The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-02
COOK WHO BECAME JUDGE.
Being a Story of the Late Judge
Erskine.
New York SUI

CNew- York Sum-
The late Judge John Erskine of
Georgia, did not read law until he was
IS years old, but he soon made his way
to the front, and shortly after the close
of the war President Johnson appointed
him to the judgeship of the United
States for the northern and southern
districts of Georgia. Judge Erskine
took great pleasure in relating one
story which dealt with incidents in his
early life and in his later years. When
he was about 1G years old he ran away
from his home in Ireland. He joined
the crew of a sailing vessel, but as the
captain could not make a sailor of him,
he had to do the cooking. and was
known to everybody on the ship as
Johnny the Cook.
At the end of year the youngster
abandoned the sea and returned home.
After completing his education he came
to this country and settled in Georgia,
where he was remarkably successful
and prosperous. He had held his judge
ship a year or two when he went to
Savannah to preside over the federal
court. One afternoon he strolled down
to the river to look at the vessels in
port The captain of one of the ships
came ashore and passed the judge, Civ
ing him a sharp glance. Evidently
something puzzled the captain, for he
retraced his steps and stared at the
man, who was enjoying the scene on
the river.
Damned if it isn't Johnny the Cook"
exclaimed the bluff sailor.
Erskine looked at him, and recognized
his old captain. The two shook hands
heartily, and the captain told the other
how he had identified him by a scar
on his face.
ct haven't forgotten the fight in
which you were so badly cut" said the
veteran of the seas. You proved your
self a man that day, and the whole ship
sided with YOU
brief talk about old times followed,
and then the captain glanced at his
former cooks clothes.
'FYou must have prospered in this
country" he remarked. What is your
line of business?"
'tThere is long story connected with
that" replied the judge, land as have
to meet an appointment now [ must
postpone it until 1 see you again. Meet
me in the United States court room to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Until
then, goodby.'
The captain promised to be on hand.
The next morning at 10 Irlock Judge
ErSkine was on the bench, in his black
robe, dealing out justice to crowd of
moonshiners. In few minutes the old
sea captain walked into the court room.
He glanced around in a daZed way, and
was evidently disappointed in not find
ing the man he sought. Finally he
raised his eyes to the bench. For mo-
ment he seemed daZed. He doubted his
own eyes. E,rSkine saw him, and beck
oning to him to come inside OF the rail-
ing which fenced off the lawyers from
the spectators.
With trembling steps the captain
took his stand one step below the plat
form on which the judge sat. Erskine
welcomed him cordially, and during
some unimportant routine business told
the astonished sailor about his career
in America and his elevation to the
bench.
The story was told in low tone, and
not a word of it was heard by any
body except the captain. The latter
was so thoroughly astonished by what
he saw and heard that he was anxious
to get away, and he seemed to be graf
fled when the judge dismissed him
with an invitation to dine with him al
his hotel. When the mariner reached
the bottom step he faced about ano
gave the judge a sweeping glance.
"Well, I'll be damned he calculated
in a distinctly audible voice. He left
the court room shaking his head an6
| looking back every other step. Ever
when he was outside of the building he
was in the same state of bewilderment
The incident afforded Judge Erskine
intense enjoyment, and he frequently
referred to it.