The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-09
"LIyE-oAK" GEORGE LAW.
"Reminiscences of a New York Spectator Who
LOnged for the Presidency.

New York Letter to Boston Globe.
Do you remember when the Herald chrstened
Geore Law "Live-oak' George, nominated him
for the presidency. and then convinced him that
he was popular! Hundreds of needy persons
traded on his vanity and credulity in those
years. Law was worth $4,000, 900 when he
died. When ne was thirteen he footed it into
this town without a cent in his pocket. He
worked as stevedore on the docks he
was destined to own. III SIX
months he had saved 800. In a year he
had 81, 600. He started ferries and built High
bridge. | remember the old man well Tall
coarse features like Vanderbilt and dressed
shabbily When he walked he rushed, and
when he ate he ate like Il savage, or like one OF
the hairy Saxous of old.
Captain Clark, now in the service of Rufus T.
Bush, oil merchant told me yesterday about his
partnership with Law. During the Mexican
war he said the United States government
contracted for 800 900 fiintlock muskets, but
just before they were delivered the war sud
denly came to an end. and the government re
fused to receive them. The contractor put them
up at auction and sued the government. George
Law bought them at the absurdly low price OF
30 cents apiece and had them changed into
Mimic rifles, with caps. l made Il bargain with
him for 25,0G0 at "a apiece and started with
them for Lopez, who was then fighting down III
Uruguay and | contracted to sell them to him
at ST apiece The only difference between us
was whether they should be delivered or paid for
run the vessel ashore till had my pay. He fell
into terrible rage, wanted to fight and left.
Il took the guns to Brazil and tried to sell
them 10 the Emperor At private audience
made some good shots with them, but Dom Pc
dro laughed and said he was peaceable man.
Il took them to Europe during the Tureo-
Russian war, but when l was just going up
through the Dardanelles into the Black sea-
ready to sell to either belligerent | didn't care
which. hanged if didn't get news that the
llalakoff was taken and that war was over too!
Those old muskets were wonderful peacemakers
AS soon as 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 was the last of him.
At last Law started with those muslets for
California around the Horn. He stopped at
Valparaiso for water and revolution broke out
that very morning-in time at last! The Chill
ian government Immediately put down the in
slrgents and seized George Laws muskets as
having criminal intent Ascertaining the mis-
take afterwards they apoligized ard offered to
return them, but Law refused to receive them
and brought suit for their value and got it, and
more too, probably. l have sometimes lain
awake nights and wondered how Chill could have
maintained her independence, much more how
she could whip Peru and Bolivia while her army
is inflicted with those laPge-bore musket-rfes,
with muzzle you could put your thumb in and
a breech that would knock over Il mule. | fancy
they must cunningly have exchanged those
weapons with the nations around them before
the fight began