The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-12
GENERAL THOMAS OCHILTREE.
How tho Great American Soldier Got
Room at Crowded London Hotei.


How tho Great American Soldier Got
Room at Crowded London Hotel.
Frank G. Carpenter
Tom Ochiltree has been for years con-
nected with John w. Mackay as one OF
his agents, and at the time the following
incident occurred he was in London try
ing to place some bonds of railroad
which Mackay had in Texas. Judge Nor
mile, of the United States district court OF
st. Louis, tells me the story. Normile
and Ochiltree crossed the ocean together,
and when the ship arrived at Queenstown
they telegraphed to the four or i've prln-
cipal hotels in London asking them to re-
serve rooms for them and to answer at
Liverpool. At Liverpool they found that
everyone of these hotels was full. IL was
the last of May, the time when London is
most crowded, and they found when they
arrived in London that accommodations
could be gotten nowhere. They went to
the Langham, but found every room
taken and they were in despair. Going
into the wine room they sat down, had
brandy and soda together, and discussed
the situation. Both were terribly blue.
and for a time said nothing. ''At last"
said Judge Normile, II was surprised to
see Ochiltree jump to his feet. His COM
plexion became redder than his hair, his
swagger was overpowering, and he cooked
that left eye of his as he looked at me and
in vlndictive and excited tone said:
'Normile, why don't you get US room?
Blank it. why don't you get US room?
Why don't you tell them who | ann Go
and say that Tom Ochiltree is here, and
they will give US ROOM
81 looked at Toms red face, and I
thought he was crazy. He sat down and
ordered another brandy and soda. While
we were drinking this l concluded there
n a
had letters from President Arthur, and I
thought could impose on the ignorance
of the clerk. At the close of the glass |
went out to the Office, and, waiting till
there was no one at the little door of the
grating. stepped up and begging the par
don OF the manager asked him If could
have word with him. He replied, Seer
tainly," and asked me to come in. I went
in, and putting an indignant look on my
face | said:
"'sir, have just passed through the
wine room of your hotel You pretend to
be an American hotel, and have the pat
ronge of Americans, but / saw in that
wine room sight that surprised me. 1
saw there one of the greatest of Americas
military heroes; one of the bravest and
noblest OF our great generals, sitting alone
and neglected without his supper, and he
told me he had been refused room in
your hotel. l refer to General Ochiltree.'
Oeli6Tdl Sdlu tH0 man.
General Ochiltree? never heard of any
General Ochiltree.'
what, never heard of General Ochil-
tree?' said l. Have you never heard of
General Tom Ochiltree? The close friend
of President Arthur? He is one of our
most noted social figures, and he is one of
the greatest generals we have ever had.
Never heard of General Ochiltree? Why,
man, nave you never read what your poet
laureate, Mr.. Tennyson, says about him in
that poem in which he speaks of our great
men? You must remember the lines:
"'Grant and Lee,
Great Oehiltree,
Mighty ministers Of Mars
Yes, yes,' said the man, Il remember
it. Where is he? | don't see how it could
have happened; but I'll tell you how We
will fix it. There is young married
couple from the country who have Just
gone up into one of our best rooms. l can
tell them that the room was given to them
by mistake, and 1 can let you have it.
Take me in and introduce me to the gen.
eral, and | will make it pleasant for him.
well" concluded Normile, ''they bum
died the bride and groom out of that room
and put Ochiltree in it, and got Ochiltree
to let me have place OH cot as friend
of his. We received the best of treatment
during our stay, and the Langham hotel
man shows Toms autograph among those
of his most distinguished guests"