Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-20
A "REMINISCENCES OF GRANT.

aground In the St. Johns River-HOw
the General Learned to Trim His
Cigars.
From a Washington Letter.
81 see some old army officer has been tell
ing about the arrest Of Gen. Grant at City
Point" said Capt. 81 Hemenway. 'I'm
the only man that ever captured Grant,
and I've got his word for it."
The Captain proceeded to give his remi-
niscence: 1T was when the General, &C
cOmpanied by Sheridan, Col. Fred Grant,
the banker, Joseph SelgmAn, and others,
making up party Of twenty or thirty peO-
pie, was touring in Florida. Ihey had
been banqueted until they couldn't rest,
and finally the committee at jacksonville
put them on the steamer Pastime ard
started up the st. Johns between the win
ter villas OF the rich Northerners. Pa
latka. the mouth of the Oklawaha. and
Lake George were passed in a rapid run.
But tho wind had been blowing from the
southwark several days, and taken the
water of Nolusia bar toless then five feet.
The Pastime went hard on. Up at Enter
prise and Sandford and all around Lake
Monroe We're thousands Of people waiting
TO give the party a welcome"
Il reckon they were feeling pretty
blue" continued the Captain. They
told me so afterward. On the bar
found them as I came in sight, with the
Arrow bound down the river. Yes, the
identical old Arrow that used to carry
thousands OF visitors on the Potomac TO
Mt. Vernon year after year. They hailed
me, and J soon knew the predicament. !
was loaded mp with people, but | went
alongside, took on the distinguished party,
explained the situation TO my sixty or so
passengers, and turned back up the
river. Gen. Grant stepped up 70 me rs ne
came ON board and said: Veil Cap
tain, you have the honor OF being the
first man VINO has ever captured me- But
that isn't all l'ye got as a reminder OF the
occasion. Among my possessions nave
an autograph letter from the General ex-
pressing his satisfaction OF my treatment
while ne was Ey prisoner.
"Night came on, shutting out Of sight
the water lilies, the alligatOrs, the turtles
and the water fowl. / knew Of the
crowds that were waiting, and | sent the
boat around the sharp turns, scraping
the branches, and up the river as hard as
/ could. Gen. Grant and Gen. Sheridan
and some others took possession Of the
pilOt-hOuse. There wasn't any stiffness, but
they chatted all Of them, free and easy
like. Gen. Grant pulled ont a bunch Of
cigars and handed them around. A gen
tlemau who took one, opened his knife, and
punched a little hole in the end. As he
did 50 he said: General. did you ever try
punching your cigars in this way. There's
4 theory that by making this kind OF vent
YOU can leave the nicotine in the end Of
the cigar and not draw it into the mouth
and throat Yes, said Gen. Grant. u
Followed that practice for years, but one
day | was shown through a large cigar
mandatory where Cubsns and negroes
were 8t work, several hundred Of them.
] observed that all of them after rolling
the cigar, when they come TO taper
OF the little end, wet their flOgers IN
their mouths, dampened the wrapper and
thus gave the finishing touches. LEARNED
then that for 30 years had been chewing
cigar ends which had been finished of
with the saliva Of the makers. Ever
since that time / have cut of the taperIug
portion and taken the chances on the mic
otine.'
ut was at 10 O'Clock at night when. we
dashed out of the st. Johns into Lake
Monroe, beautiful oval sheet of water
six miles long. All around the edges
were the smoudering embers OF the bon
fires the people had started to welcome
the party. | turned the Arrows hOarse
whistle loose, and you should have seen
those hundreds 81 fires rekindle. Then
the caunons doomed al different points.
the bands began to play and the cheers
sWellc0. Just such "a night scene ! don't
believe was ever Witnessed before. Ii
fairly took toe General OF his feet. Pract-
cal and leyel-beaded as he was. he could
be- moved, and b. showed it then. When
be len the Arrow he put his hand
on my shoulder and just said, very quiet
Ike, Well, old boy, PA get even with
yOu.'v