The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-08
GIFT FROM C. P. HUNTINGTON.
HIS LEGACY TO A QUAINT CHAR
ACTER OF MT. STERLING, Ky.

oh W.T. Huntington NiSitr W tue
Town Years Ago, Old Pete Consti-
tuted Himself the Railroad Presi-
dents Regular Attendant, Declin-
ing Any Pay for His Services.
"AII Right Pete" Said Mr.. Hunt
ington; iii Remember You in My
WILL" and He Did-InformaI Man
ner of Their First MeetinG-After
Mr.. Huntington Ceased to visit Mt.
Sterling, He Kept Up n Corre-
spOndence With Old Pete-NOw the
Old Man Is "Mista bradshaw" n
Person of Consequence, Who
Wishes 1t Distinctly Understood
That He Don't Want to Buy Any
of YO' Land
New York May at was in the thriv-
ing little town of Mount Sterling, situat-
ed in the beautiful blue grass region of
enktucky, that old Pete Bradshaw lived.
Pete is a character; Rip Van Wrinkle,
sans, the sleeping proclivities of Washing
ton Irving's hero. He is fond, very fond
of that style of liquor so dear to the
hearts of Kentuckians and never, in any
event, loses an opportunity Of sampling
its quality, regardless of age, color or
brand. Despite his fondness for drink,
Pete never lacks for companonship. The
small boys of the town love him; the men
never pass him without CHEEKY greeting
and all the pretty girls of the old town
give "Old Pete" nod and a smile as
he awkwardly raises his hat and goes
gangling by, saying, How air y, Miss
Bessie?' or Good ma wnin', Miss Sue; hope
l see y well!"
The Newport News and Mississippi
Valley Railroad, of which the late Col
lis p. Huntington was president makes
quite an important stop at Mount Ster-
ling In fact. for several years the pros
ident spent much of his time there; for
il seemed to be the best point on the
western end of the road from which to
control it's management and watch the
service it was giving to shippers and pas
sengers. Ii was during one of these visits
that Pete manager to insinuate himself
into the good graces of the great rail-
roader. 1t happened in this way: One
November morning, about fifteen years
ago, Pete was sitting in Lacy's saloon,
watching the door thirstily and hoping for
the appearance of some angel who
would invite him TO the bar. Pete hau,
as he expressed it, "a mutf in his mouth,
and had vainly tried to interest Lacy in
his hard-luck story. Pete sat down by
the stove and gazed alternately out of
the window at the pattering rain and
from thence to the door, which he regard
ed with longing eyes. 1t opened at last,
and Mr.. Bradshaw's son, James, husky
young fellow of four-and-twenty, came
stalking through Old Petes lips grew
moist with expectation.
Mawnin, Jeems." he said, and there
was doubtful quaver in his husky voice.
Hope l see y well!'
James gazed at the forlorn figure hump
ed over the stove, and answered that he
was all right; then turned to Dacy and
ordered a drink of whisky. for which he
paid with a five dollar bin.
Jimmy" said the old man, I'm a
feelin' powerful bad this mawnin' couldn
v spare me bout fifty cents for day
r two?"
mo, pap, I can't do it," was the re-
Div. Il amt got but four dollars and
ninety-five cents and l got 10 pay that
out jist as quick as 1 git to John Henry
Longs"
Pete was beginning to despair. We'll
can't " let me have a quarter then?
he asked. James shook his head neg
atively and walked away, saying:
Cant do it to-day, but maybe I kin
let " have a quarter next week"
AS the old man resumed his former
seat at the stove the door banged Vlo-
lently open and big administered far
mer stamped into the room, shaking the
water from his overcoat and wiping his
face on a red bandana handkerchief.
y bp filler Of the soil
in loud voice; I'm jist goin' t have
a drink; come an jine me-
Pete could scarcely restrain himself,
but he rose very calmly, stretched his
long arms to their utmost length and
vawningly said: Il don't keer much for
it. Buck. burt tn take a drink jist fur
tn soshbility Nv it."
The old man let the liquor trickle down
his long throat and when he had smacked
his lips over the last drop of it he turned
10 his companion and said:
Buck I'm almighty glad It see y
again! Hows Liz an tn little San
derses?'
81 tell v. Pete" Buck answered, con-
fidentiaIly. Pm a-gettin' long jist bout
q well 2 a man could spect to. l amt
rich by no manner O. means, but I'm
got tn best crop o white hurley tbacker
at ever / seen. This rains brought
round a good season an I'm a-strikin'
down to-day; next week I'm poin' t sell
on III market thar"
"In-deedy," the WHY Pete exclaimed,
'Then y'r rich man, Buck Sanders, an
don't know it," With that ne
brought his, clenched fist down on the
counter with such force that the bottle
and glasses ratified again and again.
Buck" he continued, after an i'm
pressive pause. shaking his finger at
the other to give his words their full
value: Jim wills johnson sold his tback-
er at Louisville, day fore yistiddy, an
got a. avrige NV 'leven cents fur II, leaf,
Jugs and trash; he did, by granny"
Mr.. Sanders gave a gasp and tried to
speak, but the effort was too much for
him, so he made a sign to Lacy instead.
The glasses were reflled and Pete con-
tentedly proceeded to wash away that
portion of the ''muff" which the first
drink had not downed.
Fifteen minutes later the two men sep
arated Pete, keyed up to the notch of
100 per cent, walked down to the hotel,
where he found everything in an uproar.
Porters, bellboys, chamber maids and