The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-06-06

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and while Toombs could shoot very
we'll with the pistol he was poor riiie
shot. On the other hand, Wade was
an old hunter, and m adept with the
ride. In those days he could hit .
dollar at hundred yards three ont of
five shots. aud Tsombs tad sean him
do n. THE Georgia fire-eater had no
idea OF becoming the target OF such q
man. Long after the affair was over,
said one day TO Mr.. Wade, "if
Toombs had actusliy challenged you.
would you really have accepted ANA
gone out to fight ?''
Mr.. Wade replied solsmnly: III
old Toombs had challenged me that
time, . expected be would, would
have accepted and fought him. had
Il aii arranged in my own mind I
would have put : patch over my heart
tho sire Of dollar, and made Toombs
do the same. I was used to doing that
kind Of shooting, and II the old fellow
had stood still, d-n me II I wonldn't
have cut his patch she INST firc. I was
not much afraid OF getting hurt; for
old Toombs knew me ~ good rifle
shot, while / knew him as very bad
one, and felt quite sure that patch
business would demoralize him.
Not only did Mr.. Toombs refuse to
challenge Mr.. Wade, but no Southern
member could be induced to send him
q challenge, no matter what he might
cay. s .4# w
Mr.. Fitch told me that during the
time the trouble was pending with
Senator Toombs, Mr.. Wade went sv-
cry evening In . buggy to Bladens-
burg to practice with his rife; 20 there
could be no doubt Of HIS Intention to
fight should the fire-eaters give. him .
chance. As late ~ 1868 I hunted
squirrels with Mr.. Wade at Jefferson,
Ohio, and he was still remarkable
good shot.
As is we'll known, Mr.. Wade served
Ohio eighteen years in the United
States Senate, and was Vice President
Of the United States from March 1867,
to March 1869, when Mr.. .Colfax sue
ceeded him. He was seventy years Of
age, lacking few months, when he
retired from Office, aud glad to escape
the cares Of public life. His personal
friends were deeply disappointed
when he failed at Chicago in 1868 to
receive the nomination for Vice Presi-
dent on the ticket with Gen. Grant,
and It was also a source Of deep morti-
fication to them that the President, af.
ter his election, did not offer Mr..
Wxde . seat in his Cabinet. Mr..
| Grant, however, appointed him one Of
| the government directors of the Union
Pacific railroad, position which am
informed Is worth s, 900 per year. and
afterward sent him out on . delicate
and Important mission to San Domin-
60. During his long public career
Mr.. Wade lived very economically,
every year saving part OF his salary.
which he Invested so advantageously
that when he came to retire to private
life he had an animal income from
! private sources Of some seven thou
sand five hundred dollars.
Last fall an effort was made to run
him for Governor Of Ohio, but he pos
itiSely declined, saying he had done
with business and politics forever.
Since then | am informed he has ac-
ceptel the attorneyship Of the North
ern Pacific, he receives something
more than Gen. Grant, and 1t cannot
be said he is in any imminent danger
of coming to want.
Brave old Ben Wade! Well indeed
does he deserve the good things of this
world, and long may he live to enjoy
them. We who know him best know
how TO appreciate him and we never
found him terrible or disagreeable ex-
cept when In his official robes, and
then only to the enemy. Gentle and
kind Ia private life, fast friend, an
indulgent father, and an affectionate
husband, no pleasanter picture for the
American people to look upon could
be presented than that Of honest Old
Ben Wade at home. s. Bris.
bin IN F0rney's Press.