Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-02

jess say the word an I'm with you, an
If evan | git a chance to vote fur you,
you kin count Brooks vote, TO you
hear fun the fus precinck."
In the meantime Gen Garfield had
mounted and as he dashed away he
said:
"Good-by, Comrade Brock; I'll think
Of what you have said"
That's right" said Private Brock to
himself. I'VE can do the fighting and
one ginl mo- or less don't make much
d:f. What's wantin' now is larnin' fur
them fools up yam"
1t was probably not Private Brooks
suggestion that caused the voters of
Gen. Garfeld's district in Ohio to nom
mate and elect him to congress while
he was on the field as a soldier But
they were doubtless impressed by some
of the same influences that Brock was,
and the young brigadier went on at
tending to his duties among the solOns
of the nation while Private Brock kept
marching on, and fighting on, in the
.
less had no desire to do so. but one
day, two years and mere afterward. a
piece of shell. the other portion of
which had taken different directions
when it exploded at Armstrong
Heights, in the siege of Knoxville, came
scurrying along and utterly ruined
Private Brooks fatigue hat. that had
81,
tore a place in Private Brooks head
that was not altogether picturesque.
| But the surgeons on the field sewed
up the rent, and he didn't need a new
hat for long time.
Private Brock achieved his resigna-
ton, however, through that cut in his
head which seemed TO have let in new
ideas. He was discharged because he
was supposed to be insane, but he was
! impressed with the idea that he was
needed at Washington to advise with
Congressman Garfield and he took I'D
his residence in the national capital.
/ Quickly EX-Private Brock found his
| self-selected protege, and being recog-
nlzed the congressman gave him en-
1
. ment.
Aware of Brooks battle-won inf1rm-
ity the statesman general took with ap-
parent seriousness much advice from
Mr.. Brock concerning the conduct of
national affairs, and received most
humbly Mr.. Brooks expressed approba-
ton OF his congressional career.
Il;
'fugleman' to speak-had been
elected president, and then Mr.. Brock
responsibilities very much increased.
1t had been comparatively easy mat
ter for him to direct and instruct a
mere member of congress, but to tell
/ the president of the United States all
about what he should do was another
matter.
! BraVely, however, he struggled with
the great responsibilities until that
awful day when at the railway station
the quiXotic crank Guiteau, fired the
/ surgeOn-made, mortal shot into the
! gallant Garfield
/ Mr.. Brock was there, serving as a
porter, and when the assassin who fired
that ball fell, with a CHASTITY cut in his
brow, into the hands of those who ar
rested him, he carried the scar still
crimson, to the gallows, and Brock
! good right hand had made it. But the
faithful soldier of his country and
servant of his illustrious protege, was
taken thence to an asylum for the VIC
lently insane, and died there in a
week, lost amid all the terrible excite
ment of the time
Had the better light of this fin-de-
steele day been known then, President
Garfield and faithful Brock might be
living and happy yet, saved by the ex-
positions of the Roentgen ray.