The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-06-24
President Ben's Ride

tiiipin, Young L0chinyar, "tiank Monk,
~Bnl Cody, and T. O'Shanier, but the
President Of the United States made a
trip through Springfield Illinois that Tor
brevity in point oftime and the amount
Of territory covered therein eclipses al
previous records. lie came in over the
Wabash at SIC .. ln. and It the depal
stood 4 carriage to which four black haE-
die racers we've attached On Tire box
sat saint II Little. the greatest horse-
man in an these parts 1ir Little held "a
his LETT hand the reius viih which %
guide the steej., and in his night whip
with a lash that would reach from state
to Halsted streets. The President, when
ne stepped into the carriage, remarked
so that saint Little might hear. Il
haven't but an hour TO stay.
"Iwin get you back in time said Mr.,
Little.
Perhaps the President does not think
much of the Capital City and the Thirty
seventh General Assembly Ills r1ate
was laid out so as TO give him single
hour in the town. He said he wanted
to visit the Lincoln tomb and would ad-
dress the pOpulaoe therefrom. It is all
of three miles from the Wabash depot %
the Liacoln tomb and it is the same dis
tance back again. The local Committee
on Arrangements, realizing that speed
was the essence Of the contract, recruited
a band Of fifty horsemen. mounted on
beasts of good wind and great speed. The
equestrians took up another hold la theirl
saddle girths when the train came in,
iarnn4d their silk hats over their eyes,
gather their bride reins with drm grip,
and prepared to do or die
FiAy pair Of human legs ached ihat
night. The ride was terror. When
"Sant' Little made a chirrup to bis hor-
ses and Gen. Yanccs big guns roared a
Presidential salute, then began a race the
like Of which was never known cat this
way. The horsemen threw the combi-
nation of cad and spurs into their horses
Little got there" with his long whip.
women screamed and Eaintei, babies
bawled, and strong men howled Test Che
President be injured ia some way.
He had but a single hour for lincoln S
old home, and out over the hesutifli
streets aud roads the procession went like
a herd Of cattle on a stampede. The
band sped along 50 fast you couldn't see
anything at all or recognize anybody. A
pair Of pretty girls had kodak at thc
cemetiry gate ready % take q shot at the
President when he came by. one push
ed the button when the President was IN
! focus and the negative shows the fear
ures Of Col. Patrick Day, who brought uI
the rear line.
And the visit TO the tomb
Ten minutes would cover it all, receE
ton, speech and everything. Col. Pow
er's heart is broken because he couldn
give his lecture on the monument AZ.
there was no market for photographs.
In five minutes after the President a.
rived at the monument he was ready
depart. He clambered into the carriae
drawn by Little's steeds, already a trii
blown. and looked around as If in scare
Of man in authority. Ills eyes rests
on the very man, in the person Of Henr
Davis. Jr., Lieutenant-C Colonel and Il
specter General of the Second Brgad
| Illinois National Guards.
@Isthere a short way to the depot
the State House2' asked tine Presidei
There is, replied Col. Davis.
Il haven't long to stay" said the Pre
dent.
$50 am told, replied Col. Davis.
Take the short cut, said the Pre-
dent. And then "Sant7 Little struck
short road, through the byways and
side streets, over the hills and the G.
durovs. with Col Henry Davis, Jr, e
horse that could 10 a mile in l.5J in 2
vance, as an 0utrider.
The fifty horsemen above refered
were left at the post, 50 to speak. z
President got a lead Of half uiile-
Two minute stop at the State House
the party was OF again. Up Cap
avenue il came, with q coiorei
mounted or a mule in pursuit. ~
neck and neck for two blocks bctg
Little and the mule, and then the H
was distanced. The train was dU
. leave at I0.I5 a. m. At lO.l4,J9 the Pr
dent stepped into his car, followed
Messrs. Wanamaker and i'isk.
pretty girls with the kodak aforesaid
: negatives Of the President, Jerry ko
: flowing whislzers, and Mr. Wanaal
kissing a fat baby handed up by -
mother, a former resident Of the Pep
Pot City. George Boyd, the assis.
geaeral passenger agent Of the PEN
vaEiz system, waved a signal o. the
gineer, and the train moved oh toF
the boundaries Of the state of Indian
The day will long be remembered.
was an event in the history Of the
, and in years 20 come children nov
born will be told the tale Of "the
pas chased after the President.
g. Trib,uit.