The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-26
STORIES ABOUT OLD BULLION.
His Thanks for Serenade, and His Exposure
of the WoOlly Horse.

His Thanks for Serenaie, and His Exposure
of the Woolly Horse.
Washington Letter in Philadelphia Record.
The eulogies on dear old Senator Anthony
suggest Benton, of Missouri, the only man who
ever served longer than Anthony in the United
States Senate. pick two stories about Benton
out of the many that are floating by After the
California bill had been finally passed. its
friends in Washington hired the Marine Band
then, as now, the best band In town, and then,
as now under the control of the commandant of
the Marine Corps, at that time Colonel Nicholson
and started out one night toserenade the sena-
tors and representatives most influential IN put
ting it through After they had serenaded all
Of them, they thought they would go down to
"Old Benton's" and serenade him as the chief
opponent of the bill in compliment of the gal
liant fighting he had done against it. '"The Col
oneP listened to their serenade from the steps OF
his house on G street, then the fashionable quar-
ter. When the band ceased playing he looked
over the crowd inpressively, and then remarked,
in his own dignifed, naughty way: II thank
Colonel Nicholson and the Marine band Good
night, gentlemen" and Immediately retired.
Benton, you knbw was pompous old fellow.
He usually wore military cloak of blue cloth
lined with red, which he threw back so as to dis
play the red as he marched down Pennsylvania
avenue to the Capitol on bright mornings.
There was fellow, regular Bohemian in that
day, named Heth. His wits were as quick as
his morals were bad. He awaited himself of the
very general interest in young Fremont's
explorations in the far West to get some
of the money with which fools are always part
ing He picked up an old cart-h0rse in New
York whose sides were almost without hair as
the result of long service under lime-burner.
Heth rubbed some sticky substance, and
then stuck on some brown wool where the hair
had been rubbed off. The patches of discolored
hair sticking up through the wool heightened
the queer effect Heth advertised the strange
looking animal as the ''Great Rocky Mountain
Woolly Horse, discovered by Lieutenant John
G. Fremont in the Businesses of the great
Sierras." He made lots of money exhibiting
him in New York; then he made more in Phila-
delphia then again in Baltimore. Finally he
struck Washington, and hired for his show
store on Pennsylvania avenue near the Capitol,
the front OF which was soon decorated with baz-
ing banners setting forth the wonders of the
mysterious beast inside. The show drew
we'll. Fremont was well known here; Father
in-law Benton was better known, and Heth, with
his glib tongue, brought them both in frequently
in relating his marvellous romance about the
woolly horse. The way in which he described
the perilous capture of the ferocious animal was
thrilling Heth was making money but one
morning Benton, first procuring two gentlemen
to act as witnesses of what he was about to say,
marched grandly up to the woolly horse show.
Heth was standing in the doorway, cracking up
the show to small crowd of curiosity seekers.
When he saw Benton, whom he knew perfectly
well, he did not become at all nervous--he
couldn't have blushed. "Good morning, Sena-
tor he said, with consummate cheek; glad
to see you at the show. Walk right in.
1t shan't cost you or your friends cent. "
II always pay for what 1 get" said
Benton sternly handing Heth three half dollars
and marching in with his friends Heth fol.
lowed, and, with almost unparalleled impudence,
reeled off to Benton and his friends all the yarn
he had spun about Fremont and the woolly horse
Benton heard him out with unspeakable disgust
and amazement, and then turned and gave him
such a lecture as he could well give. you're a
humbuC: You're cheat and a fraud and so ia
your 'woolly horse Your story is pack of lies, .
and much more to the same effect winding up
with: IF you don't take yourself and your
woolly horse out of Washington before to morrow
morning I'll have you arrested by the police. "
Then the Colonel and his friends stalked out
Next morning Heth and his horse had disap-
peared, and Westinghouse heard of them no