, 1896-07-18
LINCOLN'S GREAT PERIL.
Death Rode Beside the President at
Camp Grant Review.

the James was encamped at Cam
Grant" near Georgetown, a short dis
lance out from Washington, D. C. Gen
B. F. Butler was in command. under
whose guidance the army was to oper-
ate against Richmond from north OF
the James. This magnificent army Of
10000 men was, upon a day set apart
for the purpose, reviewed by the presi-
dent and his staff in person. No grand.
er army had been seen in Washington,
or n of which greater results were
confidently expected. The d%ignitaries
the cabinet and a vast throng Of noted
personages, says a correspondent Of the
Philadelphia Times"
The army in line waited the formal
arrival of the distinguished c~hieftain,
and became impatient for the oppor-
tunity to give enthusiastic expression
Of its great loyalty and appreciation.
The moment came, and mounted upon
one Of Gen. Buffers great var horses
appeared the then idol" of the liberty
loving loyal world. Beside him was
Gen. Butler on another fine steed, both
animals in perfect condition from their
winter rest in bountiful stables.
The artillery Numbered its national
salute; the bands rem the air with
their most inspiring notes; the men
could not be restrained with dignity,
and their voices in unison proclaimed
not only a deep appreciation of the
scene, but also ardent love for their su-
prone leader, Abraham Lincoln. There
he sat upon hat wonderful horse
whose every tendon and muscle was in
full play.
LINCOLN'S APPEARANCE.
Imagine if you can the spectacle. The
president dressed as so often described,
in the Prince Albert made for the 10Th
er fellow fitting only on the tops of
the shoulders; with trousers and boots
to correspond, the latter so loose and
wrinkled from service as to scarcely
stay on. His stovepipe hat covered the
0 unkempt hair that ever graced a
sacred head.
Thus we see him. when the pent-up
fires within the horse, under the wild
enthusiasm, drove him onward and on
ward, faster and faster up the front of
that admiring army. The president
possessed to control his flying steed.
Gen. Butler sought to ride up and lend
aid, but to no purpose. His big sorrel
was no match for the black charger:
the attempt seemed to madden the pres
ident's horse. On he came increasing
his speed until he seemed to be flying.
The presidents hat was gone, his thin
hair streamed in the wind and his eyes
were set as in death; his square-toed,
wrinkled boots stood out in the strain
ed stirrups. while his long, lank arms
were %convulsed in their vain effort to
control the beast.
In breathless stiffness We watched
the threatened catastrophe the whole
army seemed powerless to avert. Slow
ly but surely the philosophy of the
president was thwarting the instinct
Of the horse; not able to check his
speed which would soon carry him IN
to Georgetown and through the bridge,
he could divert his course by using all
his strength on one rein. This he did
and across the plain on a tangent they
flew.
THE RESCUE.
Hark; that unearthly cheering away
down the line! Like a volcano it burst
forth and all eyes were in an instant
turned. Officers had urged their fat
ted, clumsy chargers in vain, but here
comes our hero. An orderly-a private
soldier-bringing up the extreme rear,
witnessed the disaster and the futile
effort OF the officers near the Gene.
Lying fiat upon his horses name. with
rowels deeply planted in his tanks, he
sped up that bewildered line like a
rocket OF warning. On. on he went.
Away across the plain almost beyond
our vision, he swept in his urs to the
side Of the president. In an instant he
was on his feet, had caught the incor-
rigible stallion by the bits and the mad
ride was over; the president rescued.
Lincoln by the help OF the orderly,
rather fell than dismounted to the
ground, where he lay exhausted until
a carriage was sent to his relief.
l was at the time told, and now from
an indlstinct recollection believe, that
Mrs. Kate Chase Sprague gave her
place in a carriage to the president, be-
fore whom the army passed in review,
she riding the charger.
I heard Gen. Butler say in after time,
that his negro hostler was at fault in
the matter. "Cuffy." 1t seems, had dur
ing the winter been looking up and
running SNAP" races with that horse,
without the generals knowledge. So
when the general sought to ride him II
was the signal for more speed.
This true incident may be unworthy
Of notice, but l, with thousands more,
will remember it throughout our lives
as an exciting and trying episode in a
life fraught with more dignifed trials,
but with few more perilous.
It would be hard to convince . man
suffering from bilious collie that hia
agony il due to a microbe with an un.
pronouncable name. But one dose oil