Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-02-02
Anecdotes Of Famous Men.

ed, biographer of Daniel Webster, was
warm personal friend for many
years OF that renowned American; but
he was a digni6ed Boswell. Caring
little for personal lame from his liter
airy work, lie left memoir Of Webster
20 be published GAS it has been) after
his Ohe biographer's) own death.
The book abounds in personal anec
dotes, and among these are two . lich
portray characteristics of the three
famous Americans, Webster, Benton
and Calhoun. There ure many per-
sons living who car recall tie thrill
Of horror which ran through the coun-
try during Mr.. Tyler's administration,
caused by the explosion of the great
gun called the Pedcemaker, OH
board TIE United States ship Prince
ton. Col. Benton, the distinguished
Senator from Missouri, was amongtie
party of excursionists on the Prince
ton. Up to the day Of the casualty
Col. Benton and Mr.. Webster had
been estranged; and for many years,
az Mr.. Webster informed his biogra
rher, the two Senators passed eacl
other without recognition. They nev
er had any intercourse, except sucI
rs was official and where it could no,
be avoided.
After that day fearful experience,
md narrow escape Col. Benton cal|e'
n Mr.. Webster. He re .ted as or,
# the incidents Of the day the follow
ng: He had secured what he hong
ne very best place on deck to wline>
he experiment with the mons; er ga
ust before the piece was fred som
ne touched Col. Benton shoulde,
.:hing to speak to lin. He turne
| ''thb, t'il'i Nds u O''ett ON' VI IL
,ace. I've person Y ho secured ~
position was e1-Gov. Giimer, Secret;-
~ Of the Navy. The piece exploded
md Secretary GiImer was killed IN
SANITY. Col. Benton was thrown
Town but not injured. In reIa,in,
his circumstance to TIE Massachusetts
senator Col. Benton said: 1T SCENE,
me, Mr.. Webster, as if that toucI
III the shoulder was the hand of th
| llmighty, stretched down there.
lraWing me away from instantaneou
tealh. That one circumstance ha,
hanged the whole current of my
thoughts and life. l feel that I am #
different men, and | want in the irsl
lace, to be at peace with all thos,
Nth whom have been so sharply a.
variance. And 50 | have come to YOU
Let us bury the Ratchet, Mr.. Web
GER Nothing" replied MIR. Web
ter, could he more in accordanc,
yllh my own feelings" And thu
,olnpact was made. This anecdo,,
Hay place Col. Benton in an aspec
'ew to many readers, but it is no.
new to his friends.
When Webster vas preparing HI
anous speech, in March 1850, Mir
'"!hopn Was lying very i'll in the oil,
aiding. Mr.. Webster called on hiin
md the conversation turning on th'
attended speech, Mr. Calhoun express
Il an earnest desire to lar it. Nj
Webster hoped he would DO so as h,
himself was anxious that lIr. Calhoun
aonld lie present Mr.. Calhou;
hook his head, and said, that he fear
ii lie was on his death bed and Mr.
Webster left him, fully impress se
yilh thu belief that TIE venerasl,
tatesman would soon pass away.
The Senate Chamber was crowde,
o the utmost on the day Of Mr. Wei
ters speech. In the course of it IT,.
rator alluded to ,Ir. Calhoun as III,
distinguished and venerable Senate.
rom South Carolina. Again reterrin,
o some statement made by Mr.. Ga!
'oun, Mr.. Webster referred to HIM ii
';he elnipeEl Senator irUln South Can
.na WHOM we all regret 10 nlss, iro.
i;rh d cause, from Ills seat to-day.
feeble and hollow voice, Vet d.
,ncily heard ,hrous Aout tie cllamDtl
,ri.unded, II lie GeLator iIv.n Svu,.
carolina is in his seat" Mr.. Cai
.JuM had lett lbs bed at the Il,k .
,caih TO i.ear III, friend. Jnlil i.
Joke M. " ebater Was entirely una
are III his PRESENCE. He TUNED s,l,,
.en: Y. aud tor d moment shovel dee,
motion. linen, Acknowledging IT,,
unlllnent vi Mr. Calhoun : preselll,
WITH bow and smile vi i'rolounA sat