The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
DUMPED PRESIDENT YAM BUREN
FOR 50.
Ola Kiln where the Joke Was Played Has HAD
Its hay.

Its bay.
Fro, the Chicago Record.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 12.-Improvements are
now being made which will remove the stately
old elm on the National road, just thirteen miles
out Of Indianapolis. 1t has long stood a re.
minder of. a Joke played on President Van
Buren,, in which the President was uncere.
moniously dumped ont into a mire. The Incl.
dent happened late in the '30s. Van Buren, had
been occupying the Presidential chair some
time. and internal improvements were the order
OF the day. Van Buren, was not favorable to a
reckless expenditure Of money for roads and
internal improvements, and had vetoed several
bills which had been lobbied by large ~contrac-
tors, who were then, as now. quick to take
advantage of the Government.
William Hale. in charge OF the stage line from
Indianapolis TO Terre Haute. was one OF these
men. The road was really in a had condition.
trip overland to the Mississippi to make a per-
sonal Investigation Of the highways: He was to
TO Terre Haute. Nothing could have pleased
Hale better than tho announcement that the
President was TO go over the line. 1t was in n
f~rightful condition at many points, and by way
OF making, suro of settling the Presidents mind
he planned TO dump him into the deepest mire
the stage. was consulted. and on promise OF S.
il he would dump the President into the mire
at Plainteld he entered into the scheme.
President Van Buren, completed his business
in indianapolis and took the stage for Terrc
Haute. The, ride out to Plainield was fairly
good. The driver. however, took care to give
them all OF the mud possible. and ho found a
great deal OF it. At last they approached the
Quaker settlement. The mud was awful. The
village was reached at last and the driver pulled
road. He crooked his neck around and asked
the President which way he would better go to
get around the mire: The President looked out
S wight ino haa snti t9 .ns r He follo OWES G &Hs Tha.
ran the wheels up over the great roots of the old
elm. and with a crash the stage went over.
President Van Ruren and his secretary shot
through the stage door and into, the mire knee
deep. They wnllowed in the black stun. to pick
themselves out at last thoroughly plastered.
An old woman who was near took the President
his broadcloth clothes. He was taken to the old
McCeslin Hotel and given a thorough rubbing
and a bath.
Later he gave a reception. The President was
naturally: Many stories are told of how he was
mystifled by the old Quskcrs approaching him
and calling him by his first name. He was quite
nonplussed al, first by this presumption, as he
took it. on their part.
That section of Indiana in that day was some
what wild. A man named kisc was the leader
OF a notorious gang. He CHANGED to be in town
that day and was passing down the road when
one OF the old ,Quakers halloocd at him and told
him that President Van Buren, WA there.
You can tell old Van Buren, TO go to - for
some Government action. The President heard
the remark. and turning, smiled, and said:
There's certainly one vote in Indiana 1 won't
get"
From the day the President was dumped out
in the mire to the present the old elm has been
a sacred sentinel to the memory OF the jolly
President. The improvements that are being
made around 1t have thus far left the tree whole,
but its days are numbered, and the surround,
ings are so changed that there Is little left to
help recall the interesting scene.