The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-01-11
Ben Buffers Bridge.
How Massachusetts New Governor Made the
Most Narrow Escape of His Life


Most Narrow Escape of His Life.
The recent triumph of Ben Butler and
the clever devices with which he neu-
tralized the effects of the splits in his
own ranks, says Derrick Dodd in the
San Francisco Post. recalls an incident
of the Generals early career, and which
is interesting as showing that even in
his youth Ben displayed those strategic
abilities which have since done so much
for his military and political career.
1t appears that young Butler was
much enamored of pretty girl who
lived on farm about six miles from
that of the Butler family in the western
part of Massachusetts,. The country
beauty was coquette, however, and
kept quite Il large train of admirers in
suspense, each rival doing his best to
gain the advantage of the others. At
last matters were brought to climax,
and the damsel appointed certain
night when she would render her final
decision as to which suitor she pre-
ferred.
1t goes without saying that they
were all better looking than Ben, but
the latter determined to put the inside
of his opponents. The nearest way to
the fair tlirt's house. and the one taken
by all her eager followers, was over a
bridge formed by a single and some
what slippery log placed across a deep
brook in the rear of the house. Young
Butler repaired to this bridge an hour
earlier than the accustomed ''courtin'
time," carrying pail of lard with
which he carefully annointed the loo by
the mellow moonlight, backing himself
across it astraddle.
As he afterwards sat with his sweet
heart, waiting for the other suitors to
appear, a load splash came from the di-
rection of the brook. Ben's game eve
twinkled, and in imagination he could
see one OF his gorgeously gotten up fell
low candidates climbing up the oppo-
site bank with his teeth chatterinp and
heading for home across lots, but the
conspirator looked as innocent as cat
in the dairy and said nothing.
Pretty soon there came another souse,
and after awhile another The beauty
began to look at the clock and show ev-
licences Of decided pique at the negli-
gence of her other admirers-a circum-
stance Ben did not fail to turn to his
own profit.
Presently he could family hear voices
i'll the distance, and he knew that the
last two swains were approaching to-
gether. Pretty soon came a tremen-
dous double splash.
Dear me-" said the young lady,
show the fish are jumping toni ightr'
The upshot of it was that when the
future governor rose to go the slighted
beauty gave him her hand. Sealing
the bargain with IN old-fashioned husk-
ing bee kiss, Butler left his prize in such
state of exultation that he forgot all
about the creased log, and the first
thing he knew both heels hit him in the
back of his head and he took header
down below. just as his victims had
done Hs Il. pimhFf I.rtlheN tee SIX ss1lsAf3ffey"DGo 10
home. uttering Kearneyisms unfit for
publication. He was taken with chills
and fever as q result, and, when he got
well, found his fianeee had eloped with
a hired man. Butter tells this as the
narrowest escape of his life, as he says
the girl began eating onions the very
next day after she became engaged.
The General has been lucky ever
since