The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-31
AT THE PANORAMA.
The Dramatic Meeting of Two Old
Vets at Round Top.


the panorama of the battle of Gettysburg
and gazed long at one point of the picture
spread around him, says Fred Nye in the
Omaha World. He wore SLOUGH hat, a
faded blue overcoat, a struggling gray
beard and an air of melancholy wisdom. A
sleety rain was falling outside aud people
were passing round about him, but the tall
man did not appear to hear the storm or see
the other visitors. For almost half hour
he stood there gazing with what might
have been the abstraction of retroSpection
upon the one point i'll the picture
Presently short, thick set man deeached
himself from the crowd and paused by the
side of the tall man. The short man had
stumbled face, gray eyes, wide, loose
mouth, and a more than adequate chew of
tobacco. He appeared to be about 40
years of age He stood close to the. tall
man, Joining his silence to that of histom-
panion for five minutes or more. Then he
said
"Howdy, stranger
The tall man looked down rather solemnly
but not displeasedly. "Howdy yourself~
he replied.
Purity far pictur," remarked the short
man, casually.
"You betN said the tail man.
Ever seen it afore"
"You b%w
"Reckon mebbe you fit in the late war"
''TOu betm
"ConfedN
''You bet not"
81 wuz!"
The tall man didn't answer for some time,
during which he seemed to be rejecting
deeply Finally he drew long breath and
said: "All rightw
"Wuz you tharm inquired the short man,
indicating the picture In general way.
''You bet" said the tall man.
"Whar" queried the short man.
"There" said the tall man, pointing
toward the spot which had seemed to rivet
his attention for so long time.
"Whenf
The tall man showed signs of animation.
'Say, stranger" he began, lit pears to
me you are mighty curious like. What T
was there and what Il wasn'tl What #
l was there one day an what # | wasn't
there anotherp
The short man laughed good naturally.
"Wall, y he answered, "nothin'. Only |
was thar, too.
"YouW
"Mew
"Wherem
"Thar!" exclaimed the short man, point
ing to the exact place before designated by
the tall man.
The tall man looked closely at his com
panion and then at the fascinating location
of the picture. THAT there's Round Top"
said he, at once asserting his own informa-
ton and inquiring into the validity of the
others
Exactly" assented the short man.
''That thars Round Topm
Neither spoke for minute or two. Then
the tall man turned again from the attrac-
tiveness of Round Top to the consideration
of his companion.
"Look here" said the tall man, slowly,
81 want to tell We somethin'. fit at Get
tysburg on the day It Sykes an Longstreet's
men were raisin' hell to git hold of that
there little ridge. | was there with Sykes.
I'd been laid off for while sick, but got
to work fore Gettysburg Looky here If
ever killed airy one twas at that there
Round Top | hadn't been in no other
battle to speak of and hadn't never shot to
kill any body in pertickler, jes' lettin' fly in a
gineral way IS you might say, but that day
durin' the charge seen a little drummer-boy,
reb, It d got hold of a gun some way, an
he was pintin' It at me, close range. | let
him have it fust, an he rolled over nigh
onto stump an kitched there, an | got
just one glimpse into his big gray eyes film
with tears, an heard just one little sob from
his white throat, which you could see on
account of the Dustin open of his shirt, an
then the charge come right up onto me, an
seen the boy no more. But. stranger, l
can't git that hoy out O. my mind. I'm al
ways dreamin' of his eyes an his throat
with the sob into it, an always a-wOnderin
if he died If I'd q killed more Of 'em it
wouldn't bother me so much, but to think
of a fellow goin' to war and KILN just one
poor little gray-eyed drummer boy-say,
stranger, I'd give THOUSANDS o dollars # |
had 'em, to know't that kid got wellp
The short man had listened with keen in
terest at first fterward with the quiet
ness of one who knows exactly what his
companion is going to say. When the tall
man concluded he looked up.
"Yaas," said the short man, you've got
it all right You all shot me in the lung,
an though it took me right smart while,
pulled through SO | can forgive We, don't
We sect 'Tain't as if I'd a died. / don't git
no pain from it neither. Yes, we can for
give you all now"
The tall mans face beamed. SIS it true?"
he cried. "Be you the drummer chapp'
"Sure," said the short man.
Come" C mmanded the tall man.
"Whatl" asked the short man.
"Le's liquor"
"No, stranger, / don't drink. See you
later"
The tall man vanished with tender reluct-
ance. The short man stayed awhile longer
and as he as-ed out he said to Capt. Bar
ney, the manager of the panorama, "Who
was the ole veteran / wuz talkin' tor
oh" said the Captain smiling, that is
Pete Sampson, sort of crank who hangs
around here and lies. He has lived in
Omaha for the past thirty-five years. All
the old timers know him"
"Wuz he in the war"
"Never," said the Captain, during the
war he ran grocery store on Farnam
street. Are you q comradeH
mot perzactly," replied the short man.
81 wuz in the South afore the war, but
went to Australyer durin' it. Right smart
picture thatw