The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-20
OUR old PEOPLE.
The Life and RecOllectiOns Of Sailor
and Soldier Of 1872.
A Delaware Lady at Niney-One Discussing
Revolutionary Matters.
PIONEER LIFE and TRAVELLING IN ALABAMA, 1916.
WILLIAM BACHELOR.

w AAA4AM DA 4O4A&1AIOAss
THE BLESSING OF THE FATHER OF HIS coUN-
TRY-BALTIMoRz AS IT wAs-JEFFERsoN.
LUTHER MARTIN, BURR AND BL1NNERHAs-
sRTT.
BALTIMORE, Md, May IL, 1874
William Batchoor is ninety years old. but one
would suppose from his appearance He stands six
foot in his stocking fcot and Is straight ramrod
He has bold nery look out Of the eyes utterly incon
sistent with scnhty, and when he talks IL is with
confident voice. such would expect TO hear from
just starting in life. His laugh Is perfect
gufaw ringing clear and distinct though he mcant
TO enjoy the joke and he didn't who joined in.
No person in the State Maryland better entitled
70 speak Of his ancestors In tho Revolution. HIS
father lost four brothers, slain at Germantown and
Brandywne did also his mother, and the former,
after fighting through the Revolutionary War; was at
length killed ut Fort George, Canada in tho Of
1872 Mr.. Bachelor was born at Fort McHcnry In the
harbor of Baltimore.
A xoxAGExARIAx ON THE CENTENNIAL.
When asked his views with reference the Contcn-
nini no :--"l am an American and think the
celebration ought to DO grand II there was an
occasion for thankulncss ana rejoicing Will be when
this great Republic reaches the hundredth year OF Its
existence. have sailed pretty much over tho world,
have been into nearly all the ports OF any Importance
auu navy uuu aDuuuaut opportunities W ooootSo suS
workings OF other political systoms and never yet have
had occasion to regret that American citizen.
wAsnixGroxs BLESSING.
II have seen General Washington. He put his hands
on my head and blessed at West Point Fort Hero
tho old gentleman was moved to tears) II was some-
where about 170S. West Point nothing like what
It Is now. Washington on visit to the fort He
in chair and the children brought up 10 him.
When told that child was the Of old soldier, he
would place both his hands on his head and say God
bless the child with the greatest fcrvor but II moth
ing said about its parentagc no would simply say,
Bless tho chlld'
~ subsequently returned TO Fort NcHcnry with my
parents. rho fort Is very different from what II
used TO be- Tho star fort which there then still
remains; but all else Is changed At that time
said to DO three milos from tho city, and had to
walk down to it. Now. believe, the city extends
nearly II not quite, to tho fort jones Falls ut that
tine emptiod into river about forty yards below
Pratt street bridge There wharyes and piers
In those days, ind have ships up to tho
foot OF Gay street and take in cargccs They were
small in comparison with those which now ply between
Baltimore aud foreign ports
MORALITY.
s'There was an old wooden theatre here. Tho first
circus have any recollection OF exhibited ut tho
nor OF Lombard and Exeter streets have mover
danced or played a game Of any kind In my lite.
went TO for twenty four years. but touched
drop OF liquor and dont know the taste Of IT, Ny vito
there, who is eishtysx years old, the way"
At this point The old lady. who is slightly doaf
thought speaking Of the coorod population,
and burst In with tsOut upon 'cm the nasty. dirty
troacherous wretchcs l never allow 'cin 10 come into
the house. always de,csted cm,' and she walked
out Of tho room, evidently highly inccnsed ut tho
recollection perhaps OF some OBNOXIOUS clause Of the
Civil Rights DILL "Thcrc were none OF these lager
beer shops dance houses In old times. We used 10
have bear fights sometimes out here Landcnsagcrs
Hill generally about Christmas. Old Landcnsiager
kept GROCERY up there You can soc the old house
now, and thoy would chain tho bear up and set tho
dogs him. Some thought II rare sport, but ncvor
could the fun OF IT, suppose landcnslagcr did Il
custom to his shop People were miro friendly
then, IT appears TO me, than they We had
TODD about religion. Pretty much all thought the
same thing There talk about slavcry--it
all right then cre tho old lady took another shy at
the Africans and was good humorcdy reproved BY her
lord and mastery. We had woman's rights nor
Sprituaiism tho people had more The old
women used 70 believe in w,tcncra, but as they did
not act on Il IL was perfectly harmless.
BALrfNoRE's EARLY COMMERCE..
The trade OF Baltimore large both In flour aud
tobacco. Thomas Tenant Billy Patterson aud Blu
chanan were the prominent men IN the city about
1901 1907 and 1853 Patterson lived Phipot street,
where tho negroes have manufacturing establishment
now. remember when his daughter married Bona
parte Tore good deal said about u at the time.
PROMINENT FIGURES or THE PAST.
THE house where Luther Martin used to live Is stu
standing on Monument street. have him
often, but do not know that ever saw hir sober.
He generally had black fellow TO follow him around
uuu kuke care OF Tccoilcct Wncn nc WIS COUNSEL
for Burr and Bcuncrhassct. have often seen Will
kinson, who took Burr prisoner have seen Mr.
jefferson many tmc IN tho city here He used 10
stop at Briucn's Hotc. Ho plain-ookng old
citizen. He used TO look like country farmer Ho
generally rode 10 Baltimore n horseback. served
with Pinckncy IN the war Of 1872 lilo had command
Of tho rifle battalion. Ho had squcaky voice, not
very well suited for u commander have often
William wirs Robert Goodoe Harper and General
Stricken
Il was In the peighborhood when the riot took place
In 1872, ut tho time General Lugan was killed. havo
always regarded VI bad affair. never had any
taste for riotng Tho old town boys and the new
town boys used to have stone fights, but always got
away from them US far as possible.
FIGHTING 4 1912.
"At the breaking out Of the war in 1872 many OF the
ships were turned into privatecrs was mainly Gu
gagged in thls business during the served the
Comet and the Chasscur. The last light hau tho
water with the ST. Lawrence. She Bati-
built VESSEL aud at time belonged to Mr.
Tenant She WIS captured by tho British and recap
tured by l reached here from New York just
martial law declared in 1914. had not been IN
the house twenty minutes before was summoned TO
the feid picked up gun and Joined the Fiity-iirst
regiment Massachusots volunteers Tho hills around
the city were with soldiers, but they had
arms TO give them. We marched down 10 North Point
and fought the battle l thought II rather SLOW.
had been used 10 going into battle with sword and pis
toll nj close quarters As soon the fight over
returned 70 New York and went 70 ON the Chas-
sour.
~ took very little interest In elections; mover both
cred myself about politics; but this Will say, mover
voted for General jack son."
Mr.. Bachelor talked with voiubty, and his rccol-
lection seemed 70 be clear OF the through
which no had passed. but he an attacn6 Of bank
the Interview was cut short by the hour striking for
him 10 resume his duties
MRS. ROBERTS.
REcoILEcrIoxs OF AN OLD DELAWARE LADY