The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-27
DID HIS BIsT FOR JOE JORDAN.
Assistant Secretary VANDERBILT Tried Govern
m"nt. Press and Church to Get Him n Job.

Assistant Secretary VANDERBILT Tried Govern
m"nt. Press and Church to Get Him n Job.
WASHINGTON, June 26.-Assistant Secretary
Frank II. Nanderlip OF the Treasury Depart
ment, the bright young newspaper man from
Chicago who came TO Washington as private
secretary 10 Secrctar. Gage and proved go able
that President Mckinley promoted him to his
present Office. was very much interested in the
story printed in last Sundays Sun about the ad-
ventures of Joe Jordan. the Atlanta boy who ran
away from home two years ago md since then
has travelled over must Of the world. Mr.. VAN
derlip made Joe's acquaintance in October. 1895.
when he was visiting Florida with another Chi
caGo man.
Il was standing on tho rear platform Of tho
sleeper at I Inpa while the train was being
switched, when l first saw Joe" said Mr.. Van.
derlip. He was sitting on the steps Of The
coach. He was barc:ooted and carried some
things done up in q bandanna handkerchief.
We began a conversation and / soon became in
teresied in the boy. He was u bright little fell
low and told az smooth a story as l ever heard.
He said that his father, an Atlanta carpenter,
had died, and then his mother had passed away.
A llwyer took Joe into his family to do chores
and look after his Office. After u while the law
yer's wife became i'll and her husband took
her to California, leaving Joe out in tho
cold. Then he decided to go to sea. and
was trying to find a berth on some
ship. The train started just then and Joe
jumped Off, but that evening my friend and I
met him in Port Tampa. He was still looking
for a ship. he said. We decided to help the boy.
who WAS as bright a youngster as ] ever met, SO
we hire! a boat and took him off to II revenue
cutter lying in the hurbor. The Captain was
very courteous and took : great deal OF interest
in Joe, nut hr could not enlist him because be
WAS too young. Then | thought of IA newspaper
ntIra and InnnI n 1ln .iit NJ lid mi want m
boy. and turned us down frrezinSly.
1T was Saturday night. not u particularly
We had come 10 the conclusion that we had an
elephant on our hands. when my friend sug.
t%ions-the Government AM the preserve might
have better iinck with another great insti-
~tu!ionathe church; So we took Joe to
into a pretty prescntable. appearance pre-
p%aratory to seeking ministerial aid and
to which his father had belonged. and we
found the address Of The leading minister of that
denomination in the town. The minister was in
surroundlng his house. He did not treat us very
GRAND. He said he hal II large congregation
and had all h. could do to attend to their wants
without looking, after strange wniis. We told
welfare. The minister did not see it that
way and the conversation became ami;
s ,maritans and talked very frankly about
people who pretended TO be good Christians. but
would not assist n helpless boy, Inc upshot or
promise to tell his congregation about. Joe tho
next morning. and ask that he be taken into
some family. Tho minister issenled with bad
grace, AMI we went away. promising to be on
hand in the church Mt the Sunday services.
I'VE gave Joe enough TO get fixed Tor the
night, and no left us with the understanding
that he would call at the hotel In the morning to
accompany US to tho church, We waited for
him since. Whether the minister made the an.
nouncement | do not know. and my ,ricnd and 1
did not cndeavor to find out. ! was very glad TO
read in The Sun tn t Joe had turned out all
right. He was a bright. keen boy, and wonder.
fully interesting. And what a smooth talker ho
was for q twelve-ycar.old."