The Portland daily press., 1869-05-06
LIS celIany. .
One Of Grans,s Appointments.

The Washington correspondent of the Chi
cago Tribune relates the following:
Among the names sent in to the Senate bv
Gen. Grant for consulates, was that of Frank
Chenowith, for Canton, China. A gentleman
from Kansas, Mr.. Wilder, was telling me some
pleasing and remarkable facts about Mr.. or.
rather, Col Chenowith, last night, which /
reproduce TO show the romance of a small
appointment.
Two years before the war broke out, Webb
Wilder-a dauntless truthful, high -blooded
young man, from Massachusetts,, but Wes-
ternized in Wisconsn-crossed the Missouri
River from the Kansas side, and established
in st. Joseph weekly anti-slavery newspa-
per called the Free Democrat. He had been
publishing this paper but a short time, in the
midst of abuse and danger. day by day, when
young Chenowith, a Virginian, appeared and
said:
"I-believe in the principles you advocate,
Mr.. Wilder, and l want to be newspaper
man to help them on. l would like to buy
an interest in your paper"
Said Wilder, always speaking from the
shoulder:
"We two proprietors are working at the
case, practical printers. 1t takes all our own
labor to get up the paper, without regard to
the daily terror of our lives. l would not ad-
wise you to risk your money here"
Young Chenowith replied:
"If you will let me put in my money, will
60 to the case and learn to set type with the
rest OF yOu."
He gave in his 81 500 or $4,000, and went
to the case. Thosel three made the paper
jump. 1t used all real orspecious arguments
to set the border afiame, and the personal
gallantry OF every man gave their utterances
character. Even JEFF. Thompson, the Mayor
respected those young men, and as far as he
could, covered them with his ggis.
One winter afternoon secret friend stole
to the Office and told those three that an in
dictment had been issued that day against
them all. To publish a newspaper against
slavery was contrary to the laws OF Missouri,
and punishable with long Imprisonment.
ChenowIth and Tracy were Southerners, Will
der was Yankee.
"Clear out at once," they said to the latter
cross the river Immediately and strike free
soilp
Wilder hastened to the river, which ran by
full Of ice, and made its periIous passage in a
little skif Chenowith and Tracy follow ed the
same day. Their office was seized behind
them, and they lost every penny they pos
sessed in the world. Within six weeks Viii
der established the Conservative in Leav-
enwOrth. Chenowith entered the Northern
army at the firing or the first gun. He was
on the stats OF Grant and Sh srman, was a
personal protege and fsvorite with both, and
at the end of the war found himself broken IN
health, though still quite young man. One
OF bis old partners heard of a School Super
intendency open in Worcester, Mass Che
nowith applied to Gen. Grant for letter OF
recommendation to the same. 1t was freely
generously, excellently written, and it got him
the place. He remained there till about a
year ago, when he found his health falling.
milder climate was necessary.
He returned to Richmond, Va, and, first
family" Of that Old Dominion as be was, kept
himself and family afoas by serving milk to
the people OF that city. In this his wife brave
ly assisted him.
1t is life eventful as this, inspired by con-
viction and sustained by personal courage
which we in the North will find it hard to
i'm. parallel for, which has sent Mr.. Cheno-
with to China, with salary of $4,000 year
as an agent of the Government, which he has
illustrated SO spiritedly.