The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-05
MARK TAPLEY TANNER
The Gritty Corporal Smiles and
Jokes Almost at Deaths Door.
For Twelve Hours After the Recent
AmputatiOn of Both Legs He lay I'M
conscious in the Hospital. :.
New York Recorder.

my. One Of them was a boy of eighteen.
He was talking to a comrade and did not
see the shell that came Kissing from the
rebel battery and burst above his head.
A piece OF it struck his leg. moment
later, with both feet gone, but with
look of wonderful fortitude on his face,
and the words, Don't mind me, boys, but
look out for yourselves" on his lips, young
Corporal Tanner was carried from the field.
He is hardly young Corporal Tanner
now, but years have added laurels to his
name. His life since that fateful day In
1862 has been crowded with activity and
achievement impossible to most men, yet
through 1t all he has been legless, except
in the poor makeshift Of artificial limbs.
and never during his waking moments has
he been entirely free from pain.
1t was the old wound that caused him TO
come to Brooklyn from his home near
Washington. three weeks ago, and submit
to reamputation of his legs by Dr. Fow-
Ter at Seney Hospital His easy, almost
Indifferent acceptance of the grim fact
that he would have to undergo an operation
during which his life would tremble in the
balance, and his jokes with his surgeons
when they were about to begin, are thor
oughly characteristic of Corporal Tanner.
They suggest the qualities which have en-
abled him to outdistance other men In the
race of life, despite his tremendous handi-
cap.
The operation was a much more serious
one than the old soldier had anticipated be-
fore the examination by the surgeons. Two
inches of flesh and exposed nerve tissue
were cut off each leg The fact that the
patient did not recover from the effects of
the ether for twelve hours caused grave
alarm, but his strong constitution and vi
tally at last came to the rescue Since
condition has steadily improved during last
week, however, and he expects to leave
the hospital within two weeks
Inc day after the operation, when there
were still doubts whether the patient would
survive the shock, of his old soldier
comrades who came with him from Wash
would only smile then we could be more
hopeful that he will pull through" The
closed eyes slowly opened and their old
Corporal Tanner murnured: "Pll take a
smile, Major, If you have your flask ham
dy."
TANNERS REMARKABLE GRIT.
1t is this determination not to be
''downed" by mere circumstances, however
adverse, and his indomitable will and vast
stores of restless energy that have made
James Tanners career a remarkable one.
His almost superhuman grit is the great
thing about Tanner" said comrade in
arms and a lifelong friend to Recorder
reporter LET me illustrate. For a month
before he came to Brooklyn for the opera
ton, he worked untiringly for military
organization in which he Is very much in
terested. and during most of this time he
was suffering eXcruciating pain. DID his
friends know 1t? Not bit of 1t. The old
soldiers held up their hands in Mortified
surprise when they learned that Tanner
was to be operated upon.
"And with all his force and strength Of
VIII. he is as tender hearted as woman,
and the most generous man l ever knew.
After he had resigned from the pension
office and had become pension attorney
owing to his prodlgality. / was sitting In
his office one day when he received letter
his eye as ne handed it to me READ that
he said. II was from an old friend who
said that he was i'll and financially en-
barrassed and would be glad to take a
heavy discount on note of $780, which he
held of Tanners but which not due
till some time afterward. When i handed
back the letter Tanner took out his check
book and wrote a check for $780, which he
dispatched to his friend. l was in a posi-
ton to know that he seriously needed that
S100 at the time. 1t is my opinion that the
check would have called for $1,000 If he had
had the money.
Strange as it may seem, think the only
manifestation Corporal Tanner gives of the
pain he Is constantly suffering Is In his
never-ending flow of jokes and stories. He
Possessing naturally, very, strong sense Of
humor he has so abnormally developed it
that | veritably believe that If Tanner were
dying and thought of a good joke he would
get 1t off If he had time before passing into
the other world"
Every one familiar with the public men
in Brooklyn during the last twenty years
knows something of Corporal Tanner. His
unusually large head, covered With q big
and great mustache. give his face a de-
cidedly military look: his broad shoulders
and Stalwart form, contrasted with the
weakness of his legs, easily apparent from
his dependence upon mis- cane made Rim a
figure that does not fade from the memory.
To those who know him well his self con-
troll. his energy. his abilities as an after
dinner and stump 3peaiIer. and the FLO
digious number of black cigars lie smokes
are sources of constant wonder. Few men
are quicker at repartee o. more amusing
when the coffee and cigars are brought in,
and none can present the arg nments os the
Republican party fIom the platform mo1e
convincingly than ne.
WHERE HE FOUND Ills WIFE
/ 1t in 1871 that lie and Mrs. Tanner,
whom he married in scnoharie county two
years before. first made their home in
Brooklyn. He had just accepted a position
in the New York custom house. A short
time before Corporal Tanner had been ad-
mitted to the bar. Ills strong personality
and deep interest in the welfare of the
soldiers very soon made HIM leader of
the Brooklyn Grand Army men, and in
1876 he was made commander Of the De-
partment of New York.
About this time Corporal Tanner devel-
oped his great effectiveness as a stump
speaker. No important Republican political
meeting was complete without one of his
sharp snappy speeches bristling with wit
and brimful of logic and common sense.
oregon needed a speaker who could awaken
the Republicans from the lethargy in 1887,
and Tanner was sent for. Despite the pain
OF his wound attendant upon travelling over
rough roads in rickety wagons and stages.
ne answered the call. That year the Repub-
lican victory was the greatest In the his
tory of the State
Speaking of Corporal Tanners abilities as
a political speaker. and his hold upon the
soldiers, General Gowdy, chairman of the
indiana State Republican committee Pc
Gently said: He is worth five thousand
more soldier votes than any ten other pub
lie speakers in this country"
As the personal appointee of President
Harrison, Corporal Tanner went TO WASH
lnSton In March, 1889, to become Commits
sioner Of Pensions. The causes leading TO
his resignation in September of the same
year gave rise to considerable comment and
some adverse criticism. But Corporal ram
ner feels that he can afford to be mtsun-
derStood by a few. The soldiers have never
wayered in their belief and faith in him,
and 1t is their good opinion that he ch n,
heart for every soldier, and it makes little
difference TO him now whether they Tough =
for or against the Union.
II ever there should walk into my office -
he has said more than once, the Johnnie
who pulled the lanyard of the gun tnat
crippled me for life. and l was satisfied that
he stood with me to-day for the honor of
our common institutions and the glory Of
our common flag, this right hand would
reach out across the so-called bloody chasm