The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-16
Follow Your Leader.

names are not quite obsolete
Thomas II. Smith built an enormous
tea store in South street. up by Dover II |
extended through TO Water, and was a !
hundred feet wide. Ii was the wonder |
of the city when il was built, The |
docks near il were named India wharf. |
Smith also built famous stores Mt Perth |
Amboy, and had hls tea ships land carr
goes there The travellers 20 Philadel-
phia by the old route must often have
wondered what these immense stores
we're doing in such an Insignificant place
as Perth Amboy. Thomas H. Smith
besides being the greatest tea merchant
Of his day, was also the greatest Spreeits
of hrs day. He was the President of
Club called "The Fire Club" IL held
its meetings in Franklin Square, on the
corner of Dover street. Boys have
mode Of amusement called "Follow
your leader" This was adopted by the
Club of which Smith was President.
Many men who are now aged and re-
spected men, or dead, belonged 30 the
Fire Club" Joseph Foulke, trader
at Curacao, a Dutch Island in the West
Indies, and the Stages. There Awas
old. Peter Stsgg, Cashier OF the City Bank
and John and Benz. Stsgg There was
old Matthias Bruen, and many more
whose names were on the Club list.
They gave grand suppers, and their en-
tertaiDments were very expensive. They
would invite a guest TO these suppers,
explain the rules, and if he refused TO
join, or could not carry out the idea the
Zine was one dozen of champagne, These
fines were Occasioned by refusal to fol-
| low the leader. On one occasion great
cotton merchant from New Orleans was
a guest He agreed TO all The conditions
1t was late in the evening, in the dead of
| winter. The ice in the East River was
floating up and down with every food or
ebb of the tide. Follow leader"
shouted Smith, and out of the warm,
luxurious club rooms poured the mem
bers of the Club. Out Of the Square,
around the corner into Dover street.
"Follow leader" and on rushed Smith,
the President Of the Club, with thirty
men behind him, down Dover, past Wa
ter, past Front, into South, and thence
on to the pier. One of Smiths own
ships lay at the dock. A lighter lay in
side of the main wharf The ice was
loose and dashed up around the vessels.
Follow leader" exclaimed Smith, as he
plunged from the dock into the water.
Some drew back, but others followed the
leader, who succeeded in getting out Of he
ice water on TO the lighter, and from
. thence to the dock; and shouting "FOl-
low leader" he led off with frozen clothes,
up Dover and into the room of the Club
, Plunge, plunge, plunge, one after another,
and so on until all had successfully ac-
cOmplished the terrible and dangerous
| feat. The Southern cotton merchant was
= last. Some of the regular Club members
: remained until they saw him reach the
4 dock again safely, and there they left
him shivering. He did not remain long
Q AS he walked up from the dock, he no.
0 liced large store open in South street
c He entered. IL was a wholesale and re-
o tail ship store. 4" / have met with an &C
f cident--give me a glass of cognac, hot
k with sugar and water" IL was done
. and he drank it. "Do you keep gun
powder ~ he asked. Receiving an af
firmative reply, he bought and paid 70
half keg, and then took his way TO th
Club room. At the door were slandin
~ Mr. Lowe and Mr.. Pown, two member
Of the Club. The latter exclaimed, "Brav
Southern stranger-you have passed tn
i ordeal safely. You are now leader, an
we are deputed to place the Club unde
J. your command, if you choose TO exer
70 your sacred privilege"
y "Thanks, my friends, | shall do so, bu
O. viii not ask you to go out of the ROOF
1t this cold night. Let us drink ~ and a
q he entered the room he sought a sid
/ closet where hung his cloak. There h
e placed the keg, and then returned an
>, took a seat at the long, solid mahOgan
4 table. President Smith called the club [
&, order. The Stewards for the night open
j. ed q dozen OF champage amid shout
= calls and songs Of the most stirring char
re acter. "Order, come 20 order !" exclsim
q ed President Smith. When order wa
q partially restored, he said Members
el the club, our guest has passed the ic
10 ordeal He has now the right Of becon
ing leader for the balance of the night,
is until failure in our sacIed rites Win
T, says he9
D. The cotton merchant took from b
"a bosom bundle Of two aud laid il on II
table All eyes were liked upon hiI
"a 81 accept the command. will lead no,
N Wait until give the word, and then d
r as you see me do" by this time he ha
~ spun the tow into string that wouI
reach from the table To the CRATE. 1
5 : placed the tumbhr on one cod OF II
IL low, 20 hold IL on the table, and th'
en- passed the other 10 the pan under u
lg CRATE, and made that fast with a piece
nj coal from the coal.scutle, Not wor
g- was spoke An felt thar something M
" usual was 60 occur Cotton meroha
cd now deliberately went 10 the closet az
returning With ihe key TOOK his seat Thu
liz | LIE ,rDrl ~ .rnrL md r.mnvnd Tho hon