The Van Buren press., 1870-05-17
The Beef Contract .
How It was Made and How Mark Twain
Attempted its Collection.
from the May Galaxyl

In as few words as possible / wish 10
lay bJore the nation what share, howso-
ever small, have had in this matter
this matter which has so exercised the
public mind, epgenlered so much III feel
ing, and SO Tiled the newspapers of both
continents with distorted statements and
extravaaant comments.
The origin Of this distressful thing was
this-and | assert here that every fact III
the following resume can be amply prov
ed by the official records Of the general
government.
John Wilson Mackenzie, of Rotterdam,
| Chcmung county. New Jersey, deceased,
IcpAiracted wilh the general government,
On OF about the 10Th day of October,
1851, TO furnish to General Sherman the
sun total Of thirty barrels or beef Very
well He started after Sherman with the
beef. but when he got to Washington
Sherman had gone to Manassas so he
took the beef and followed him there. but
arrived too late; he followed him to
Nashville, and from Nashville to Chatta
nooga, and from Chattanooga TO Allan
ta-but he never could oyertake him AT
Atlanta he took a fresh start and follow
ed him clear through his march to the
sea- He arrived too late again by few
days, but hearing that Sherman was go
ing out in the Quaker City excursion to
the Holy Land, he took shipping for
Beirut, calculating to head off the other
vessel When he arrived in Jerusalem
with his beef, he learned that Sherman
he'd not sailed in the Quaker City, but
had gone to the plains to fight the In
dians. He returned to America and
started for the Rocky Mountains. After
eighteen days of arduous travel on the
plains, and when he had got within four
miles Of Sherman's headquarters, he was
lomahawked and scalped, and the Indians
got the beef. They got all OF it but one
barrel Sherman's army captured that,
aud so, even in death, the bold navigator
partly fulfilled his contract. In his will,
which he had kept like a Journal, he be
queathed the contract to his son Barthol-
omew W. Bartholomew w. made out
the following bill and then died:
The United States
In acct. with John Wilson Mac .5
Kenzie, of New Jersey, deceas-
ed, $4,000
To travelling expenses and trans
portation, ttt l4,000
.aH ....t..e
Total, $1,000
Received payment.
He died then but he left the contract
to WIN, j. Martin, who tried to collect 1t,
bat died before he got thrnngh, Ho loft
it to Baker j. Allen, and he tried to coli
lect il also He did not survive. Baker
j Allen left it to Anson g Rogers, who
attempted to collect it, and got along as
far as the ninth auditors Office, when
death, the great levcler, came all unsum-
moned, and foreciosed on him also. He
left the bill to relative of his in Connec-
ticut, Vengeance Hopkins by name, who
lasted four weeks and two days, and
made the best time on record, coming
within one of reaching the twelfth audi
tor. In his will he gave the bill to his
uncle, by the name of O-bc joyful John
son. II was too undermining for JOY
ful. His last words were: Weep not
for mel am willing to CO. And SO
ne was poor soul seven people inhcr-
tied the contract after that. Bat they
all died So 1t came into my hands at
last 1t fell to me through relative by
the name of hubbard Bethlehem Hub
bard Of Indiana He had had grudge
against me for long time but in his
last moments he sent for me and forgave
me everything, and weeping he gave me
the beef contract.
This ends the history Of it up to the
time that succeeded to the property. l
will now endeavor to set myself straight
before the nation in everything that con-
Germs my share in the matter. took
this contract, and the bill for mileage and
transportation to the President of the
United States He said:
"Well, sir, what can l do for you? 2"
| said:
"Sire On or about the 10th day Of
October, 1861, John Wilson Mackenzie,
of Rotterdam, Chemung county, New
Jersey, deceased, contracted with the
general government to furnish to Gene
raj Sherman the sum total Of thirty bar.
rels Of beef
lie stopped me there and dismissed me
from his pressnce-kindly, but firmly.
The next day called to see the Secreta-
ry of State. He said:
"Well, sirY'
/ said: f" Your royal highness On or
about the 10th day of October, 1861,
John Wilson Mackenzie, of Rotterdam,
Chemung county, New Jersey, deceased,
contracted with the general government
to furnish to General Sherman the srm
total of thirty barrels of beef"
THAT will do, sir--that will do; this
Office has nothing to do with contracts
for beef"
was bowed out. thought the mat
ter all over, and finally, the following
day, visited the Secretary Of the Navy,
who said, "Speak quickly, sir, do not
keep me waiting ! said:
"Your royal highness: On or about
the 10th day Of October, 1861, John
Wilson Mackenzie, Of Rotterdam, Che
mung county. New Jersey, deceased,con
tracted with the general government to
furnish to General Sherman tue sum total
of thirty barrels Of beef
Well, it was AS far as / could get He
had nothing to do with beef contracts
for General Sherman, either. began to
think it was a curious kind Of q govern
ment 1t looked somewhat as if they
A. H.. tI.t l. .