The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-20
wLIvE-OAK" GEORGE LAW.
| "reminiscences of New York speculator
Who Longcd for the Presidency.

"reminiscences OF . New York Speculntor
Who I.onscd for tho Presidency.
Do you remember when the Herald
christened George Law "Live-oak"
George. nominated him for the Presi-
dency, and then convinced him that he
was popular? Hundreds of needy per-
sons traded on his vanity and credulity
in those years. Law was worth &c.
900, 900 when he died. When he was
thirteen no footed it into this town
without cent in his pocket He
worked as stevedore on the docks he
was destined to own Insix months he
had saved 800. In year he had
ZOO. He started ferries and built
High bridge. l remember the old man
we'll Tall and broad he was, hardy
and muscular; had coarse features like
Vanderbilt, and dressed shabbily.
When he walked he rushed, and when
no ate he ate like savage, or like one
of the hairy Saxons of old.
Capt. Clark, now in the service of
Rufus Il. Bush, oil merchant, told me
yesterday about his partnership with
Law. During tho Mexican war;" he
said, "the United States Government
contracted for 100000 hint-lock mus
kets, but just before they were de-
liverod, the war suddenly came to an
end, and the Government refused to re-
ceive them. The contractor put them
PIP ut auction and sued the Government.
George Law bought them at the ab-
surdly low price of 80 cents apiece and
had them changed into Mimic rifles.
with caps. made bargain with him
for 25, 600 Mt 81 apiece and started with
them for Lopez, who was then fighting
down in Uruguay. and contracted to
sell them TO him at 81 apiece. The
only difference between us was whether
they should be delivered or paid for
first. 1 had heard of his tricks, and
refused to run the vessel ashore till
had my pay. He fell into u terrible
rage, wanted to fight, and left.
Il took the guns to Brazil and tried
to sell them to the Emperor. At pri-
vate audience l made some good shots
with them, but Dom Pedro laughed
and said he was peaceable man.
Il took them to Europe during the
Turco-Russian war, but when L was
just going up through the Dardanelles
into the Black Sea, ready to sell to
either bellgerent, l didn't care which,
hanged if L didn't get news that the
Malakoff was taken and that war was
over tool Those old muskets were
wonderful peacemakcrs. AS soon AZ
they put in an appearance men ceased
to fight.
"Then Law took all the muskets to
Cuba to sell them to Lopez, and while
he was trying to get them into port
Lopez was caught and had his head cut
off, and that wns the last of him. At
last Law started with those muskets
for California around the Horn. He
stopped at Valparaiso for water and q
revolution broke out that very morn
ing-in time at last The CHILEAN Gov
eminent Immediately put down the in
surgents and seized George laws
muskets as having criminal intent.
Ascertaining the mistake afterward,
they apologized and offered to return
them, but Law refused to receive them
and brought suit for their value and
got it, and more, too, probably. have
sometimes lain awake nights and won
dered how Chill could have maintained
her independence, much more how she
could whip Peru and Bolivia, while her
army is inflicted with those large bore
muskets-rihes, with a muzZle you could
put your thumb in and a breech that
would knock over a mule. l fancy they
must cunningly have exchanged those
weapons with the nations around them
before the fight began. "-Ne,o York
letter