The Somerset reporter., 1888-02-15
Jerry Coidridge's Long Nose.

There lived in Saco years ago, man
named Jerry Coldridge who had an IN
earthly long nose. This EXTENDED probos-
els troubled him 80 much that he made a
vow that when he met a man who had a
longer one he would present him with a
silver half-dollar, with the proylso that
the man who got the half-dOllar was To
do likewise when he came across man
who was superior in this line " himself.
One day Jerry went To Portland, and
when he returned he was greeted with
"Dld plow-share, what have you turned
up today"
We'll" said Jerry, quiyeiiDg with ex-
element and JOY, II have seen a man in
Portland who had longer nose than /
have"
impossible said his friends, there
ism / another such nose on the face Of the
earth.
"All right" said Jerry, III you don't
believe me will exhibit the document To
prove it.
At this he produced a receipt which
read
Received from Jeremiah co.4riage 90 cents IA
consideration Of having ionssT Eoss ia4n ne "a
That half-dollar,' said Jerry has
gone 70 Smyrna on a merchantmen, and
I'll tell you how it happened | went To a
hotel TO get my dinner and a. | sat down
at the table, saw a man sitting opposite
me who gaZed at me with what | took
to be an insolent stare. When ! got a
good look at him. forgot my defornity,
and Immediately reached my hand across
the table and said:
Shake, neighbor | believe | owe you
fifty cents.
" How's that? SAYS he.
well, says /, i have made VOW that
If ever met a man who had a longer
nose than have. | would give him half q
dollar providing he would do the same
when he met a man whose nose discount
ed his At once the whole dining room
was in an uproar Of laughter, and the
stranger said Its a bargain. Pulling
out his note hook he wrote the receipt,
and | gave him a half dollar. after
wards learned that he was captain Of a
packet-ship outward bound for Smyrna,
Syria
After this Jerry had peace about his
long nose, and the silver half dollar was
taken by Captain Ballard to Smyrna.
There it was turned over to an English
mate of an East Indianman bound through
the Suez Canal to Madras. The English
man Carried it for several years. and
finally landed in San Francisco, where he,
having hard streak of luck. enlisted 10
the United States regular army, and went
up among the Blackfeet Indians, near
Fort Benton, where he was made pris-
oner
After being tortured in every conceiy-
able way by the Indians they cut OF his
nose aud set him at liberty. He finally
drifted TO Boston, and as he was walking
one day on Washington street whom
should he meet but Jerry. Having heard
from Captain Ballard how he came in
possession of the silver piece, he reco2
nized Jerry.
'.Hello' said he, is your name Jerry
Coldridge:"
That's my name" said Jerry.
Il am happy to meet YOU" said the
Englishman. ALLOW me to return to
you the half dollar you loaned Captain
james Ballard five years ago. | carried
it around the world with me and never
found a man with nose as long a. mine
was, but | have, "a you see, lost mine
now, and | think the clinker belongs to
you"
Jerry and the English mate became fast
friends and went into business together,
and when you 20 into little store on
Dock Square in Boston, you will see the
funny spectacle of one of the partners
with nose as long as your hand and the
other partner with no nose at all.