Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-01-17
KIDNAPPED A PRESIDENT.
Recent Death Of the Only Man That Ever Di
the Trick.

KIDNAPPED A PRESIDENT.
Recent Death Of the Only Man That Ever Di
the Trick.
Louisville Courier Journal.
To go down in history as the onl,
person who ever kidnapped a Presi
dent of the United States should b.
enough for one man, and the dislinc
ton belongs to Capt. T. C. Coleman
who died recently. The episode
makes one of the most interesting
stories of career fruitful of anecdo otes
That was in those old days befor,
the railroads had bound the land will
steel, the days just after the Mexican
war. when the Mississippi was tn
grand water road of the country
progress and the floating palaces tha
piled from Louisville to New Orlean
were famous on two continents
Zachary Taylor was President OF tn,
United States, and Capt. Coleman
kidnapped him and ran away gayl!
up stream with the official steamer O
conveyance struggling far in the rea
after the river greyhound Saladin
That was Zachary Taylor's triumpha1
tour OF the country, and the fame o
the exploit brought thousands or
thousands Of dollars to the Colemans
and established their lines of steam
ers rs the foremost in the river trade
The first Thomas C. Coleman owned
a line OF fine packets plying from
Louisville to New Orleans. The,
were the big floating palaces of tha,
day. and the pride OF the lot was thu
Saladin. Nothing that beat water OF
two rivers could hold her when Capt
Coleman chose to turn her loose
with q niger squat on her safety
valve and her furnace choked with
rosin and pine" Young T. c. Cole
man commanded her. There was {
boat belonging TO . rival line thai
sometimes disputed with the Saladir
the sway of the river. The rival al.
ways had q chance, but the Saladir
always got there first.
President Zachary Taylor was or
his famous tour of the country. tt
command the boat that carried him
on the Mississippi was an homo,
coveted by all the captains. "Old
Rough and Ready" was Kentuckiar
and warm friend of the Colemans, &C
they expected, OF course, TO be chosen
for the honor Of conveying the Presi
dent. However, the wishes OF Gen
Taylor we're not consulted. He wal
at Vicksburg, Miss, and the reception
committee there decided that the riva
boat should carry him up to Memphis
When the word came. to New Orleans
where the boats were laid up, the dis
appointment on the Saladin was the
more intense, for it was the loss of 8
sure thing. while the joy on the rival
boat was, Of course, the greater from
the unexpectedness Of the victory.
Big monsters OF gloom and joy, the
steamers pulled away from the New
Orleans dock side by side.
"Anyhow, boys, we'll show then
the Saladin il the better boat" said
Capt. Coleman, and his crew answered
him with will.
The Saladin began TO draw ahead
Then together, lickety-split, up tn.
river they came, and the people on th'
levees and the hands in the field
stopped to watch and wonder. for the,
never before had seen two boats goini
up the Mississippi that way. And
every landing for the Saladin was {
winning landing.
The whole Of Vicksburg was gath
cred on the bluff to see the President
off. The old soldier stood in thl
midst Of his escort committee, ant
growled and bowed. He was heaytily
tired of 90 much ceremony, and waitet
anxiously the coming of the boat tina
was to carry him on to Memphis.
At last, far down the river, showet
the twin puffs of . hard: driver
steamer.
"There she comesl There sh'
comesw, yelled the crowd, and begar
cheering the President Of.
Putting and snorting, the big rive
greyhound rushed up to the dock
The gangway came down in an in
slant. She was right under the bluff
and the people above could only lool
down upon her. They were yelling
and cheering, shouting enthusiastic
good-byes to the President. And il
the midst of the excitement the s0ldie
and his escort committee went aboard
They went straight up to the cabin
and then, as il by magic, withou
waiting to unload cargo or anything
the big flyer tore away from the dock
As she Strengthened out in the strean
and began pounding away under full
pressure for Memphis tho smoke
another steamer desperately driven
came in sight around the last benz
down stream.
They had been going half An hou
when the escort committee sent 10
the captain Of the boat.
"I'll call Capt. Coleman" replies
the mate addressed.
"Capt. ColemanT asked the lcade
of the escort committee, "why, wha
boat is thisf"
"The Saladin, bound for Louisville.
carno tho nromnt resnonse.