Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1897-04-21

Royal BAKING POWDER Co. New York
some of the painful experiences of
their military careers. These asso-
Citations of the camp fire and the
battlefield are stronger and outlast
nearly all Others. When President
Mckinley heard that his friend, who
was lamed on the battlefield and
has been u sufferer for thirty years,
had fallen. broken his leg, and was
in the hospital, he dropped every
thing and went to him straightway.
This was the act of n comrade. 1t
was a touching scene. and one well
worth dwelling on a moment.
As a youth of Is, the writer knew
and had reason to admire and re-
spect General Hastings. He was a
brave soldier an upright citizen, and
kind-hearted man. For twenty
years he had made his home i'm the
Bermudas. Aside from comradeship
i'm the war, there was a romantic
White House episode in General
Hastings life, i'm which the President
Hayes administration. Through
that administration Mrs. Mckinley
was Mrs. Hayes most intimate
friend. In the absence of the mis-
tress of the White House the present
mistress frequently presided. At
that time Mrs. Mckinley was con-
sidered one of the bellies of the ad-
ministration, and the pictures taken
of her certainly justify the admira-
ton she excited. Her connection
with the marriage of General Russell
Hastings was in this way:
Miss Platt, an attractive niece of
Mrs. Hayes, was a member of the
Presidents family. General Hast
ing, as l have said, was an old army
friend of Major Mckinley. During
the winter of lS7S-79 General Hast
ings visited Washington, and 1t was
then he became acquainted with Miss
Platt, who also was a great friend
of Mrs. Mckinley. 1t was in her
pleasant drawing-room at the Eb-
bitt House that the General had an
opportunity to evince that devotion
which the publicity of the White
House would have made an alarm
ing ordeal to a young man.
The wedding of General Hastings
and Miss Platt took place in the
White House, and of course was a
social event OF Importance.
During the war General Hastings
was close to young Lieutenant Nc
Kinley. They were intimately asso-
ciated in the same regiment. on the
same staff, and often slept under the
same blanket. The grizzled veteran.
as he lay on his bed in the hospital,
suffering from this painful accident,
may have recalled a day in the life of
Mckinley when he passed through "a
critical experience. for Hastings was
the officer who heard General Hayes
say to Lieutenant Mckinley: Il
never expected to see you in life
again."
Mckinley was saved to serve his
country in higher capacity, if there
is a higher duty than to bear arms to
defend the nations flag.
| Apropos of the relations of these
two men, recall an incident which
General III astings told me over Il year
ogo about Mckinley at the battle of
kernstown. At a certain juncture
of the battle il was discovered that
one of our regiments was still in the
orchard where they hadbeen posted at
the beginning of the battle. General
Hayes, turning to Lieutenant Nc
kinley, directed him to go for and
bring away this regiment, il it had
not already fallen. Mckinley turned
, his horse, and, keenly squirting ii.
lpushed it at fierce gallop obliquely
toward the advancing enemy.
"A sad look" said General Hast
ings, .came over Hayes face as he
saw this young gallant boy pushing
rapidly forward to almost certain
death. Mckinley was much loved
in the command, a mere boy at the
, beginning of the war, who had left
college, his expectation for the future,
all, everything, willingly, to serve his
country and his flag in their dire
need. With wonderful force of char
: acter then, true, pure, noble, and
r brave, he had, by reason of his abil-
ity and wonderful power with men
even much older than himself. risen
from the ranks to beceme a noted
? staff officer, and later was called to
| the staff of General Crook, and on up
to General Hancock's headquarters.
and for his many brave acts and
> conspicuOus gallantry was brevetted
; Major by President Lincoln.
Hayes loved him." continued Gen
ieral Hastings, las a father loves n
son, and only imagine what must
been his feelings when the necessities
of the moment demanded that he
should order this boy to do this
; dangerous work. None OF US ex-
pected to see him again as we
watched him push his horse through
; the open fields, over fences, through
) bitches, while well-directed fire
Il from the enemy was poured upon
him, with shells exploding around,
I about and over him. Once he was
: completely enveloped in the smoke
of an exploding shell, and we thought
he had gone down: but, no-he was
saved for better work for his country
lin his future years. Out of this
smoke emerged his wiry little brown
horse, with Mckinley still firmly
!. seated, and as erect as hussar.
Now he had passed under cover from
the enemy's fire. and a sense of relief
lcame to us all.
Let us sincerely hope that the
e brave soldier, who thus spoke Of lis
s lcomrade's courage, may likewise
: lemerge safely from the dangers oi
this serious accident, and be spared
Z for many years to those who know
!, and love him.-Robert r. Porter In
n New York Press.