The record-union., 1893-06-02
GENERAL KEDINGTON.
One Whom Sacramentans All Remem-
Der Very Kindly
One of His Wartime Speeches-AI
Incident That Illustrates His
Observation-Disclosures.

A group of gentlemen were talking
over old times the other day, and among
other early-day Sacramentans whose
names and memories were called up was
General Redington. Charles Petit knew
the old General very well, and among
other anecdotes he related OF him were
the following:
Away back in the Presidential cam
paign OF 1860, when politics ran high, the
General belonged to the Douglas wing of
the old Democratic party, and the Doug
las Democracy were to hold meeting one
night in the little brick church on Sixth
street, between h and l., in this city. 1t
was given out that General Redington
would make the speech of the evening,
so when the time for the meeting arrived
the church was packed with eager listen
ers. In one of the pews, well up in front
and facing the speaker, sat General j. w.
Vaudeville, dyed-in-the-wool Demo-
crat.
The two Generals were fast friends,
and formerly both belonged to the grand
old Democratic party. Vaudeville re-
manned firm in the faith, while Reding
ton wandered off with the Douglas wing,
| as have said. Vaudeville was there, an
| attentive listener to what his friend had
| to say.
! "kedington arose amid great enthu-
siasm and opened up his batteries. When
! he had warmed to his subject, every
now and then, when he made a good
point, and by way OF emphasis, he would
1 look Vaudeville straight in the eye and
say to him:
"'Now, Mr.. Vaudeville, you know that
IS so, and, again, you know that is so,
Mr.. Mandeviile! and SO on to the end OF
his excellent speech.
wv hen the meeting adjourned and |
had reached the sidewalk l remarked to
a friend, That was a good speech the
General gave us. | hope it has been
taken down for publication. If we had
1t printed in proper form it would make
1lrst-rate campaign document
SO 1t would replied my friend. and
II 1t has not been taken down, we must
get the General to deliver it over again,
il we can only prevail upon Mandeville
TO sit'
10 show the kindness of the Gem
erals heart, l will relate another little
incident which happened under my OBJ
servation. 1t was back in the fall Of
| 1888, when the State Fair was held at
Marysville. There was no railroad from
Sacramento TO Marysville in those days,
and the only public conveyance between
! the two cities was by steamer up the Sac
ramento and Feather Rivers or by stage
! coach over dusty road for about hity
miles. In company with some male
Z
fair.
/ ION the morning after its close the boat
was advertised to start for Sacramento at
an early hour. The hotels and restaurants
were crowded with hungry men. and we
were belated about getting breakfast.
! When that was over, we started on foot
in great hurry for the boat, which was
quite little distance away. l had one
arm in sling from a broken bone.
| When we had gone about halfway we
overlook General Redington, who was
President of the Steam Navigation Com
pany, trudging leisurely along with his
cane. He noticed that we were in some
I thing of hurry, and said to us Gentle
men, you needn't hurry; the boat won't
start until | get there'-which we were
/ well aware OF. We slackened our pace
and travelled the rest of the way in his
company.
Upon reaching the boat, we went at
once on boarding. party and l to the
! hurricane deck, in order to get better
view of the river as we passed down.
The lines were Immediately cast off and
the boat swung out into the current
and headed down stream. Just as she
/ was getting under good Roadway hack
load OF ladies and gentlemen, with their
/ baggage, hove in sight and beckoned the
boat thai they wished to be taken aboard.
| The General espied them, and ordered
the pilot to turn the boat about and re-
turn to the wharf and take the party on
| board, which he did, but not without a
| vigorous protest that was much more
profane than polite, but which he took
very good care did not reach the GEN
erals ears"