The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-11
THE DOYHO()D OF ScHlEy.
4 Favorite COusin's "Reminiscences
OF the treat COmRanaer-fsarfy
Battles with the Barbara Frtet-
eAie lmnortastsea ny whittier.

One OF the prominent citizens OF Indian
apo.is is Mr.. John Schiey. a cousin q
Commodore Schley The physical resem-
biance is so strong that casual acquain,-
ances sometimes have trouble in dtstin-
gushing between them. Mr.. John Sehley
is an ax-member of the Indiana legislature.
a prominent Mason and foremost and
useful citizen.
Mr.. Schley relates some interesting stor-
les Of the commodore. During their boy
hood and early manhood the two were most
constantly together, and the to-5e conmo-
dore. IL was sad, thought more OF John
than he did of all his other cousins put to-
gether, and there was raft of them. The
fathers OF both men were prominent and
wealthy citizens OF Maryland, who owned
large adjoining farms near the historic
town OF Frederick. Each resided during
the summer on his farm and spent the
cold season at a palatial seat in Frederick.
Strangely enough, the father of Winfield
Scott Schley tthe commodore) and the
father of John Schley were both married
twice, and each was the father o. thirteen
children. Another brother was also the
father of thirteen children. so that ii may
be seen that the boy Winfield had a wide
range from which 10 choose his boon COM
panion, and I. is nothing TO his discredit
that he chose his cousin John. 1t may be
Of interest TO the supers titious to know
that the child Winfield was not the thir-
teenth of his fathers children.
The grandfather of the Schley boys built
the first house ever erected in Frederick.
There the boys graduated from the ST.
John college, not that their tendency was
toward Catholicism, but because the ST.
John school was the best in Frederick In
fact, while the commodore, according 10 his
cousin of this city, lis religious he is by no
means devout," so ii may be inferred that
the boys were not given to any excessive
religious tendencies in their youth.
In fact, according to the Indianapolis Mr.
Schley, they we're addicted 10 playing A
great many pranks in their boyhood One
of their favorite and most thoroughly en-
Joyed diversions, Mr.. Schley SAYS was 10
tease Barbara Frietehie the Identical hero
inc OF Whittiers famous poem. who waved
the stars and stripes with historic effect in
the face OF Stonewall Jackson's marching
brigade. Barbara" says Mr.. SchIe,,
was an irascible, hot-headed woman, who
was holy terror 10 the boys of Frederick,
and as result she was particular OBJ
ject of our fun-maknig. Her husband was
a maker Of buckskin gloves The Frietche
house was located just where Patrick street
crosses the town creek. the waters OF
which laved one side of its foundation
Patrick street is a continuation of the
national road. which was the great artery
of trade through which the commerce of
the West in those days found its way to
the Eastern markets there being as yet no
railroads. Hundreds of wagons rolled
through Frederick every day and Frei;-
chle's business was manufacturing rough
buckskin. handmade gloves for the driv-
ers-a business of which he and his brother
in-iaw together had a monopoly that made
them independently well Off
The bane OF Frietchie's existence was
Barbara, his wife, who had so subdued and
co"eo him that he was one of the meekest
little men imaginable. l remember that
Scott and / used TO take great delight in
playing beneath her windows in order TO
create disturbance. She was probably
the most tactful enemy the commodore
ever had to deal with. Her resources for
getting even were manifold but her favor
lite one was 10 catch us in an ungliarded DO
sition and throw Stops and other kitchen
litter on our heads. From my reco,lections
of her l should say that she was just the
kind OF woman who would perform the
foolhardy trick of waving a flag In the face
OF 1000 armed enemies, and take keen de-
light In doing it,"
mere Is one other story which Mr.
Schley tells about his cousin which is
fresh and interesting Commodore Schley
received his Christian name from Winfield
Scott, the great American chieftain. who
was close friend of the Schley family
That the great commander took an interes.
IN mis- namesake l. evidenced by the story
which Mr.. Schley relates In 1884, directly
after the commodore's return from his
rescue of the survivors OF the Greedy Arctic
explorers the Massachusetts Humane So
ciety presented Schley with a handsome
medal for his achievement The presenta-
ton was mado in Washington, where
Schley lived. and Benjamin w. Crownin
shield, a noted Massachusetts orator.
brought the medal 10 Washington ard
made the presentation address In the
course or his remarks he related the fol-
lowing true story:
On the way to Washington I met a
prominent gentleman OF Boston The latter
was shown the medal, and was told the OBJ
1ect OF the visit 10 this city. He renlIej.
This Is indeed coincidence For,y-four
years ago. in 1870 / was going over this
same road and met Gen Winfield Scot,
asked him where he was going. He said
that a child OF his friend, Mr. Schley had
been named for him, and he was going IA
Maryland to see the baby Forty-fo,r
years have passed and here today I mee.
you carrying medal TO the man that Gen
Scott visited when the man was an in
FAINT"
When the boys grew to manhood they
determined not to be separated hut IN
spend their lives together If possible In
naval service. Winfield Scott showed ali
ffass 0tNof anu mental quail
ncations, but John failed on the physical
examination. This necessitated a parting
OF their ways in life, the commodore seek
ing fame on the seas and John cnpog,e
West TO round out useful and consp,cu
Gus career In civil and officisl life. Their
mutual regard has never waned. and Mr.
Sch!ey has a letter from the commodore
written just before the flying squadron Iaf,
Hampton Roads. conveying friendly re-
CARDS and expressing the hope that 'ff we
come TO blows with Spain Won win baar
good accounts Of this squadron. that o,,r
name may increase in national annals with
Just PRIDE TO a Il it's posseSsors"-St. louis
Globe-D emocrai.