The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-15
RUNS FROM THE WAR.
Story of a Confederate Vet
eran of Sidney Johnston's.
TRAMPS FROM TAM
Sells Articles of Tinware for
a Living.

The Wandering Jew. hoary and unique,
has a counterpart in the city who has
history both pathetic ard romantic, He Is
trannping across the word and "a YES ii.
name as Ben Harnening, sd comes from
Tampa, Florida On the breaking oaS Of
the late war, tbs man, now 4 strange
character. was living at Tampa. where for
thirty years he had lived reclusa, DIS
h,artened and gloomy through al the
years since Sherman made his historic
march 20 Atlanta and the sea His story
told to q reporter for the Eagle IS as toll
lows: During the civil war Mr.. Harmon
ing was member Of the Thirteenth Flor
ida infantry. Confederate States of AInerI-
ca, and served for long time under the
doughty General Albert sydney Johnston
At that time he was a young man and
but recently married after the signal f--
ing upon Fort SUmpter. While absent
from home with his command his young
bride was killed. as ne claims. by some
Union soldiers under Sherman while on
their famous march 10 the sea They
then lived in Georgia This al but I'M
balanced the southern soldit-. and as soon
as he could effect his discharge ne re-
moved to Tampa. and there has lived ever
since. and never ceasing 70 mourn his
bride to whose tender memory ne has all
these years been heroically faithful and
true The very mention OF carnage or
war, IN view of what they had done 20
him and his. at once cast d melancholy
shadow OF deep depression over him, for
ha Of
Of century there is fresh in mis- mind
the horrors Of the tragic affair which
made his Efe 50 sad, whose only heritage
is a loneliness stern and Nemesis Ike
When war was announced and shortly az
ter the troops of volunteers were assign
ed to Tampa for camp. Harmening be-
came more than ever restless and anxious
TO get as far away as possible from any
semblance OF war and its accoutrements
Inpelled by this eager longing. he started
off for the north, anywhere, he cared not
how far or in what locality. so long as
il was at the furthest possible distance
from any scene of war. He left Tampa
on foot headed for the northwest early
in May. and 10 sustain himself peddIed
tiiIware from house 10 house He could
with his limited capital procure only
small stock of goods at a time. and as
fast as they were disposed OF would re-
plenish a little at a time Slowly and
painfully he toiled, and yesterday. after
weary months of travel always on foot
he reached Wichita When he got here
he had left only two tin stew pots and
few pie tins. lie expected here 10 repien-
ism his meaSre stock and then leave the
city. only 10 get as far off as possible
from all the possibilities OF even hearing
anything of war. war which snatched
from his fond embraces the bride of his
youth. He stood in front OF the Summit
restaurant just before leaving the city.
telling of the pain Of war and its horrors.
He is a man about So years OF age. small
in stature. with a short closely cropped
heard He never begs or imposes on any
one and is evidently honest and scrupu-
lous. He is simply tramping away his iifs
:, gain IL possible surcease from the
gloom and memory 0: war. Anywhere
TO get away from the war. He does not
seem to know or realize that tse war Is
over. He has been tramping across the
continent since May 1st. and whether or
not he - insane does not detract from
the interest in his story. He hates war.
He is running from II.