New-York tribune., 1880-06-27
GARFIELD os mn W

lOahF iJLAsl( GIN A * " y "a - 33I5
WHAT HIS CAPTAIN sAys Qf' ii
a TALK WITH y0HATaAx y yxns. xt3a \ q Z
ERAL eARviEED wopxrp~7na Bniqlfz
VINO DID fizs pUfY WELL ~-iiow H1a tbQ1
TioH WAS AcaUinEp. # IS Il az 8 81
sAnd so you want to know about OH &
Well, ] remembsrs jim, very pl>assnt}H xhe /;
Was driving for me on tho Ohio Canal. y i
The speaker was ruddy laced elderly rseA ~
white hair and silsery beard He ~ tIlQ ~ B
In an old mich-whlttled chair. ia little HI ~
haunted Office. at No. l52 Monticello Jers9y
City. Oyer the door was the naue Jon15h11
Myers. ss ~ sz
az was On the Ohio Canal ffom 1885 n 1919, = ~
continued, sas captain and owner Of canal keote.
Let me see. II must have been about 1874 6F 39<&
that first fell in with Jim, h&pp4u6d III
want drlvor-that was the way Of IL The 4eaal
boats then were very large, and ncsly ftte4 ~
passengers. We could carry twenty-five u ~
boat. Then there was place open amidshipe 1os
the emgrants, who used to travel altogether By the
canal The crew slept In the stern cabin. snd
consisted Of Ave men. There were two drivers tws
steersmen, and one bowsman, who was on duty -
every lock.
II was very particular about the kind ef meas
engaged, for my wife often travelled with ma bat
/ never had any fault to find with sJimy i ~
memDer him as stout plucky boy, largo Of bic aks
he couldn't have been moro than fourteen Az4
he was as honest as the day is long. ] could
always trust his word, and put confidence IN
him. Many of the drivers would LIE and steal
whenever they got chance, but Jim was always
square with everybody. He was temperate, had no
bad habits. always faithful aud seemed to take
pride in doing his work we'll He wasn't what
would be called great tallxer, but he listened with
all his might and was all the time picking up bits
of knowledge. He was inclined to be very studious
but there really wasn't much chance on the boak
His work was hard, and no mistake. You see we
had four horses and each driver took care Of two,
which made up his team. We called the horses
engines, the drivers engineers, and the steersmen
the pilots. Well, Jim would get on horse and
ride steadily for six hours. Usually In that time
he'd only take bite Of something on horseback o.
perhaps run ON board the boat minute II she was
waiting for anything. At the end Of the six houu
Jim was spelled by the other driver. he then
drove his horses on board, cleaned them down, and
fed them. and afterYara got something to eat him
self and took q nap. His time of was six hours.
then he drove for six hours, and so on. paid him
$40 month and gave him his board. The crew
ate. as well as slept, In the stern cabin and when
we had passengers Jim and the others had ts
walt for the second table.
$50 he was really too hard worked to study On
play much. Evenings he and the others would
dive into the canal and swim along, holding on ID
the stern line. Some of the men used 70 phy carda
amidshlps, but 'Jinc' never took q hand. and hl
never Joined the men in their sprees at the end d
the trip. But he wasn't any baby-he could take
care of himself He never got into any fights while
he was with me. but the men all learned that h (
couldn't be imposed upon and he was very popul@
among them. When he came on board he w4
drao dfnt and mi 1uuch n
way Of clothes. But he showed himself 90 ready
ana willing and tblging that couldn't help being
pleased with him, and the men, every one Of
them. became warm friends OF his. Yes sir. ~
always did his work well, and IN al the time1
for me than Jim Garfield.
"After he had been with me few months, cold
that ' we had t to Lay ~" up Il was the BOATS last TIP
aud rs jim saw that there wouldn't be any moro
work on the boat. and he had o little money saved
up, he began to talk of going to school He did9't
want to pay out any money for board, but IL
was looking for place where he could do work Ia
exchange for his board, and have all bis money fof
aWeli I was sorry to lose 'Jim,' for I liked him,
ard my wife had become very fond OF him. 6hd
because they drank and swore, but Jim was such
q clean, whoesome boy, that he was quite q "a
yore Of hers hers Shed always langh Nv when she re-
Columbus, and loading with barrels Of pork. which
were being marked rs they were rolled on board.
jim was quite Iab tnen, anu WOlo ulB W1ico Int
He looked on o few moments, and then picking up,
tho brush marked his hat mess pork and walked
gravey Oft, while the men all shouted ct him.
As he had clearly made up thts mind to attend
school, thought cOuld help him little. knew
DIR. j. p. Robinson, who lived in Bedford. He kept
a horse flor the doctors then used to carry round
their own medicines), cow and o pig. and
thought Jim might get q chance to work out hh
board with the doctor. / knew the doctor was cns
to him. men ike eSy and
took him. Jim took care Of the cow, and horsss.
and attended school. He was very fond Of hi
books, and learned fast. The doctor was q Camp
bellite, and when they had some treviyals there
jim became converted and was prominent
speaker In the meetings. Afterward; you knew. he
went to Hiram College, where he became pro-
lessor after he graduated. - -
"Fve never seen him since he went TO work fos =
the doctor, but I've watched his career with the
ionest, pucky, faithful. and Trustworthy, and The ,
boy is father to the man. You know. Some
talk about his corruption /. ISN'T In
I'm to be dishonest. Why, see here: / kaow
very town. almost every house, IN the district that
sent Garfield to Congress. There isn't district
,eople who read and write The people there are.
ls rule, more intelligent an1 moral than thu
,eople of any district that have visited. The
young men and women are at home either In the
ield and kitchen, or in the parlor. II is Q com. 8
md the voters are men OF knowledge and penetrar
ion. Now, do yon suppose such a set OF men would
end Garfield year after year to Congress II they
ven suspected him Of perjury and dishonesty
ord lets me live till next November 1t will be my
reatest pleasure to cast my vote for the man
Thom, rs boy, found so faithful and honest In
lis hard work on the canal"
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