The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
TOLD OF NED BUSTLINE.
Story of Some Lines Often Printed About
Z. L. Dnvenport,s Richard Ill.

WASHINGTON. June 1O.--war "reminiscences
are Just now particularly active. A retired
army officer relates this story OF the late f. C.
LJudson. known far and wide under the name
OF Ned Buntline. popular and prolific writer
OF nautical and other tales years ago
Judson entered the civil war as Lieutenant
in New York regiment and was stationed
near Baltimore. His highly wrought. nervous
temperament ana at times uuQuenchahIe
thirst for strong drink. made him rather un-
Trustworthy, but his intense PATRIOTISM and
the enthusiasm with which he inspired his
companions caused these Drawbacks in that
stormy and exciting period to he overookcd
After few days of humdrum life in camp his
old longing asserting itself. Judson obtained
leave OF absence for twenty-four hours
and went into town. After few drinks
he was obiyous to everything save
a desire for more drink OF course he
failed to report for duty. and uron inquiry
the Colonel learned that he had been seen
IN the streets in most doporahle condition.
Having been informed that nothing could con-
troll ,Iudson until he had his spree out. tho
Colonel sent Corporas guard to find him,
strip of his insignia Of authority and let him
60 on his way. a few months later different
punishment would have been inflicted: the Of
fender, after some days OF confinement in the
Guardhouse. might have been reduced to the
ranks and compelled to serve as n private dur
ing the full term for which no had enlisted.
but at the outset each regiment dealt with its
offenders rs seemed best to it's commanders
JudSon was discovered By the guard on the
street opposite Earnum's Hotel. and there. in
full view OF scores of persons. his shoulder
straps were removed and the regimcnt;l num-
Der cut from his cap. Then the guard marched
on. leaving poor. hewilderei Judson gazing
vacantly after it. His humiliation. If indeed
he felt any was forgotten in few moments
more. soon his money was gone and he cx-
changed his coat for a shabby misilt and little
coin with which to buy whskey.
For days he haunted the harroomS and the
printing Offices with equal diligence. When
he failed to get drink for the asking he i'm
m"diatny sought the composing room of some
nearby newspaper onlre. and some good
hearted fellow who had heard OF him would
stake him t. the extent uf twonty-r five CENTS
ana n" would b" happy again for II few hours.
ing III, St"rg. 1caieI on the odt | OF w" "
~ literary publication. and had just been adj
+ had meyer seen him. though many of Ned
Mntin"'s tales ! had read and enJoycd
When IN" man "nt"rGd sIrros'@ HIM to ia
condition from hard drinking. aud paused in
my rG ill VIII the editor that b" might
hmscll up with an effort. stared nXcdly at the
know il. responded ths oiitOr.
civ" m" hall dpDlar' SAID Judson
Will not. replied tho editor
Buutlln" EaH"d unsteadilv about tn" room
uniI ms ny" IT. on large poster representing
tn" lat" l.. J." Davenport as R,cLrd M. ia
which character M was to appear NJ one Of the
local theatres tn" following week Falling
heavily into chair IuieOn took upapou. and,
drawing bit OF paper h"fOrr him. scratched
rapidly Tor lew seconds, them without oven
r"a ling IL over. thrust it toward the editor
saying, Is that worth half y dollar
'Ihr editor road II and taking half Il dollar
from his pocket handed il across IA" tahi" to
lud -On, who without a word. drew his coat
about him and stakrd unst"AdIv but graVrv
out OF tho Office, This was what he had writ
ten
when Booths Shakespcar"an spirit Ned.
our drama orb grew Inn.
We tn ugh' tho rrOukci luurh L king
Htl Il ed along with him.
fn - b" Emdrwd genius raised
That spirits -tlll maintained,
Aud N olr gi'trd naTrrpnrt
Ni"hh d. himself rgun.
"'rhcro's genius wasted, said the editor, as
hc shook his heat thinking over the appear
an"e and state OF tho man who. even drums
could lash on such thing These lines wnrr
published IN the next ISSUE az the PAPER. Hud
wrr" always 10 be found on the programmes
~ the theatres Throughout the country when
davenport was to play
Shortly after this episode Iulson was taken
back 10 New York hv friends who hunted him
~ AMI later madc his HON" On Long Island,
lie changed. resumed his writings, and for
YEARS previous To his death was one of tho
most earnest and influential temperance
writers and speakers in the United states
ludson must often have seen the lines on
Iavcnport's Rlch1rd, As ho loved TO attend the
theatre, but it Is doubtful IL he ever had suS-
picion that he was their author"