The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-01-12
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
HOW HE SPARED THE LIFE OF AN OLD
FRIEND.

Indianapolis Sentinel: During the war
q man caught violating military law at
Memphis, was doomed by court-mar-
tial to suffer the extreme penalty. The
sentence had been approved by General
Hurlbut, then in command. The time
appointed for the execution was but three
DAYS off, when little woman, throbbing
like wild bird in the hands of its cap
tor, arrived in Washington with letter
to Congressman Voorhees,. She was the
daughter of the man standing in the
shadow Of death. Her mission was TO
see the president. Mrs. Voorhees,, deep
ly moved by the woman's story and dis
tress, suffered scarcely a moment to
elapse before calling with her on Senator
Hendricks. The plan hastily suggesed
itself to him was to have the two senators
from Indiana, of whom the late Henry
S. Lane was senior, conduct the woman
pleading for fathers life, to Mr.. Lin
coin. The three presented themselves
to Mr.. Lane, who, after making some
preparations to join the escort, asked:
"What is the charge against your faith
err" ''He attempted to carry quinine to
the enemy" ''If that is the case, ans
wered Mr.. Lane, "the verdict is correct,
and I cannot interfere
Hope seemed to depart from the
woman and she looked as if she were in
the awful presence of death. At this
point Mrs. Lane entered the room. ''It
viii not do said that lady, addressing
her husband, ''this woman has come to
see the president, and it is your duty to
conduct her." He surrendered, took a
deep interest, and the party started for
the executive mansion, where it was at
once admitted, and found Mr.. Lincoln
disengaged.
Mr.. Hendricks, who only remembered
the lady as ga little woman, introduced
her, but she, having never seen 2 presi-
dent before, seemed to have lost the
power of speech. ''You will, perhaps,
remember her father. He once lived in
Springfield. " eyes, answered Mr.. Lin
coin, 81 remember HIM well. On one oc-
casion farmer came to my Office, and,
taking me for that gentleman, insisted,
''You must come out and preach again
next Sunday. Your last sermon did
great good, and was thought the best we
ever heard. [ rather liked being thought
a Methodist preacher, and did not break
the delusion. Oh, yes, remember him
well, and there was some resemblance be-
tween u.s. "She brings you terrible
news from that man to-day. He is to be
shoti" "Fo be shot?" Here Mr. Hen
bricks wished the little woman to speak,
but she was involuntarily dumb. ''She
bring statement Of the case to you, L
bsieve?"
Taking the five closely written pages
Of foolscap, Mr.. Lincoln settled back
into the chair, and, folding his legs in
manner that has so often been described.
proceeded to read it aloud, but to himself.
The reading was a study of the case. For
some minutes he must have forgotten the
government, the army, and everything,
SO completely was he absorbed in the
paper. This concluded, he looked up
and around the room, when his eyes,
falling upon the little woman, rested for
a moment. Soon he spoke: ''Your
father shall not be shotl |" The great
weight of dread aud agony these words
lifted from the little woman and the ex-
preston of gladness that beamed from
her face, like JuEe morning when the
world looks as though there had been
war and that it contained no grave, no
pencil could depict.
81 guess" continued Mr.. Lincoln,
partly as if communing with himself.
81 had better telegraph Rurlbut-yes,
II! telegraph Hurlbut at once" and then
he proceeded to write the message. This
was slow, careful work, but concluding
it he.said: 81 reckon that will do.''-
L ACi 40 iCsSiiues ~ diOuIi, u6 COullEUtu.
'Yes, that will do" In response to
bell secretary appeared. "Take this
message" said Mr.. Lincoln in the com
handing tone of a president, 'sand send
it quickly; remain at the Office until it
gets through; see that it is answered and
that am informed" Thus briefly was
this duty made obligatory upon the sec
retary, and the executive mind was at
rest. Mr.. Hendricks has forgotten what
became of the other people, but he Re
members after having risen to depart, of
reseating himself and the talk that for
some moments followed. Mr.. Lincoln
laughed about the article of quinine, and
did not think taking it across the lines
an offense meriting death. He knew the
country about Memphis; it was malarial,
and life without quinine was almost i'm
possible. He thought it hardly proper
10 put down the rebellion by giving peo-
pie over to an ague.
GUILTY OF WRoSG.-Some people
have fashion of confusing excellent rem
edies with the large mess of ''patent