The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-10-31
AnecdOte Of Poe.


"Poe at West point" IS n short
sketch by Thomas II. Gibson. Ed.
ward A. Poo was a roommate Of the
writer at West Point IN 1880, and re-
counts an amusing incident oftheir
wild life there at that time.
The occupants of "No. 29 South |
Barracks" were in tho habit of taking
turns in going out of the barracks
for the stated supplies of brandy which
those young warriors considered noe
essary to their prowess. 1t had been
the writer's turn, and he was return.
ing with bottle Of brandy and gam
der for their private supper.
Poe was the lookout, and met me
some distance from the barracks, and
my appearance at once inspired him
with the idea of a grand hoax. Our
plans wero perfected in an instant
The gander was tied, neck and feet
and wings together, and the bloody
feathers bristling in every direction
gave It a nondescrIpt appearance that
would have defed recognition as a
gander by the most astute naturalist
on the continent. Poe took charge Of
the bottle, and preceded me to the
room, 'Old p" was puzzling his brains
over the bnomial theorem, and visl-
tor from the north barracks was in the
room awaiting the result of my expe-
dtion.
Poe had taken his seat, and preten
dJd t. be absorbed IN the mysteries Of
"Lecons Franchises Laying the
gander down at the outside OF the door,
l walked, or rather staggered, into the
room, pretending to be very Jrunk,
and exhibiting in clothes and face u
spectacle not often seen off the stage.
"Ny God what has happened p
exclaimed Poe, with II well acted hor-
ror.
"Old k, old k" l repeat
GU beNCIul IlihSo, ullu WIN BSohulSo ia
tended to be particularly savage
"Wel, what Of him ?" asked Poe.
Q ''Ho won't stop me on the road any
a morel" and produced large knifC
that wo had stained with the few drops
, VI blood thst remained IN tho old gan
4 der. Il have killed him |"
b "NHnsense /" said Poe. "You are
n only trying one of your tricks on us
II didn't expect you would behev'
= me" l replied, $50 cut off his hea'
!. and brought it into tho barracks. -
;, Here il is." And reaching out of tn
o door caught she gander by the legs
: and giving it one fearful SWING aroun'
- MY head, dashed il at the only candl
= in the room, and left them all in dark
20 ness with what two of them believes
'r TO be tho head of one Of the professors
y y The visitor leaped through windo'
Ia and alightei in the slop-tub, and mad
g. fast time for his own room in the Mort
IS Barracks-spreading, as hc went, tn
report that had killed old K an
70 that his head was then in No, 2S. =
10 The story gained ready cledence, an
IS for time the excitement in the ban
Or racks IAN high. When We lrt the cal
aI die again, "Old P" was sitting
% one corner blank picture of hurro
h and it was some time before we cou!
is restore him TO reason.
le The gander was skinned-piciln
in the feathers off was out OF the ques
r. tion--and after taps we cut hlm up !
small pieces and cooked him IN 8 Il
sh wash. basin, over an anthracite FIR
without seasoning of any kind.
was, perhups, tho hardest supper o
ar record, but we went through with
a. without finchng. We had set out
10 eat Old K in etiigy, and we did II
IA whether he ever learned of the homo
th we paid hlm that night, never learl
lid eG. ..si..',.i,
,is Upon the whole, the impression lc
an by Poe in his short career ut We
m Point was highly favorable to him,
ed he made no fast friends, he loft No en-
lat mics behind hun,