The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-17
A BIT OF HISTORY
Showing how Tanners Life Was Saved and
The Ingratitude of Republicans.

SnOWlUS HOW 1duneT'S Lille was SHStu anu
The Ingratitude of Republicans.
Especial to THE HERALD Examiner Dispatch
INDIANAPOLIS. Sept. 15.-The removal of
Commissioner Tanner makes public bit of
administration history which is exciting no
end of gossip, and it has had the effect to
embitter the Indianapolis Tippecanoe club
against President Harrison, many of the
members of which assert he has permitted
himself to be governed by petty prejudice,
while the commissioner is denounced as
the basest of ingrates to the husband 70 the
lady who was his savior.
In the second battle of Bull Run, i'll
August, 1862, Tanner was frightfully
wounded and was left upon the field to die.
Ten DAYS later without his wound having
been dressed, he was removed to the Fair
fax Seminary hospital, with gangrene
already appearing i'll his, wounds, while
maggots burrowed in his flesh. Mrs. DIR.
New, of this city, CHANGED to be one OF the
attendants at this hospital, and being at
tracted by Tanners youthful appearance,
and Notwithstanding that DR.. Duchachet,
who was in charge, said it was impossible
10 save his life, she gave him the tenderest
and most assidious care and in time was
rewarded by evidences of returning
strength. 1t was during this time that his
legs were amputated. With returning
consciousness she wrote in his behalf to his
relatives in Schoharie county, New York,
and there is a romance connected there
with, in that the letters which she wrote
were answered by the young lady who
afterwards became Tanners wife, her SYM
pathies first being enlisted through Mrs.
News epistles.
From that time until Tanners appoint
mcnt as commissioner he and Mrs. New
were in constant correspondence, he always
addressing her as Mother New and there
were also numerous letters passing between
himself and d.. New, in both of which he
frequently and hopefully expressed the
wish that he might be OF service in recon-
pensiug the.l Iuc the care which Mrs. New
mad shown IL h:;n. DR.. New was the warm
supporter OF Harrison in the last campaign,
and also a member OF the Tippecanoe club,
aud after Harrison hid been inaugurated
and Tanner appointed commissioner of
pensions. he requested 81 IG made mem-
Der of the Indianapolis board Of medical
examiners. Tanner curdia..y ,.-p;uiscd
him the position, and it was Ueui.t'il!y
understood that he would rec, i've II, The
more particularly - the power IT, appoint
was vested by law with the commissioner.
However. there has been an unfortunate
bitterness of feeling between John G.. New
and DR.. New for years, and it is claimed
that the consul-general requested Har-
risOn not to recognize his brother officially
in any capacity. Harrison appears to have
said nothing to Tanner about John G..
News wishes, but directed him to make
no appointments i'll this city without his
approval
About this time Secretary Noble said to
Tanner; ''John C. New desires me to max e
request to you''-
''And that is" interrupted Tanner, ''that
1 will not appoint his BROTHER as medical
examiner at Indianapolis. will see John
C.. New in hadeS first before make such a
PROMISE" Tanner then told the secretary
the story of Mrs. News case and vowed
that he would appoint her husband as
medical examiner in spite of Harrison's
opposition. Mr.. New continued in daily
expectancy of receiving the appointment
week after week. Meanwhile Mrs New
went to Washington. She was told of the
consul-generaps opposition but unaware
that Harrison had made any promise to
him while there she called at the White
House, and meeting General Harrison
alone she remarked MIR. President.
called to pay my respects, and while here L
want to speak about the examination board
at home. MIR. Tanner promised to ap-
point the doctor, but of course we are a
little anxious about his associates upon the
board"
''The commissioner ha3 no right to make
any SUCH PROMISE was Harrison's reply
in his seyerest tone. Il shall make the ap.
pointment myself when have time"
''Then, sir" said Mrs. New, Il have
nothing more to say,n and she turned her
back upon the President and Started for
the door. President Harrison saw that
she was greatly hurt and stepped in front
of her. He extended his hands remarking
'good bye Mrs. Newn' Mrs. New returned
| home convinced that her husband
would be disappointed in his expectations,
| but the doctor was more sauguine, and
also desiring TO keep posted on the situa-
ton, addressed several letters to the COM
missioner, but the latter had apparently
forgotten his obligations and promises and
| ignored them.
1t is this incivility on his part which has
specially angered the Tippecanoe club and
| leads several of them to say ''that Tanner
should have made an issue with Harrison
on. the question of Nevis appointment
He should have asserted his obligations to
the family and rendered his resignation
unless the appointment was made as it was
little return for what he owed. If he had
gone out of office under such circumstances
the country would have applauded him for
his determination. AS it is, he has gone out
without even the merit of gratitude to his
benefactor."