The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-06-06
Some New Anecdotes of Abraham
Lincoln.

Interview in Chicago Inter ocean,
Were you with Lincoln during the Black
Hawk WARP"
Yes. 1t was not much of war, but durin g
our term out many amusing incidents occurred.
remember at Rock Island there was big
fellow named Sam Thompson, who was being
backed by his company as the champion wrest-
Ter OF the camp. Finally, we put Lincoln up
against him, and bet every dime we could
scrape together. They took hold, but Thomp-
son soon got the crotch lock on Lincoln and
threw him fiat. They took bold again and
Lincoln told me afterward that he know
Thompson could throw him, but he thought
he'd let the boys down as easily as possible so
he dallied around and put off the fall as long
as possible. After some minutes Th ON pson
took the crotch lock on him again and they
came down, but it was not so fair fall as the
first, ana our boys claimed it was dog fall
The other crowd demanded their money, and
in about a minute there were 200 coats off and
prospect of a free fight. Lincoln's influence
was then shown. Brushing the sand from his
clothes he cried, "Give up the money, boys
If he didn't throw me fair he can. I'm will
ing to admit that In a moment the angry
words were hushed, coats were put on, and
with an All right Abe, if you say so the
crowd quietly dispersed.
9 A year or so after Lincolns election was
sitting with him one day at the White House,
when he suddenly broke out with "What's be-
come of that man Thompson, Bill?"
"What man Thompson" inquired.
"Why, that fellow that threw me in the
camp at Rock Island during the Black Hawk
war;" said he.
81 don't know. 1 haven't thought of him
for twenty years. Why?'
"Oh, nothing" said Lincoln "only thought
II you knew just where he was, I'd give him
little appointment just to show that didn't
bear him any malice"
l don't believe he found Thompson, and il
the latter is alive I don't know where he is.
Inquired of Mr. Green about Lincoln's
father, but he had never seen him except
married his second wife.
81 was going to Kentucky" said Mr. Green,
land Lincoln insisted that L should see his
father as 1t was Just little out of the way
He gave me letter to him, and 1 stopped,
though L found that the Just a little was very
near fourteen miles. L found his father living
in little cabin that cost perhaps SIS, and
with every evidence of poverty about him.
was disposed to apologize for my coming and
go away as soon as possible; but found that
though Lincoln was poor he was mighty hos
pitable and very entertaining host in spite of
his surroundings. He insisted on my staying
all night, and when wondered where would
pnt my horse, he took the animal, hitched him
to rough shed, and pointing to kettle that
stood there, said there never was its equal for
horse trough. 1t was a manger that would
hold hay, grain and water, and Lincoln seemed
to regard it in his drol way with good deal
of pride and satisfaction. He was capital
story teller-better than his son, if possible
and kept me laughing great DEAL He took
me out of the cabin and pointing to a corner
where the logs ran through each other, some
of them long and some short, explained in
serious way that he had studied convenience
in the structure of that house, and that was
really something to be very proud of. Here,
he said, pointing to the end of log that pro-
iected good ways and was high up, here is
where we hang deer to skin 1t. That,
pointing to shorter one, lis for calf, and
that pointing to still shorter one, 'is where
we hang a hog or sheep. 1t cost me time, but
it's worth it. The old man could not read
and when L handed him the letter from Abe
he passed it over to his wife, who read it for
him. He asked how Abe was getting along
and said he hoped the boy wouldn't disgrace