The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-14
WARD H. LAMON AND GEORGE ALFRED
TOWNSEND.
The Merits and Controversies Of the Two
ImpnrtinIIy Discussed.

W ASHlNGION, NldIcn w. -AlllOSl uHN hdN
during what is called. the season hero you
may see Ward H. Lamon the bographcr OF
Lincoln. in the rotunda or corridors Of the
Capitol. His immense frame, his long, black
curls. touched with silver. ana his open. kindly
countenancc arrest attention and strangers in
variably point him out and ask who he is. His
friendships seem to be mainly with the set that
came in with Lincoln. and he and Judge Davis
arc now and then seen in close conferences.
their protruding forms touching In the most
beautiful amity. while their faces arc a good
yard or two apart They weigh precisely the
samo-30i pounds apiece But Lamon carries
his enormous burden with ease. and. / may
almost say, with grace. II Is well distributed
and solid. suggesting power rather than the
encumbranco which usually bescts the fat.
Lamon Is in very truth magnificent animal
powerful statuosque, almost tremendous. He
would make a better model for an image Of
Hercules than the hero himself His arm is
thicker than one OF Deacon Richard Smiths
truly good legs. and there is II superstition out
in Illinois that II is made OF iron. II Dom Pint
had been struck by him. he never would have
made the playful remark that he had been
kicked by a mule but would have closed his
eyes forever, under the impression that the
dome had fallen.
When the Chicago Convention was assem-
bling in 1860. it was whispered about that Tom
Hyer the pugilist, had arrived with "A great
gang OF New York roughs to hold the galleries
and fight and howl for Seward. Lincoln's
friends selected Lamon to lead n select corps
OF Illinois hitters TO clean out the New York
gentry. and. II necessary. TO whip Hyer; and
the thing was done in good time and workman
like style. During the war n mounted sentinel
ordered Lannon's carriage from the side door
dies. and the Marshas blood mounted in an in
slant lie walked up 10 the man. seized the
horse by the rump. and dragged him about
half square down the street. the sol
der as much amazed the while MS II
he had been corporeally grapped by Satan
himself. have seen pictures OF grizzly bears
pulling mules around in this fashion. hut IL Is
not often that you see a man DO IT, Being Mar
shall Of tho District he hnd no little trouble ut
this time with the War Department and the
military generally. He had great many blncks
legally committed To his custody. and his strong
determination TO keep and deal with them ac-
corling 10 law was dreadful scandal to sundry
mcmbers Of Congress. They charged him with
dlsloyalty. and besought Lincoln 70 remove him;
but Lincoln only laughed at them and told them
storcs-yery amusing to him. but very eXns-
pcrating to thCm--to illustrate what good fell
low Hlll. rs nc call'u MN, WIS, anu now ia
he could afford to spare him. But ut length the
crisis arrived. The Marshal went one might to
dine with old Mr.. Blair out nj Silver Springs
aud when he returned his deputy informed him
that the military Governor had taken possess
sion Of the jail. and put there guard composed
VI u sergeant and about q dozen mon. Lamon
consulted Mr. Carlisle. his regular counsel and
asccr,aining that this intrusion WAS utterly
without warrant OF law. announced his inicn-
ton OF retasng the place. which he proceeded
10 do At once. Alone and with his own hands
he dsarmcd the catire party. took tho keys
from the sergeant. locked ~ him and his men.
stacked their arms. and then reported 10 Mr..
Lincoln the state OF affairs. He was sustained.
As he always was. by the President. and in due
time "a ponderous opinion from Father Bates
put m end to the military siege Of the Jail.
which Iumon meanwhile had put into q pos
| ture OF defence. anu determined 10 hold at any
! cost. About the same time Mr.. Stanton had
made M his mind to seize house that Lamon
had bought and was fitting up for the reception
Of his family. II you do that" said Lamon.
At the conclusion Of an interview In VIII IN the
/ SECRETARY had boon very offensive. I'm XII
| YOU stanton went Immediately T. the Press
,hrcai 'i to murder him. rr "Wci, Stanton. w."
said Lincoln. If he really said il, III advise
| II his word. But I'll Scr him ana try II can't
| get him tp spare your life on my account. H. :
q great friend IT mine. you Know But Mr..
| stanton did not take the house.
Whatever history may say OF the alleged con-
| spirncy u murder Mr.. Lincoln ~ Baltimore. On
! MS way t. Doe iuauguratel the danger WIS GER
/ tainiy c.usidrrel renl and imminent by those
| who had him IN charge. After the reception at
| Harrisburg II become necessary To- select a
single man 10 accompany him on his periluus
! s"errt journey t. Washington hy wnv - puil-
| adeiphin AMI Baltimore Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln
| both chose Iamun without he-ituti1n They
| know him of old. and Mrs. Lincoln said She
| would not trust nor husband with any other
companion. Lamon In, told the story Of that
| ridlcuied the auprenenslons felt az the time.
| Bat Mr. Lincoln who was as brave man rs
over lived, would not have submitted 20 the
! lhdlshlty OF pflng ciandestin"y passed INTO
the capital, II he had not believed that his life
| wnnd, pay mo penalty OF Noncompliance,
! Mr.; Lnrolns warm personal attachment 10
| his Marshal continued steady AMI undimiu-
| ish"d to the end. notwithstanding the perss tcnt
"norts ~ many powerful h.puhlican leaders II
shake IL; ana Lumon repaid him hy an almost
| slT"IleSs watch over his safety Like Lincoln
! himself. LamoA early came 10 tho conclusion
| that the SUPPOSED conspiracy To- murder Mr..
| Lincoln in Baltimore WIS sham gotten M
| mainly by ambitious and INSCRIPTIONS de-
| te'ilNes; hut ne thought also that IN times ike
! those through which they We're passing. uoth-
INK might h' more certainly expected than that
| som" abandoned knRV" or some wild fanatic
would attempt the Presidents life. HeArrord-
| lnglY provided a system Of protection which
| surrounded Mr. Lincoln with guards. unknown
| "a my one else. and frequently unknown even
la Lincoln and whenever there was any sp"'iu
ground Of Apprehension the Marshal slept IN
the White House. But after the surrender
when Mr.. Lin oln Was nm object Of reverence e.
all, and apparently Of hatred To- none-whrn II
was plalu that the South saw in him the unb
| friend who was both able and willing On save n
from some 81 the worst Consequences OF the
war, the Marshal relaxed his vigilance iol
| twcnty-iour hours and going to Richmond t.
take look nj the conquered capital. found thai
the event which he had so long dreaded had
occurred AT the very moment when II was I,
have been least expected. Many believe thu
had he been in Washington on that fatal nigh
Booth shot would never have been fred.
could tll pages with anecdotes of this
benevolent Hercules Of his equally lncr"dl hl,
deeds ~ strength and OF kindness ~ the multi
tudrs of h"sgars he has AT our time and another
put on horseback. only to Suf'r from their vile
lngratitudr; ~ HIS profess lonAl SnlEht crrlutrl
IN dei"nc" Of tho poor and unfortunate. amt -
| his many narrow escapes from high politi
prei"rment which latter were generally due I,
his own exaggerated notions 81 the spucllty %
personal friendships. Andy Johnson. for in
stance, hnd resolved - max" him Postmaster
General, hut LtmOn plead tho cause 81 the in
'umhtnt no e1ectuAy that johnson WAS com
p"lled 10 abandon tho purpose. And sn thl
grent mountain OF muscle. this mighty hogs
head Of the milk Of human kindness. cuutinu
ally stood in It's own light.
But st ont only To give an account OF a recen
newspaper controversy between IRmon an,