The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-25
SENATOR PONIEROY.
How His Life was Saved-His Return for
the Good Deed.

SENATOR POMEROH.
How His Life was Saved-His Return.for
the Good Deed.
In that famous campaign known as
The Wakarusa War" Col. Alexander
W. Jones was on the staff of Gen.
David R. Atchison, who had charge of
the pro-slavery forces. 1t was on the
Wakarusa that an incident occurred
which caused Senator Pomeroy to ever
afterward hold Jones in grateful re-
membrance Pomeroy. says q cores
pondent of the St. Louis Globe Demo-
crat, had made his appearance in Kan
sas a short time before, and, represent
ing the New England Emigration Aid
Society, he had scattered Sharps rifles
and incendiary Abolition sentiments
with considerable effect. Atchison
heard so much about the bad influence
of this new Abolition leader that as he
marched into Kansas he offered a good
round sum for Pomeroy, dead OF alive,
and issued Il proclamation to that effect.
Jones, who had knocked about on
both sides of the border, knew Pomeroy,
and he was about the only one in Atch-
ison's command who did. One day
there came into camp scouting party,
bringing a prisoner. As usual they
went at once to headquarters. Atchinson
had been trying to get some sleep, and
the arrival aroused him. He raised
himself up from the blanket, and, with
anything but good humor, looking at
Pomeroy, demanded:
''Who in - are you?'
stranger" replied Pomeroy, raising
his hands in a depreeatory way. I'm
an humble follower of the meek and
lowly Master"
you," said Atchison. feel
ing around in his blanket, Il believe
you are one of these Abolitionists.
s'Stranger," drawled Pomeroy, "please
don't take the name of the Lord in
vain"
Atchison found what he was looking
for, and, raising the bottle to his lips,
drank.
"Jones!n called Atchison. Then for
the first time Pomeroy saw his acquain-
tance, and his face showed that he
thought his last hour had come. The
aid stepped forward. Jones'" con-
tinued Atchison, ''take this crank
outside the lines. and make him under
stand that if l catch him prowling
around my camp again I'll stretch his
-- neck
The young Virginian and the Yankee
Abolitionist walked to the edge of the
camp. Jones said:
:sIt was close call for you, Pom"
'.I'll not forget you," said Pomeroy,
looking volume, and they parted. To
this time Gen. Atchinson has never
known that he had in his hands the
man upon whose head he had set y
price, and who certainly would have
been hanged that day on the Wakarusa
had the Virginian revealed the identity
of the prisoner.
At last Col. Jones was captured and
sent on to Washington for disposition.
His case was to be kind of precedent
for dealing with Prices men. On the
way Jones made terms with his guard.
When they reached Washington they
didn't go to the Old Capitol Prison.
They set out to find some of the prison.
er's friends, and the first one they found
was Judge Stanton. whom Jones had
| known years before as a member of the
Kansas Territorial Court. And the
next acquaintance the former staff otti-
Ger of Gen. Atchison renewed was
with Pomeroy, then the head and
front of the Kansas contingent of states
men at Washington.
.'Pomeroy," said Stanton, presenting
the rather unkempt-looking Rebel from
Missouri, ''here's Il man you ought to
| remember"
YES" replied Pomeroy, 1.-THE face is
certainly familiar, but | don't quite
place him.
Il am follower of the meek and
| commenced Jones, raising his hands
with a gesture of humility.
Jones, by thunder!' said Pomeroy,
"What are you doing here?'
The situation was explained.
Come with me-" said Pomeroy, and
the oddly assorted party went to the
| White House. When they came out they
walked over to the War Department.
After they got through with their busi-
ness there the guard from Missouri was
without job. Jones went to a hotel
carrying in his pocket duly signed
and certified bit of paper reading:
"Col. A. w. Jones of Sterling Prices
forces is hereby authorized to pass
| through the lines" "
A couple of hours later Pomeroy en-.
tered the Virginian's room. "Jones, .
said he, .'under the circumstances il
won't do for me to be seen with you
My advice to you is to go to Canada
and stay there till this thing is over
Here's something that will help for ex.
penses"
When Pomeroy went out Jones opened
the envelope and counted $500 in new
greenbacks. The Virginian took the
advice. He went to Canada and re,
manned there until the War ended.
Then he went to New York and drifted
into speculation. He made some money
and moved to Woodborn, whence he
entered the New Jersey Legislature.
Time passed, and POmeroy was out of
the Senate and under a cloud. Jones
had never seen him from the time they
parted in Washington in 1861. He cal
culated the interest accrlling on that
$500, drew a draft for the whole
amount-more than double the lean
and sent il TO Pomeroy. The reply
came back
Dear Jones: 1--WE got enough to last
ME through life. Please contribute this
to the cause of the meek and lowly
Master"
Il divided it among three needy New
Jersey churches" said Jones. 1.-Two of
them have done well. The third has
gone all to pieces under a disgraced
pastor. l don't know whether there is
any moral TO this OF not