Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-16
The Way Sheridan Outwitted q Re-
MORTAR

porter
From, the NeaO York Tribune
Apropos of the White House wedding and
the press, friend of Gen. Sheridan tells me
the following story:
Everybody will remember when Gen.
Sheridan was married to the beautiful Miss
er, that the wedding was the great social
event OF the day. The interest IN Little Phil,
was second only TO the interesTin Gen. Grant.
He was bachelor and over twenty years
older than Miss Rucker, who was about nine
teen, three years younger than the Pres
ldenps wife The whole country was inter-
ested in the wedding, and the newspapers
were full of it, but unlike the mystery and
secrecy guarding the Presidents wedding,
the engagement OF Gen. Sheridan and Miss
Rucker was formally announced several
weeks before the wedding took place. The
General at the time was living in Chicago.
where he had his headquarters. He had
his bachelor establishment in plain
though comfortable house on Michigan ave-
nue.. L think IN finish the story in the Gen
erals own words, as nearly as | remember
them: The newspapers. you know, had gotten
everything except description of my house.
OF course they could easily get the outside of
that, but they wanted To describe the inside.
l refused to let the reporters in; | wasn't
going to have that darned o d house put in the
papers. 1t was good enough for me, but it
wasn't fine enough to put in the papers. If 1t
had been one OF your swell houses, don't
know as I'd have cared; but just made up
my mind that that old shelter couldn't be de :
scribed or sketcned for the public. So when
New York fellow came one day and asked
me to let him make picture OF it. | told him
without any ceremony that it couldn't be done.
My housekeeper was an old black woman, one
Of the old aunty, faithful to death order Of
servants. told her not TO admit any one in M
absence, and on no account to let any man
enter the house except the wOrkmen VINO
we're doing some plumbing. They were at
work for several days, and the old woman
knew them after the first day. Well, / didn't
ANYTHING n orb tnan 81
soon forgot him. One day went home and
found the old woman crying and in great dis
tress, scared and nervous. 'Fore de Lawd
Gineral, Use couldn't help it; / thought he fXln
de pipes, and he done keTched pictares OF all
de rooms" The fellow had got in after ali
He had borrowed a SUIT OF plumbers clothes
concealed his sketching traps, and gone into
the house. OF course the old woman had paid
no further attention than TO see
his general appearance was that
OF one of the WOrkmen. So he had
gone upstairs. and when she happened TO 60
up later she saw him sitting in my room
working away with his sketch book. He
made no apology and no efforts to comfort
her, when she began TO cry, but only laughed
and said he had got ali he wanted and WAS
much obliged. l don't think 1 was ever so
mad in my life. However, / cons,led the
poor old women by relieving her Of all blame
and then sat down TO cool on and devise a
plan to circumvent the fellow. 1t was a
mighty smart dodge and knew I'd have 10
be quick about IL or I'D be beaten All At
once my eye fell on a sword that had been
presented 10 me by the Army Of the Cumber-
land. II was magnificent sword and had mad
a ldrge diamond In the hit. That mad DIS
appeared some time before. I never kneW
how, but supposed IL had been stolen
We'll, took out my pocket knife and
scratched up the gold around the place where
tho diamond had been, and made it look AS IL
the thing had just been taken out. Now.
my young eketeher." / said to myself ,.Ili
zee n I can't get ahead Of YOU IN 1 donit
outgeneral you, my name lent Phil Sheridan
| went to the Chief OF Police and told him lie
story OF the reporter and Of the Disappear
Ance OF. the diamond. Al the same slime let
him into the secret. you know. Well the de-
tectiyes turned the CITY upside down In the
search for the reporter disguised as a plumber
who had undoubtedly stolen the diamond
The detectives were honest enough, a. thev
were not posted on the real facte about me
diamond. IL was worked 10 such a wAy thai
had the reporter brought out his
pictures the theft could be traced 10 him. No.
The Old frame house did not gel into the papers
BY long shot. The fellow was spotted AZ the
name Of the paper was given. 4 presume he
GOT away from the city ~ quickly AZ be rouid.
and vas mignty Tiad ~ escape. too. Ahouf
two years after | happened 81 meet ono N Inc
editofA ~ the paper, aud De referred No the
shAir, and said "N ny, that man had been ln
our en ploy long time. lie wa che last one
~ be suspected ~ taklng diamond or nnv.
Thing siar thai dldn't belong ~ him" Then
explained why NJ old honse want in b.
paper, told him thnt ~ want often thar
We goo ahead n reporifra, But 4 th0uFht 4
had sneeseded pretty vel vita thai 01aH