The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-28
WON RACE AND HONOR.
How Mississippi Steamboat Captain Kid
uapped President.

At Louisville, Ky, there died the other
6av a man who enjoyed the unique dls-
tinction of having kidnapped bnltea
states President. He was lho'nas y.
Coleman. a Mississippi River steamboat
cantajn and the President was Zachary
Taylor.
The President was making his famous
tour of the country, and reception
comroittee at NicksburS had made the
arrangements for his journey from there
to Memphis by a steamboat Whlch was
the rival of the one Captain Coten'Ii'
commanded The selection was specially
distasteful to Coleman, as ne was
oersona1 friend of the President, and had
trerefore fulIv eypec:ad the honor to be
conferred upon him.
He determined 70 have it anyway, ana
when his rival started from Ne" dreams
he steamed up his own boat, the SAIL
din. and followed after. In the race shat
ensled the Saladn won She had mace
such good time that she steamed up TO
IN, yicksburg dock before her rival was
in SIGHT. There was a great crowd OF
peonle gathered to see the President or,
and in the excitement nobody, not even
the chairman of the Reception Commit
tee, noticed that it wasn't the BOAT TOT
which they had been waiting IN tue
midst of the enthusiastic cheerihs ar.
shouting the President ard his escort
went aboard and straight to the CABIN.
Then. as if by magic, without stopping
10 unload her cargo, the Saladih tore
away from the dock Just as the smoke
of another steamer came i'll SIGHT around
the bend in the river
T'he distinguished party had been
aboard for half an hour III serene lgno-
rance of their mistake and OF the botd
rise when. by chance, the chairman IN
CURED for the captain of the boat.
..I,ll call Captain Coleman directly
said a member of the crew
Captain ColemanE' said the astounded
chairman. Why. what boat IS tins
.'The Saladin, sir, was the response.
Then it dawned on him. by heavens"
he cried This won't do Here. stop.
TGrn about! Gentlemen, gentlemen,
we're on the wrong boat.
At this critical juncture Captain Cole
man appeared on the scene, serene ana
smiling. rs there anything can GO
for YOU. gentlemen" he asked coolly.
They made it very evident that there
was something to be done. and an angry
committee surrounded him. and one of
their men, braudishing a pistol, yelled
DO YOU realize that You are kidnapping
the President of the United States?
AZ! [ rather guess not, replied the
Captain imperturbed las an actual
fact the President of the United States
is travelling on my boat without my in
vitation or my permission
That was a view OF the situation which
nonplussed the Captains accusers.
"The President came on board OF his
own accord continued Coleman, land
I'm not going TO put him off. As for stop
ming this boat, as you demand, there are
only two people who can do it-myseif
and the President. As for myself, won't
do it. 1t remains for you to see what
the President will do
The committee went for the Presi-
dent and laid their grievance before him.
Toni he exclaimed. solemnly shaking
his fist in the Captains face. Tom, such
a mess as you've got me into.'
Then, turning to his angry escort he
said, smilingly: Gentlemen. / reckon
about all we can Go is to take a drink
And they did it