The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-05
OLD GEN. PUTS CANE.
Memento of a Trip of the Rough Old YAM
kee Hero to Cuba.

Norwich, Conn, Aug. 4, Gen. Israel
Putnam did not travel a great deal, but
soon after the English and Spanish
troops got through thrashing each other
in Cuba in 1862 +" Old Putt fetched up in
the island, and while strolling about the
streets of Havana one day he saw a
Spanish planter ''lamming" a slave with
stout East Indin bamboo cane. If there
was one thing that the bluff Yankee
hated very much it was any big, high
and mighty bully trouncing dependent,
and Putnam's blood boiled at the Cas-
tlIian's brutality. He was all alone in
the streets of a hot blooded city, but the
man who some years later rode away
from the British down the precipitous
stone steps at Horseneck, Conn, while
bullets whistled about his head and
one bored hole through his Continental
hat, did not stop to count cchances when
his gorge was up. He strobe up to the
hldalgo and took away his cane
Then hornets nest gaped wide open
Instantly in the streets of Havana.
Every one in sight of the street byplay,
including the naughty Spandiard him
and Putnam, who knew when it was
time to run as we'll as any one, legged
1t back to his American ship, with a
mob of Cubans at his heels. But in
stantly cloud of sailor men swarmed
over the side and received the doughty
American. Then it was time for the
Spaniards to sheer off, and they did so
with prompt and polite discretion.
Putnam kept that cane. Worse still,
he kept the naughty Spaniard's darky,
for the darky fell in love with him, and
at the wharf of the American ship threw
himself at Puts feet, as Friday" did
before Robinson Crusoe. Having taken
tack, Israel wasn't the man to go half
way He said to the trembling slave:
"Gome along, boy; get aboard that ship,
and all the Spaniards in Cuba can't get
you away from it, not by =. Il" Put
nam was an able swearer. The slave
declared he wanted to be Putnams' slave
for life, would go anywhere he wished,
or do anything he asked of him. So
Putnam and his Friday sailed to New
England. Put set a great store by his
Spanish cane, and even more by his
faithful slave. Putnam dwelt in Massa-
chusetts at the time and he took the ne
gro home with him to Old Salem town.
There he manumitted him, and the black
served him affectionately as shis body
servant until the patriot died at his
home at Pomfret, Conn. Putnam kept
diary, and threin recorded many compile
y
poor Cuban slave. When the illustrious
General died in 1850, at the age or u
years, the cane, in accord with his will,
became the property of the slave, and
the white-headed old darkey. stumped
about the little Connections country
village, leaning proudly on the staff,
for many years. If anyone asked him
about his walking stick he Strengthened
his bent form and with pride and dignity
replied: "Massa Putnam's cane, b'long
to de Gineral. Great man, Masa Put; good
man."
After the death of the old slave, General
Puts descendants took the cane, and
lately it belonged to a great grandson of
the old Continental soldier, resident of
Putnam Village, in Windham county.
The grandson, a day or two ago, pre-
scented it to a member of the Norwich
Morning Bulletin editorial staff in this
city. The cane is a neat, elastic, hand
some, slender stick, and very we'll pre-
served.
Putnam had paralytic shock near the
close of his life, but with indomitable
will he continued to stroll about
leaning heavily on the Spanish noble
mans stick He made out to ride horse
back also; had his black servant put him
on his steed, and logged about the
rough country roads and bridlepathss
Not rarely he fell off his steed, and then
coolly seated himself by the roadside UNI
til some wayfarer CHANGED to approach,
whereupon he hailed the passer: Say,
boost me onto that horse, will ye? I'm
Old Put" If the man was at all slow or
awkward, the old gentleman was quite
likely to swear what is called "a blue
streak" in the Nutmeg State. In the
Generals diary, under date of October 8,
$780, is this entry;
walked out to-day, supported by my
Havana cane, which is necessity in my
present infirnnity, and which I never
carry without a remembrance of that day
when I seized it'll"