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Show AN UNPOKtrNAlK HKHO. It is an old truism that no man is great in the eyes of his valet. Not, perhaps, per-haps, that familiarity breeds contempt, but that few people can successfully bear the scrutiny of close investigation. We are reminded of this by tho announcement an-nouncement from Mason City, Iowa, that "Lieutenant Schwatka. of Arctic exploration fame, fell over a staircase in the hotel to the floor below, and was probably fatally Injured." That happened hap-pened yesterday. Schwatka was at one time a lieutenant lieuten-ant in the United States army, but resigned his commission to engage in Arctic explorations, not so muoh perhaps to satisfy, thirst for scientific knowledge as to conquer iu the solitary fastnesses of the Ice kinir a thirst far more devouring. His thrilling thrill-ing experience in the Interior of Alaska and his exploration of the great Yukon river raised him to national renown and made his name famous as one whose contributions to our geographical knowledge were invaluable. But his craving for anient spirits would not be quenched until he returned to the states and indulged in his habit to the full extent of his desire. One day the celebrated explorer was picked up iu the gutter in Omaha in ti pitiful plight, the result of a protracted spree, aud then the open secret became a public scandal and Schwatka's doom was sealed. Ho applied for readmission in tho army, but was rejected. We can imapine what caused his fatal accident in Mason City yesterday, the accident to an unfortunate hero." |