The Indiana State sentinel., 1885-09-02

Ndiu HUGHES, WHICH was lOCdteu SlA anu Ott-
fourth miles east OF here. On one occasion
Jackson remained with Hughes an entire
night. and became so pleased with his host
that he afterwards sent him TO Tennessee to
manage the Hermitage" farm. He
WIS soon recalled, however, owing
to a dispute. the nature of which
has been lost in history. On one occasion,
during Jackson's visit to Hughes hotel
local military captain. clad in gaudy uni
form with epaulettes, sword. ETC., strutted in
the room where Jackson sat, and with great
dignity said: MIR. Gen. Jackson. I'm Capt.
Simon, of the militia" The General with
contemptous look surveyed the visitor
from foot TO head and when their eyes met,
the gallant militia captain broke and ran for
cover.
PRESIDENTS POLK AND TAYLOR.
James X. Polk went through in February,
1915 on his way to be inaugurated. On this
occasion the houses of Democrats were dec
grated with poke bushes. the party en-
blem Of the campaign. When several miles
beyond the town the off-wheel horse dropped
from sheer exhaustion. The President-elect
was the first TO alight and assist in unhar-
Messing the poor beast and i'll drawing it to
the side of the road. The journey was then
resumed with three horses until the next re-
lay station was reached. OF the Mexican
war hero Zach. Taylor aged Washingtonlans
have the most pleasant recollectiOns. The
Taylor into RankintOwn, a mile west OF here.
when Taylor was en- route to his Inauguration.
The Rankin House was the Whig resort OF
those DAYS. At this hotel a committee of
WashingtOnians awaited Taylor to escort
him to town. Jack BayleSs, who was Dem
Ocrat, was too shrewd for them, however, and
drove Taylor in spanking style up to Me
Daniels House, a Democratic resort. There
Taylor remained an hour before the COM
mittee discovered him, although there were
not over a dozen houses in the hamlet.
Taylor seemed to enjoy the discontinue of
the committee very much.
Re said he was exhausted by receptions,
and the fatigue probably fastened his death.
four months later on. On this occasion .he
shook hands with his left hand. In coming
to Wheeling on the boat he had been iostied
in the crowd and had had his left hand
smashed.
He was so plainly dressed that his fellow
passengers did not suspect that ne was the
newly-elected President, else he would have
escaped such rough usage. Taylorcomplete-
ly terrified the children when he patted them
on the head with his long and skinny hands.
His hair which "stOOd up like spikes, as an
old driver put il. Contributed to the terror.
Upon reaching town Taylor was escorted to
the old Mansion House, where banquet had
been arranged. The table was laden with the
best the country afforded and was fit for a
a shade of disappointment OH his face. and
after glancing nervOusly around for a few
minutes. blurted out: But there's one thing
missing. and that i fitch (Side meat and
eggs" Such a simple request coming from
the foremost man of the land startled the
plain country people, but Zach's wants were
soon supplied. He confined himself eXclu-
sively to the bacon and eggs and all delica-
cies were left untouched.
UFNPY CLAWS WAYS
From an old driver named Billy Noble
still living, though blind, the writer obtained
some interesting "reminiscences of Henry
Clay On one of his trips to Washington
from his Kentucky home. Clay reached Gin
cinnati only to find the Ohio River frozen
from bank to bank. To reach Wheeling by
the river was out OF the question. The slower
and less pleasant mode OF transportation by
the stage was his only alternative. In this
way he reached Lancaster. o. where the
roads being found impossible, a stop over
was necessary. The great Whig chieftains
presence was required at the Capitol, how
ever, and go through without delay he must.
Alter considerable Parleying young Ger
man, named Shafer, was secured to drive Clay
to Wheeling. The trip was accomplished.
and the young driver was presented with
$50 bank note, then quite a large sum in the
back woods districts. 1t was the foundation
of fortune. BY neat Investment, Harry
to-day Shafer is still living at an advanced
age, possessing the largest farm property in
the county. That experience OF Clay's was
mild, however to a little adventure which
he had near Brownsville, in 1871. The
driver on this occasion was Old John Noble
(uncle TO Billy. As the stage was proceed
ing rapidly down the hill TO the bridge across
the MonOngahela River. the wheels en-
cOuntered rut and Clay was thrown
through window, literally standing him
upon his head in the mud. Clay'S re
marks on being eXtricated from his unstates-
manlike position are not on record. They
were, no doubt forcible and to the point. Ii
made name for John Noble however. In
the eyes of the stable boys at the relays he
was regarded a. hero. ClayS dignity once
completely crushed local newspaper man.
A short time before his death in the COM
pany OF ms wife, he was proceeding to Wash
ingtSn and had stopped over here for dinner.
On emerging from the dining room on his
way TO the coach, with his wife leaning on
his arm, a double line of tOwnspeople,
gathered along the walk leading to the road,
was encountered. Clay bowed COnsiderately
to his admirers and when about to enter the
coach was touched upon the shoulder and
greeted with the following introduction,
shouted i'm desperate tones: "Scth T. Herd
of the Commonwealth" Turning, Clay
piled III an equally high pitch: Il know your
commonwealth, but I'll be DANCED ii | know
YOU" Aged Washingtonians are still laugh
ing over the editors setback. Once Clay
was compelled 70 stop over night at the old
Mansion House There was Il hurried gath
ering of Wings i'm the dining-room, which
was also utilized as q meeting place for the
local Democratic club. An invitation was
extended to Clay to address the meeting and
it was accepted. At the appointed time Clay
did not appear. The assembled Whigs were
bound to have speech, however, and for
that purpose captured an obscure Kentucky
Congressman who accompanied Clay. ltwas
poor substitute Upstairs Clay's room was
crowded with Democrats, who had bolted
and barred the door so that escape inn
possible. They then engaged Clay in con-
versation, until he became so interested that
the party of dsgusted Wings down stairs
were entirely forgotten.