Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-05
VILLARD's VICIssITUDEs.
Discharged From His Position and I'm
able to Pay Back IA Loan of SIS.

Discharged From His Position and I'm
able to Pay Back Loan of SIS.
Chicago Neaos.
''LOOk at that man leaning against the
counter, and after you think you have
read him tell me who and what he ISL
We gentlemen were passing through the
r0tunda of the Grand Pacific when the
remark was made. An excuse for a few
moments delay was found in a visit to
the water fountain. For two or three
minutes the gentlemen looked at the
man who was the object of the mystic
terious remark. He was above the
medium height, and his large frame
was so well rounded that there was
tendency to be cOrpulent. His face
was smoothly shaven, his cheeks were in
clined TO flabbiness, and the marks of
Dutch ancestry were visible in the COM
pleXiOn. There was an unpretentious air
about him as he rested an elbow on the
counter Of the office and looked vacantly
about the hall, where half dozen men
were idly lolling on the easy chairs. There
was not much in the man to study, and
the gentlemen started to walk away
''What do you think of him?'' inquired
the man who had made the remark.
'Guess he's some One-horse politician,
or maybe country merchant from some
adjacent town." was the Indifferent reply
of the second gentleman, who was about
to change the subject when his cOmpan-
ion said:
Yes, he's just what you don't think he
is. It's Willard, Henry Willard. Presi-
dent OF the Northern Pacific. He is worth
unknown Millions"
''The deuce it is"' exclaimed the crest
fallen student of human nature, as he
turned to resurVey the man who, for five
minutes, had not changed his position.
Wizards life has been full of the most
contrary ups and DOWNS" said the man
who, it was learned. had known Willard
since they were both young men. ''Twen-
ty-tive years ago." he continued, II was
superintendent of telegraph down at
Springfield. One evening in November,
1860, just after Lincoln had been elected
President, l was at work in my office,
when man about thirty years old and
very plainly dressed came in, and hand
ing me letter, said: My name is Hen
ry Willard. came here to spend the winter
with Mr.. Lincoln as the representative of
the New York HeTdId.' The letter was adj
dressed in the bold hand of Henry Hudson
to John }. ,. Wilson, Superintendent of
Telegraph l had known Mr.. Hudson for
some time. He was then in charge of the
Herald, and knowing that ! was nti-
mately acquainted with Mr. Lincoln he
had sent his young man to me, hoping |
would introduce him and be otherwise
a convenient friend. | gave the Young
down to the house to supper. After the
meal | went to Mrs. Lamb, widow who
lived next door, and she agreed to board
Willard during his residence in the city.
''NlcOlay, who was the Presidents pri-
Vate Secretary, soon became intimate with
Willard and put him on to things so as to
make his work easy. There was cOnse-
quently a good deal of time left to the
young man, who, however, worked dill
gently during the day. In the evening he
always came in to see me, and often told
stories Of his experience on the plains,
which at that time he had already ira
versed on horseback. The winter passed
pleasantly, and Willard appeared to be
getting along nicely until about the LIST
Of February, 1861, when he came to me
and said he had received a letter from the
office calling him back East He remarked
that the office had acted very strangely in
failing to send him a remittance with
the letter. He claimed that one months
salary, $40. was due him, and, attributing
its failure to arrive to a clerical error in
the office, he asked me if | would indOrse
a draft for him for the amount He had
always appeared to be honest and manly,
and | consented to help him. He made
out the draft and | signed it. Ii was on
Henry Hudson, his employer. He de-
posted the draft, and, with my endorse
ment, at once obtained the money. He
that was the last time / saw him until
yesterday, when he was pointed out to
me-"
"Well, what is there in the draft bust
ness?"
Il was about to tell you. The draft
came protested, and | had it to pay.
was short of money at the time. so | at
once sat down and wrote to both Hudson
and Willard, recounting what had hap
pened, and suggesting that there must be
some mistake. In the course of a short
time l got an answer from Willard. Here
is-the original, which, by some hook or
crook, preserved in my papers:
'W ASHINGTON, ID. c., March 7, 1851
-Hr. 81. $. Wilson, Etc.: Dear Sir-YOurs
of - received, and in response / can only
say don't understand that matter. so far
as the office is concerned. But | will send
you the money at once. Very truly,
"HENRY WILLARD"
Soon after that letter came | received
one from Mr.. Hudson, saying that the
Herdid did not owe Willard anything, and
that it would not pay the draft. In reply
said that he had sent the man to me with
recommendations and requests that l do
for him all | could. | suggested that /
was glad to know the kind of men the
Herdtd sent, because it would be Of value
to me in the future, and | also refused to
acknowledge his release from liability for
the claim. lie never answered the letter,
and, after waiting for a long time. | wrote
to Willard, asking for the money"
did he ever send It?"
''SOme time afterWard he sent me 500 in
gold. paid the eXpressage of$1 80"
Did he never remit the other?1
Il believe that the HerdH subsequently
settled the balance
But Willard did not send it,"
Il have forgotten
HAS he given you a card to his spike
driving?''
mo, SIR