New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-01
JETER PRITCHARD'S RISE N LIFE.
HOW THE POOR ORPHAN BOY BECAME 4
SENATOR-AN EXPERIENCE AND
ITS SEQUEL.

WASHINGTON Jan 81 0SpeciaD-A notable example
OF the progress from obscurity and poverty TO
distinction and comparative affiuence sometimes
achieved In this country is furnished in the per.
son Of Jeter Connolly Pritchard. who has Just
been reelected TO the United States Senate from
North Carolina.
About twenty-three years ago two boys set out
on foot from the little mountain town OF Jones'
boro East Tennessee. over the rugged ranges that
divide the Volunteer and the "Old North state
One of the boys was Jeter Connolly Prltcha'a
The entire worldly possessions OF the TWO con-
sisted OF silver dime bottle Of brandy ana
some ''pone' or cornbread. They had started early
in the morning and about neon arriving at
farmhouse and being hungry. they essayed to
make a meal Jeter called for the master OF me
premises. He appeared, herce-lookins teHo"'
wiping a greasy beard The boys timsdy told MIN
they wanted five cents worth OF onions and I'VE
cents worth Of buttermilk.
The mountaineer farmer had no sentiment ABOUT
entertaining angels unawares. He fired an oath
at the forlorn lads and roared at them: come IN
and get your dinner and pay for ii. too, - you'
This bearish greeting and the ominous growis OF
an untold number of dogs that mad begun u az
pear upon the scene were too much Tor tne I'M
pecunious juvenile pedestrians Ihey G'roeu ~
their scantly clad loins and fled up the mountain,
nor rested until they got out of sight ana soune
Of the dreadful man and his teethfuly terr'os
brutes. They stopped after while on mountain
height soaked their cornbread IN Dranuy anu ,han
it making this their dinner and supper, atu hit, ysr
slept until morning, when they tesui 80 -o J;
tourney into the western wilds OF North Caronna.
Footsore and weary. they reached the little '0""
Here Letter chose his home and made his hrss
onward strides to ana the town Of
and it not long before ne pscd IN .srhn Roam
Mountain Mount Republican" This modest distinction
he held until just ten years ago, wren o ne
mG 3s na to hs pamost hdden noun
tains that shelter the valley OF the fre"e" D'''N
The rest of the career of the young carpet-oags,
from East Tennessee is pretty wei kno"n Anercsn
G 81 IT, f begnnns He came TO North Carolina an
orphan His father before the war was md NV was
ssT who %h enlisted yeung IN P Hs p.
and writing country GOSSIP LSr Hss nrepresened
n the United senate * tive ksnsS Tss
ence in the party and in the Senate; Every hrane n
OF the State government was IN me ir,cts we're
represented in Congress by Democrats The IGsa
that Vance Ransom would be been escornfuy
When youns Pritchard sticking type at Jones
s sssG s0Tsna az ~ the R:p IS;
bore the name Of The Union Flag . psi'c fEon
Ds o Sfsn
the Senator's chances for went
dangere0, the tennessee
TO the front at Raleigh 10 help his old chum; ,,,,
It will not do even from Inc pSnsry poor That
onions and buttermik episode has come sspstsn.S
torture the nhospitable man VINO Irigm. ,n'r
Pritchard and his companion up the ,n.nsr ~
The contumelious and forTdaole santdng 70 he
postmaster Of little village in which he Ives IN ~
Browniows district Not long ago he went 70 w
Congressman-eect and made known MS a Spn8
lions Brownlow knew the man WEI a,h. I az
too. that he had scared Jeter Prtcnsod he
that he did not stop running unt ne go W "a
I-nited states Senate" Tie postofice - no.
Presidential appointment and pays only 30 "a
but RrownIow for a little fun. thus responoe1 -
the request that he use his influence IN oehai VI
the applicant: A., ,-.s,d.,t 40.
points postmasters and the Senate connrms me
nominations Now there's man IN me se nncs
named Pritchard who pa ssed by your nouse y
when he was a boy. and asked for some S"i In,
n nd huttcrrpilk You cnssed MIN and terIiheu 80,
with your dogs. I'm afraid no treasures " Ae
YOU" ,.s p,ovnlov
The old man spent entire day with b,o~nS
discussing how n reconciliation might De en- ~
n is said that the Congressmanelect VIII 40 a. 80
he can for his constituent. but he has NOT iae. an
impress upon him that the sun has not yer ss. "a
the day when a poor mans boy may oe0o"'
senator or President Of the United states.