Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-06-19
HE THRASHED THE BULLY.
HOW A SOLDIER WON AN OFF,
GERS COMMISSION.

Good War Story Told by Ex- Cover
nor Curtin, of Pennsylvania-The
Result of a Midnight Row.
Amos j. Cummings relates in the New
York Sun a war story, which he heard
Ex-Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania tell
during the last session of Congress. The
incident occurred in the second or third
year OF the war. The Governor had left
Harrisburg, and come to Washington on
business. A great battle had been fought.
The number of killed and wounded had
mounted into the thousands Governor
Curtin had been in consultation with the
President and members of his Cabinet
He had returned to the Capitol, where
an old lady dressed in deep mourning
accosted him. She was evidently very
poor and nearly distracted. She wore
old-fashioned black mits, and her habili-
ments of woe were worn and rusty. Her
face was wan and wrinkled, and her fin
gers were toughened with work and
gnarled with rheumatism. She had not
heard from her boy since the great bat
tie, and she had come to Washington in
search of information. He had enlisted
in regiment raised in the mountains of
Pennsylvania, and had been at the front
for more than a year.
"Oh, Governor" she cried, as tears
streamed down her faded cheeks, "my
boy never failed to write before. He al
ways sent me letter after battle |
haven't heard from him now in more
than fortnight. He's the only boy left
me, and | can never live without him.
Oh, l fear he's dead Or sorely wounded.
1t l could only get through the lines to
nurse him or bring his body back home.
Please, Governor, try to get me pass,
and God will bless you.. My heart will
break without my boy"
The Governor said that he heard the
number of the regiment with shudder.
1t had been IN the very heart of the
fight. and had been cut to pieces. His
heart went out to the old mother. If
her boy was alive he was determined
that she should see him, or if dead that
she should have his body. Upon ques-
tioning her he found that she was ut
terly destitute. She hadn't even money
enough to pay for a nights lodging. He
assured her that he would do what he
could for her. He would see either the |
President or the Secretary of War in the
morning and get her pass through the
lines. Then he took her by the arm and
escorted her down stairs. Passing out
under the arch of the Senate wing of the
Capitol he hailed cab. Calamity as
sisting the old lady into it he paid the
cabman his fee, and told him to drive
his charge to a hotel where the Governor
was well known, and where he had sent
many destitute friend. AS the cab
ratified away the Governor turned to re-
enter the Capitol, when he met John
Sherman, Ben Wade, and Gelusha A.
Grow, then Speaker of the House. The
Senate had adjourned, and they were on
their way home. 1t was a clear night.
The great temple of national legislation
shone in the moonlight like a palace of
alabaster. The city lay below them,
dotted with gas lights. The music of a
drum was heard away off on the right.
A railroad train had arrived with a new
regiment, and the troops were seeking
quarters at the Soldiers'Rest.
The four statesmen descended Capitol |
Hill together. They drifted down Penn
sylvania avenue, conversing on political
topics. They had halted on corner
near the National Hotel preparatory to
separating, when cab was driven to the |
curb near by. Its driver was in alterca-
ton with woman inside the vehicle.
Governor Curtin was even then telling
the Senators and Speaker the story Of |
bis meeting with the old lady in the
Capitol. The alteration attracted his
attention. The driver was using vii
famous language. He insisted that his
passenger should leave the hack then and |
there, or he would pull her out.
Something told MS" said the Gov
srnor, "that it was my old lady who was
in trouble"
He stepped to the door of the hack
and looked in. The suspicion was con-
irmed. She was the old woman whom
ne had sent to the hotel, and she was in
,rouble. The driver had not taken her
TO her destination. He had stopped at
TWO or three saloons, and spent his fee
Tor liquor. Possibly he had forgotten
where the old lady was to 60 but at all
events he had determined to drop her on
the street and let her shift for herself.
He was filling the air with profanity and
threatening the poor old woman with
violence. The Governor was indignant.
He asked the hackman whether he had
not paid him to take the old lady to a
specified place of shelter. The driver
'wore that he had never seen him before.
md threatened to punch his head if he
lid not mind his own business. The
Governors indignation was getting the
better of his judgment. Sherman and
Grow tried to calm him, but old Ben
Wade grew as hot as bird pepper and
'wore like pirate. He not only wanted
the hackman thiashed, but he wanted to
aelp Curtin thrush him. The driver was
! giant. He laid his whip across the
loot rest of his hack and squared away.
He evidently meant to down not the
Governor alone, but the Senators and the
Speaker.
Things were looking decidedly squally
when boy in blue came along. He
carried musket, and wore the tail of
buck in his cap. The Governor recog-
aized the insignia. The soldier was a
s>ember of Colonel Kane's famous Buck /
all RrIna6a Over OF Saaf fon bo x,,o..