The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-04-25
AnecdOte of General Shelby.

At the close of the late war General Joe
Shelby led a column of 800 men into
Mexico and remained there nearly two
years. Among his comrades were General
Sterling Price of Missouri and Senator Ish-
am Harris of Tennessee. In the fall of
1865 these gentlemen engaged quarters in
Cordova, small town in the state of We
ia Cruz, Mexico, on account of the salu-
brity of the climate and the cheapness of
everything necessary to hold soul and body
together. There was one thing lacking.
Spirits were hard to obtain at any price.
One evening General Price incidentally
mentioned that, like all true Virginians,
he had some knowledge of managing a
t'still'' and suggested that in view of the
profusion of pineapples, if a still could be
procured, it would be comparatively easy
to produce an excellent grade of pineap-
pie brandy.
The idea struck General Shelby with
such force that he agreed to make a requi-
sition for the desired still if there was
such a thing as a still in the town. Ac-
companied by his colored boy, General
Shelby made a search all over Cordova
and finally succeeded in discovering a
small still of 10 gallons capacity, with
which they returned triumphantly to the
DOuSe. JutN lOunu pGneTdl 1TlCe anu Dell-
ator Harris looking out of the window
with considerable anxiety, but when they
saw how handsomely Shelby requisition
had been rewarded their faces frightened,
and both the general and his still came
in for hearty welcome.
The still was soon set up. Chopping up
the pineapples with bran and other in
gradients for fermentation, only short
time passed until they had produced a
superior quality of very palatable pineap-
pie brandy, and from that time until the
party left Cordova, over seven months,
that still was never allowed to get cold.
Their quarters became the recognized seat
of hospitality for every Confederate and
Union soldier, and indeed for every Ameri-
can in that whole region.
When General Shelby came to Washing
ton in 1898 in quest of the marshalship
for the western district of Missouri, it oc-
Cured to him to renew his acquaintance
with Senator Harris after 80 years of sep
aration. He asked one of the doorkeepers
to tell the senator that an old Tennessee
acquaintance was waiting to see him in
the corridor. The senator was not long
in coming out to see his Tennessee friend,
but evidently did not recognize him.
How are you, governorS" said Shell
81 don't believe know you, sir" re
piled the senator gravely.
"You don't remember your old part
nerp"
"Why, sir" said the senator rather
brusquely, ''you and l never were in bust
ness together, What business, sirY"
''In the distilling business, D." said Shell
by, with considerable emphasis.
Strengthening himself back, and with
great dignity, the senator replied:
lyon are mistaken, sir. l never was
in such business in all my life, sir" en-
phasizing the dSnial in manner not nee
essary to repeat.
Shelby's sobriety of expression began to
relax. "Why, don't you remember, gov
ernor," he said, the firm of Price, Harris
g. Co., manufacturers of pineapple bran
dy in Cordova, MeXico2"
Then the dignity of Senator Harris alb
ruptly collapsed.
"Why, Shelby, is this your had for
gotten the brandy business in which we
were partners.
He grasped the generals hand in the
most cordial manner and almost rushed
him into the marble room, where they
spent an hour in reviving recollections OF
their trip in Mexico Washington Post