hissing
steam, the burning wood, the groins of tho
wounded and* the dying will always linger in
my recollection.
It was getting dark. 3fessengera were at
ow e sent to the nearest station ami everybody
went down tlie steep bank to bring up the
bodies of the charred dead and to rescue thorn
who might be living. The sight wlrau I got
among the crushed ears was terrible. Broken
glass, splinters and burnt and scorched arms
in d legs that had been wrenched from hnmin
beings, who a few minutes ago were full of
health nnd vigor, protruded in a ghas.ly
manner from the wreck. With the help of a
luakcnmn I carried up the almost lifeless
form of the young matt who claimed the ring
I bad found. IIis heart still beat, but he was
fearfully injured. His right arm and leg w ru
broken in two or three places. HU ch r.-ks
was horribly lacerated and his skull fractured.
I really felt sorry for tbc poor fellow anil re
solved to devt *o all my attention to lnm. With
several other < f the wounded he was carried to
the little vill re of Centerville aud then I
ftnxfcandy v iitcd for the doctor???s opinion,
who disco vet d tliat lie had sustained all the
injuries I h.??*l mentioned, in addition to which
be was suffering from concussion of the
brain. They said it was possible for him to
live, but hU recovery in any case would tike
very many months. I could no? divest i.iys -lf
of the idea that I in some way had b i n the
cause of his dreadful misfortune ami determin
ed therefore to make sll the reparation lu mjr
power. That same night I engaged comfort
able rooms for him aud paid two months'
board in advance. I gave tho local doctor
???a bright young man???$250, authorized
him to secure a nurse aud draw oil
me for any additional funds that
might lie necessary. Wlmt troubled mo more
tlum anything was that 1 could not find the
slightest clue to the whereal)outsof his friends
or relatives, nor could I even learn his name.
Any papers lie had uhout him must lntvo fallen
in the river. The next morning I saw tho
suflercr???s broken limbs set nnd his wonnds
dressed. The doctors said ho was doing fairly
well, although bandy conscious. I then con
tinued my journey, leaving word that I was
instantly to be communicated with should any
of his friends come to Centreville or make in
quiries concerning him. But weeks passed
and no one had appeared who knew him.
Battered, shapeless and charred remains of
other victims had been identified and buried,
but uot a soul bad asked a question or scci
to know* this young man who lav iu this
mote village hovering between life and death,
unable to utter an Intelligible word.
It was in the early part of September, about
five mouths after what was known os the Green
river bridge accident, that I was iu tho town of
Hudson-on-Iludson, N. Y., on business. It w.
a trivial matter laid taken me there, but before
I bad carried out my object I received a very
urgent telegram from the head of our firm
telling me to start ut once for Spring-
field, Mass., nml close an important con
tract. This contract was one for wdiich
a number of rival manufacturers
laul put in bids, aud it bad remained opeu on
account of some little dillurciic as to terms. T
loc ked nt my watch and found, to my annoy
ance, that 1 bad just missed tho train that
would have enabled me to make the connec
tlon and get to Springfield late that night. 1
knew it was necessary for me to be thero be
fore business hours in tlie morning ill order to
beat niy competitors. Ho I determined to drive
over to Pittsfield and thero connect with tho
Boston and Albany night express from Troy to
Boston which passes through Springfield nnd
would euable me to ho there iu proper
Fine. For this purpose I hired a horse and
buggy, which I undertook to send back in good
order and condition to my friend, the Hud-
ion livery stable keener. I kucw the direction
in which 1 must drive, but was quite unac
quainted with the road. 1 am, however, gen
orally successful in finding my way through
strange regions, and saw no reason r
this instance should ho an exception
the lull*. It was one of those September nights
that might easily be mistaken for ono in April.
Tlie air was warm, but tlie weather was squally
and rainy. Black clouds obscured tho moon
fur a time, (lien would follow a shower giving
excellent promise of rain for
the remainder of the night. But the
moon encircled by a halo would again
???how itself, only to lie ouce more concealed
from view. It wus there lb re dark and "
turns, and after driving eight or
through u thickly woe' ???
fancied I was off tho i
bouse and aroused tho j
nnd J/m in a burry to get thero.???
Ho surveyed mo careftilly to make sure that
I was not a horse thief or u tramp.
???Wa-al* mister, $10 is a good hit of money,
hut Fm Till old man and 1 don???t wuut to go
myself. But if my sou l???ote likes to go ho
kin.???
???I???ete did ???like,??? and I was soon on my jour
ney again. l'ctc was a tali, raw, uncouth
youth of nbout twenty. Ho lmd very little to
ray, io at lust 1 ceased to talk with him. A
large, thick cloud again ]Hissed over tho moon,
but no more rain fell. Wo had passed tho
state line and were skirting tho hills towards
Pittsfield, aud had reuchcd a winding road, oil
each side of which were trees. Tho clouds lie-
f ;an to thill. 1 turned to look at my compau*
mi. ??? Ills gaze seemed to be fixed on some ob
ject rigid ahead.
???Why, man ulivo! What are you staring
at???? 1 asked.
He did not answer, but be still gazed so hard
in the same direction that his eyes seemed to
bo starting out of their sockets. At this mo
ment tlie moon came out from behind a cloud,
tin u Pete, giving vent to au unearthly veil,
jumped out of the buggy uud mu back us hard
as lu* could I cur. The sudden movement
startled the horse, nnd I had some difficulty in
lulling him in, and when 1 had him iu hand
he, too, showed a disposition to shy. I now
raw wliut had scared Pete. There was a
burial ground on the slopo of a hill to tho
rigid. The white tombstones were plainly vis
ible through the trees, ami on one grave stood
ti e tail, white figure ot'a woman with long hair
ill flowing robe*. Her hands were cluspod
ami raise d above* her head as if iu prayer. It
was a weird, uiieurthly looking sight, nnd
well calculated to frighten uiiyliody. Them
the ghost, for 1 stip|M>*e I must so call it,
???wayi d to am! fro nml tuoaucej. I secured the
heiisc ami buggy to u tree and sprang over the
fei ce that surrounded the burial ground. 1
made my way up the hill towurds where tho
figure stood. 1 elo not lielieve iu ghosts, I
have not the slightest faith in the sui>cnmtu-
n??l, ami us 1 have raid before I have no physi-
eul fe*ar. My object In investigating this
???ttnnge appearance wus partly a humane one
i ml partly curiosity. The figure was alive,
there was no doubt about that, and it was not
n spook, there was still less doubt about that.
1 was right liefore it, and I must confess that
like moonlight falling on the wiiito night-dross
of the woman, in a graveyard, too, did havo a
someu hat startling eifect. Her face Was very
pale, Shu was handsome, ami her deep blue
eyes m-med to be staring into vacancy. She
was evidently a somnambulist who hail wan
dered sonic distance from her home (for thero
were no houses near,) ami was in
u meat dangerous position, with noth
ing but slippers on ami a thin garment in the
damp night air. 3Iv mind was soon made up
us tow I at was to be done. I must find this '
woman???s home nnd take her to it. I knew
the shock it would cause if I woke her, hut
there wus no alternative. I seized her by the
waist and lifted her from the ground. 8ho
aw oke instantly, looked at me, shrieked faintly
uml then swooned away. I kicked down
the fence aud carried her to the buggy and
wrapped the rug over her shoulders, support
ing her with my right arm as I drove quickly
along the road, determined to stop at tho firs
house I ???aw. I knocked loudly at tho door of
a ???mall frame cottage situated at the corner of
a narrow lane. The young w oman was still
insensible. A middle-aged man put bis head
out of the window* and inquired what the mat
ter wus.
???I???ve got a young woman In my buggy,??? I
???aid, ???w hom I have just found wandering about
in her sleep in the graveyard. She has fafuted
and is half-naked; you'd better let
dev....
I laid mv snowy burden on the sofa in the
cottage, ami the man and his wife applied re
storative*. The young widow recovered con-
fttiousnerit, but appeared to be quite dazed by
tie strange surroundings.
???I gut so,??? spoke the man, ???the best thing
for v,.u to do, mister, is to drive Mr*. Sher
brooke home. She lives in a brickAiouse about
tci.t up ilie Jane on the left. 1*11 go with
If you like, but you can???t miss It???
trowing * another blanket and putth.
id her I drove towards trie young 1
home. Thero was much cAmmolhir
i nr mousc. " Mis. Sherbrooke had already bw>??
u wtkl, a*d her tether, brother and the. coach*
n .111 were already on the point of atartlng in
different directions to look for her. I learnt
thaff she had acquired tho proctloo of talking
i?? 'or sleep since the doatli of her husband. A
cafftul watch was kept over her movements
doling bight, but she frequently managed to
evtjty all such precautions. Her favorite bauut
w .*??? the burial ground where her husband's re-
mrins lay Interred. I recolved tho warmest
thrnka ft am the family for what I hail done,
although no man with n spark of humanity In
him could haye done less.
VYou won't ta Mi to catch that train nt
Frrefldd,??? said Mrs. Sherbrooke's father.
v here at any rate until daybreak and I???ll
dr. vv you over to the station.???
???ijjwas quite true my adventure and tho de
lft **n consequence would prevent my arriving
at 4 aringflela at tho time I thought. I t here
to*- consented to star, but did not care to go
to ,d. The.old gentlemhn got out some wbui*
k> and cigars and insisted on staying up with
m*. and then he began to talk. ???
.ft???s a painful story in qcmhertlon with ray
de * t&ttf hut perhpia you???d like to hear li
W : . the was very much in love with young
Hh^brepke and they were married. He was a
ftiRranw, but rather shiftless and ettsfie.
rame means and got tired of the Hist
mi cfcdMfd to leave hfa wlfefiir a little nnd
go,??? ??? Texas to see what was to he done t)ie*e
a to hfs capital. He started, and was killed in
tin ilrtcn river bridge accident.???
: ' ***?? in that smash-up,??? I said, becoming
nr Interested.. . .
T??b, It.wa* horrible!??? sighed the old man.
i see, come out or it Ml right, but
t^w* Oevagd was ju the forward we, the
if vise*, hnd Was mangled almost beyohfl reeog-*
ifltVjn. WfH;c got u few pieces of him bar led
it* yon tfiaveynwl whet* you found my daugb-
tfrw I identified them and brought thorn on
Wittimefiom Coriterviow. It was a pretty*
nilKult J??*b to pick them out, but we know
the* were hiaramalns owing to a diamond rjhg
??? **A-diM>ond Hug,??? I exclaimed fn nttanlahk- -
irtRf. ??????WhrtTtlnd of n diamond ringT' '
*??? shloned thing, one tlmt's 'hoon lu
??? 'a family fhr generations. Ho.
ofit and always carried it around
r ???Was itjf l asked, ???a viug with ono, l?rg*
{one of fine water with stflr-shsptiU cl tutors of
f, of bourse, it was.???
had it two pieces of thin gold wire to
d the finger????
ftinW; you must have seen it.*
vescenit,??? Ia??ld. ???
JfU soon settle that question,** remarked
Sherbrooke???s father, going to the drawer
^urcau and producing the identical
[ had given to???Colonel Plke,ofBt. Job,'
* i liecn claimed by tho
masrp
The Death of the Vice Presi
dent in Indianapolis.
FOUND DEAD BY HIS WIFE,
Who Had Left Him Alive but a Few
Minutes Before.
THE ACTION OF THE PRESIDENT.
ill Classes flrlerlngr Or.r flic Nation???*
* Misfortune.
, George .
one liked him until ho 'knew
was rather slouchy iu his dress and Inclined to
bo quarrelsome. But ho was a very good fel
low for all that.???
This answered exactly to tho description of
the man at Ccntcrviow in tho doctor???s hands.
Jt was now my turn to toll my ntoryand I
naturally* had n very attentivo listener. Tho
tendor-henrted old gentleman interrupted be
fore I hud half finished.
???George isn't dead,??? he cried, bursting into
tears, ???and Annio will bo lmppy again. I
must not tell her until morning. But how
came th's diamond ring tube found when this
t???olonel Pike, to whom you gnve it, had left
tho train ????
???That I confess I do not understand, I nd-
vise you to ray nothing ut present to your
daughter. Let us first bo certain that it is the
right* man. Tho shattered hones might kill
her. Come with me to Springfield and we'll
stait for Ccntcrview tomorrow night. I am us
much interested iu this matter ns you are.
After you have identified your son-in-law.we???ll
make inquiries nliout the remains that you
buried, and on the finger of which tho riug was
found.???
Two days later wc were at Centerview by
the tK-dside of George Sherbrooke. He was
lin king fuvnrnhle progress. He smiled feebly
when he saw his father-in-law, and thanked
with a grateftil look when I handed him
the ring, lie was not strong enough to talk,
in d it was decided that bis wife should not bo
tcld i.fills existence until I saw her.
'The news must 1*e broken very gently, nnd
by nml by slit* can come here nml nurse him.???
I now devoted myself to iuouiring ns to tho
ciiciiiiistiinces uf the. identilkutioii of tho
iiblic-d bodies nnd charred limbs that wore
found after the accident. Tho hand, I learned,
which the ring wus on, was dlseovoredru-
duc< d to a cinder jimmied iu hetwoen somo
shupelcra trunks at tho end of the baggage cur.
**** i* fiont part of the smoker ami the hinder
t of the baggage ear had been literally
???bed into pulp, having fallen at au ncuto
single nt the top of the locomotive, fire having
lone the rest. I then arrived at these con
tusions, that ???Colonel Pike, of St. Joe,???
had, after taking that drink
with me, concealed himself under the trunks
iu tlie baggage car, with the ring on his finger.
He did this in order that I might not see him
u. A mere way station like Knobnoster
no place for him to get off nt. Ho wished
to ???)ip away ut Mine, town where lie could meet
his pnSM. Bennies, it was not such a great haul
fter all uml not worth running nwny for. He
rm; a professional confidence man; had seen
nc pick up the ring, and thought it a good op-
ortunity to secure such a prize, on which he
!.\d nlrtady fixed covetuottS eyes whuiiGcorgo
Sherbrooke wore it. Then mme the crash and
the (ml of ???Colonel Pike, of St, Joe.???
The South a Vast Ktiiplre,
the New York Hun.
???otilh! It h?? spoken ns flippantly as you
might spent of a little pocket borough. It Is ?? vast
empire. Ftenin, cracking Its chocks for power ami
d to boor you from New Yoek to tho southern-
i boundaries of that empire, can Imrely do it III
little Ic*s limn a week, nnd by latitudinal rails you
Itfiilc???-sthanfournifbtsajidthrecday*.
All the petty kingdoms of Europe might be stowed
nwny iu it uml their presence lie hardly
known. NVw* York ami New KdgUntl
might I* hidden in it so effectually as to
require an explorer to fln<l them. It emdd Is; made
to produce enough food ami cotton to feed no*!
clothe the eutlrc 1,400,000,000 inhabitants of tlio
idol**. It !??? no undeveloped empire. Hut the wnml
of i-rogres* Ims !-e??*n waved over It, nnd tin* guner-
riis toil in beginning to yield its fruit-, nnd cities
tic tbingon the cotton fields. Hfe**l. rolled out in
i he form of rail*, L doing the great work of develop
ing this immense territory, and to steam the resident
I???Oi tilation look for Ihc untold wealth that Uu* future*
bn* in store for them nnd the millions who will cntm
??fur them. Gigantic railroad ente*rpri*i have
Ucn projected, and tlie sagacious financiers who
ure to lay the rails ore preparing to divert the
hosts from their march to the gnat northwest,
???outhem railroad companies, as well as nortiiem,
arc about to employ resident agents in Europe to
l obit out the lnviiingiM M of the balmy, fruitful
>oath. Norfolk'sa!mn*t Incomparable harboroffors
to the army of Immigrants that will yet
??????nt up the Old lnm Into!
.... ...^ j thousand acre farms i
..mil- Virginia rich, atul the ???teel rails from Nor
folk will carry another army of Imto'.gnuitxwcH-
w tuU aud toutbward.
IKDIAKAVOM*. Novcmlier 85.???
Tlioimi, A. Hondriuk* died Btidiuily .fit bin
l^omo today at flyo o???cloek.
Tuojiak Auoiinf llKKiimtK. w??. bora In Mm
S um oo.ii.ty, Ohio, Bcptaa]jer'7lh, 11t3. In
hi. father Ktllcd In Blutlhy county, Indiana,
nos arodunted In South Hanover collngu lu
?????? dtedlawatChamUT-boi* V*., waa t
??? 1hia, a,
n nmined with hint. The Bervant want out
atayed. Ucndricks toaiod unaAtily
id cumiihtlriod of Krcat. pain, bnt
seemed to eemauunl Jot -aid to lib
free at loot, aend ??>r Elia, 1 ???(moaning
hltvrife.)
Time were hie loot word* (hr tile young man,
not realizing the urgency of tho nteonage, did not
deliver it atoneo. Jnat be tor- flvo o'clock,
Mrs. Hendrlrkacwno Into tlie room and (buna
tliat her huahand waMfod. Tho end of a long
and eventful life had come l wave fully ana
S 'y. He lay on tho bed outeide of tno cov
only partially diarohed, with his eyes
lived aa if ho wen in a gentle sleop, On
hla face there wero no traoeaof grief or ???ufTer-
lng, but the pallor bad come over It that Indi
cated only too plainly that ha had paaoed
Away. It needed no ouae examination to tell
that he waa dead, and Mra. Hendricks???
.creamed and ran dawn stain. A Servant was
dispatched to the residence of Ur. Thumimm
adjoining, and ho came Immediately, hut l>y
the tjhae ho had naehed the bgtUde, the
liiuU of (he dlrtinguUhrd man were becoming
cold aud rigid, and to gre. Ucndriclu' pathetic
Doctor, can't you do something????
lte was abliged to answer:
"It is too late.???
. Urn. llendrlcka heemiu almost dlstraotod
w ith grief,ami It was sn hour or men before
she became sufllriently composed ,to give any
tnftimiatlhn about hoc hitshoud'a lest inomcuU.
The family m rvatila, two of wlitnn had lived
with lit ndrlckewr yean, roti nhout the honse
crying and tuonnlng, nnd thero wav the utmost
coufunlon for a time.
Ttt?? TtgWa AITKOAtl.
When tho nows wus bulletined down town, It
Wtut generally discredited, yet In it very fow
minutes n hundred or moro of Me. Uohdriolts???
close political and personal friends had hurried
to the house. Very soon a gnat crowd col.
treted around (lie entrance aud on the street
and If wus found pooe.wsry to refuse admUslon
to sny aud all corners, except the Immediate
relatives. Hendricks died uihls private cham
ber, a large comfortable room. In which be did
focat ' of * hi* work. Near .hla hod*,
gldr-wni s ense containing legal nnd 'polltlcat
works, and on hit dsak worn hlr
papers, nirmoramla and a huge numlter of let-
feta, which had been allowed to accnmnlato
without ittsweMng In the last two or three
days. Hla dmudng gown and ellppora Wero at
iia Is vlsidc, and near by was a small stand, on
Which were various medicines and a goblet of
water, t???ortmlts, landscapes and befo-o-bmo
Oden the walls of the. rooms, aud were lu strlk.
llig contrast with tha sail eoene. I
TH* OAVSE or Til* DKATH.
Dr. TlumiMon says that In hie opinion Mr.
Hendrleka died af.imralyshi of the brain.
: iSr
tion to cstabli#li what
several yean Mr. Homlrickz hsdaiot*
robust man, anil was subject to freqiice.
Kprlis,??? aiK lu* culled then), tliirt. 4 which
would bo prostrated some tlxm a Ifor days at a
time. About two years ago-' bo was
confined to hia room for
to th-.* Mnttf oftnstUtitloiiAl eonreullon. From
to IFRS ho rcpmeiitcd tho InaiklUpolls district In
n.iigrcra, from lflfiO to 1880 wu commissioner or tho
G< tiera) Land ofllco, ami ftom 1863 to 1S09 wax a
iminbcr of olio United Btato sonato, in which ho
wus rcgnrdeaiu the democratic leader.
Jn 1)10 democrat io national con voli
tion of 1808, in Now York, he
wiiH ???tnniRly mippSrtcd for tho nomlnallou to
tin* prcflldciiry. An candidato for governor of In
dlmiaho wax defeated in 18110 nml 1808, but was
elected in 18?2 for tlic term ending January I, 18?7.
lie continued the i)ractico of law until his election
ox governor.
While governor of tlio state, ho was nominated
by tho national democratic convention whioh
met In Ht. Ixmis, in 1876, as a camlldato
for tho vice presidency, on tho tlckot with Samuel
J. Tlldon. This ticket received a majority of tlio
volex east for that election, and was fairly outltlod
to n majority of tho votes of U10 electoral collogo,
but wax counted out by a republican returning
IxMtrd, which gavo to Hayes anil Wheeler-
the republlenn candidates, tho votes of Florida,
Routh Carolina and Ieoulxioua, oaoh of
which had gono democratic, lint
were counted republican, 011 the charge of fraud at
the t allot l>oxes. This gavo tin* offices to Hoyc*
and Wheelqr by a. vote of 185 to 181.
Governor Hendricks retired to private life, but
In July 1881, ho was nominated again for tho vice-
pn xtdcncy, on tho ticket with Grover Cleveland,
by (lie national democrat it; convention which met*
it. Chicago. Cleveland and Hendricks wero elected
in November 1881, defeating Maine and Logan, tlio
rtyubJlcnj) nominees. They entered upon the dis
charge of the duties of their re??iicctlvo offices March
4th, 1S86.
rnrtlrularrt or Ills Heath.
L-vdianapouh, November SB.???Mr. Hon-
drii kh died this aftortioon at 5 p.m., under cir-
(UmstmieeH that were pitrtieiilurly ilistrewing
to his fuinilv nml friends, insomuch am they
lmd not nutIciimted a fatal termination of his
brief illncuH, and nobody was with him whim
tlio end nunc. Ho returned from Chicago
Saturday hist, and hineo then hud lieen coin-
piuining somewhat of n )stin in his head and
ini ??xt, but nothing serious was thought of it.
List night he ami Mrs. Hendricks attended a
reception given at tho rosidenco of tho Hon.
John Coojicr, treasurer: of tho state, re
turning homo in their carriage almut midnight.
Mr. Hendricks had taken off tho heavy cloth
ing which lie usually wore aud put on a
(in w* suit of lighter material, and Ixifore
he got home ho complained of niiiiiincss nml a
certain degree of exhaustion, hut attributed it
to luuiarial influences. He sat by the fire for an
??? nr or more before retiring, hut declined to
.. .M fora physician, although urged to do so.
He slept restlessly until about 8o???clock this
morning, when he arose, dressed himxelf aud
htc auite u hearty break foot, Haying that ho felt
much better, uml would attend to considerable
delayed buxiui-ss during the day. He and Mrs*
Hi lid ricks walked out for nearly half an hour,
and lie had apparently regained his physical
vigor and cheerfulness. An hour Inter, how
ever, lie In-gnu to be troubled with pain* in tho
region of tho stomach, and Mrs. Hendricks
sent for tho family physician, Dr.
W. C. Thompson, tho lifelong and
confidential friend of the vice president, who
relieved his pain. Ho arose from his bed, in
which ho had Inin only a few minutes, ami
n ail tho morning papers, talking cheerfully
with his wife and an old house servant. Just
before noon be had a relapse, however, aid a
physician was again summoned and adminis
tered the usual remedies, besides bleeding tho
I orient, and 31 r. Hendricks again expressed
liinsclf as being greatly relieved. Ho
remained iu his room all tho afternoon, oc-
rnnioually rising from his bed, to which
he was compelled to return by the recurrence
of the aisiomiual pains. To all callers who
came, and they were numerous, he sont word
that ho was iudisposcd, hut would be glad to
rec them tomorrow. About 4:30 o???clock 3frs.
Hendricks, who had been at bis bodsido all
day, went down into the parlor to see a caller,
who bad come to consult with her regarding
the affairs of a reformatory institution, oj
which she waa one of the managers, and she
remained with him about twenty minutes.
Tills HOUR or DfSATII.
Tom, a colored servant, and Harry Morgan,
VinOricks' nephew and page In Washington
emu
ng, ana ???
tjisendof his lift) was near at hand, hut ho
apparently recovered entirely from tiris and
wus In his usual health. Wliilo In Washing
ton, during tho List **.Hlon of con grow,
ho was overworked nml almost worn oat
by the press of tioliHcal matters, and
upon his return hero, bo signified his
intention of luyiug aside all public husiuess this
summer, and devoting his tinio to recreation.
He spent three weeks at Atlantic City, then
camo west unit wont to tho northern lake ro-
sorts, and afterwards to tho 3tinmi reservoir, In
Ohio, fishing. Ho returned from thero two
weeks ago, uml nt the tinio said ho never felt
bettor In his life. Last week, by specia! invita
tion, he attended the fat stock showat Chicago,
and was there tho reeitiient of corisldoraiilo at
tention in tho way of bannnets, and receptions
returning home on Saturday somewhat Indis
posed. At the reception he attended last night,
however, ho appeared to bo unusually cheer-
Ail, am! remained much luter thun was his cus
tom on such occasions.
TIIK GENERAL SORROW.
Tho nows of Mr. Hendricks???s death spread
rapidly throughout tlie city, and there wav a
general expression of sorrow over it. Thoso
who were ftis nolittiral enemies here, wero his
persona! friends, and to everybody who called
on him, or whom he met, ho had a pleasant
word and greeting. There were crowds around
the down town bulletin iMmrds all the evening,
while iu the vicinity of his residence there was
another crowd, all anxious to learn the partic
ulars of Iris Midden demise. The evening pa
per* could not get out extras fail enough to
supply tho demand, lfandrh-ks had boon
dead but a tow minutes when
forces of men begun draping tho
Mute, county nnd city hulldinu*. nnd
throughout the J???night, similar emblems wen*
titered on nearly all tho prominent businexi
iioiim and nwbfenre*.
MISS A OKA T?? MUM. HRNDKICK*.
Thb folhfwing an* among tho mess 13*9 re
ceived by Mr*. Hendricks:
Governor Hill, of New York telegraphed
from Klmini:
???The people of (lie ???lute of New York learn with
deep regret of tho sudden death of your dri*
tfngulritcd Iiij I.uikI. I lender to you their and toy
own heartfelt xympathy In this hour of your groat
bereavement.??????
Governor Hoadly, of Oliio, rays:
???The denili of my very dear friend grieves and
???iiockx me beyond exprtwlon. Every citizen of
Ubfo. tils native stste.und of tho whole country,
w111 be filled with symisUbyfor you. You havo con
solation In knowing though bis life wax nitriiort
In-fore he had reached the limit of three??coro y-ears
and ten, It was full of honors and useful service* of
Who itatfsman, and sweetened by domestic love
slid lispplner* such as few enjoy. Accept my heart
felt ???ym|**thy.???
T1IK CAUSE or DEATH COMMENTED ON.
f)r. W. 0. Thomiison stated in the courso of
conversation that It was hU tejlicf that Mr.
Hendrick* died from instantaneous paralysis
of the brain and heart. As he lay in bed hU
IMsdtion was perfectly natural and peaceful, oa
one in sleep. Ills position was exactly that in
which Mnt. Ilcudricks had left him a few min
utes liefore, when the had tucked the bed cloth
ing about him and went to the lower hall. Hero
she was detained in conversation for a
cw minutes, each of which she said seemed to
her an age. Upon dismissing her guest, who
bad called on some business, she hastened up
stairs to Mr. Hcudrick???s room aud approached
him under the impression that he was steeping,
but on stepping to tbo bed and speaking to
* ' " ~ T ???* *"??? 'set of the
evident to
,jipson said that save u light
rysnoate of the Ilf* and limputitv of the side#
of tho Jaws, tho color of the features wa* per
fectly natural. But thero was a slight, al
though significant, drawing aside of tho lower
Bp to the right aide, os te seen In ncJal paraiy-
sis of the left side. Mr. Hendricks had suf
fered for a long time with a slight paralysis of
the left hand, aud Dr. Thompson had often
noticed timidity and careftilues* in the use of
it in public. Mr. Hendrieks had often told tha
doctor that when lie died he should like to go
off with paralysis, at it was a painless
death, aud took off without knowledge or
forebodings of the inevitable hour.
Only yesterday Mr. Hendricks had said to
him:
???Mrs. Hendricks is my beat friend, and l
want her by me every moment,???
Mr,and fin, JIvadrkks had lived la Indua-