The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-14
HIS FIRST RUM BATH.
How Abraham Lincoln Was Rejuve-
mated When Almost Exhausted.

George p. Floyd in Pittsburg Dispatch
Many stories have been told and pub
| lished about Abraham Lincoln. While
some of them are truthful. more OF them
are exaggerated and misleading Again.
there are some good anecdotes that pos
sess the merit of truth connected with
the life of the great statesmen and mar
tyr that have never found their way into
print.
During the autumn of 1858 Mr.. Lincoln
and Stephen A. Douglas were candidates
for the United States senate. They made
their celebrated campaign in joint debate
IN Illinois. The debates opened at Otta-
wa Aug. p and continued at Freeport.
yonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg and
Quincy. and closed at Alton Oct IS. The
debates from start to finish were a de-
termined struggle on both sides. Ii was
NIP and tuck between the two giants
through the whole campaign. Mr. Lin
coin seemed to have the prestige by his
superior logic, and perhaps because Of the
justice OF the cause he advocated.
While Mr.. Lincoln was abstemious In
every way, the Little Giant" Douglas,
was generally pretty well filled up, but
he seemed TO carry the load easily.
The sixth debate was at Quincy, oct. Is.
The strain on mind and body began TO
tell on Mr.. Lincoln, and after the debate.
which was a supreme effort, he col
lapsed from sheer fatigue.
Al that time the writer was proprietor
Of the Quincy house at Quincy. The no
tel being near the place of the debate
Mr.. Lincoln was taken to the hotel and
room prepared for him.
As he was reclining on lounge he re-
marked TO his friends: Well I'm mighty
near ps etc ed out; out; guess IN have to
watching him. and being one of the old
school that believed in homely remedies,
she suggested that a rum sweat be ap-
piled to Mr.. LINCOLN.
Rum sweat" said Mr.. Lincoln. why.
/ never drank a drop of rum in my life. "
You don't have TO drink il; II Is an
external remedy" replied my wife. well,
II YOU think II will do me any good,
crack your whip and 20 ahead. Any
port In storm. and I'm mighty niGh
chip wrecked said he. The remedy was
applied according 10 directions OF my
wife. II consisted of pan of New Eng
land rum placed under a cane-seated
chair: the patient is stripped and covSfts
with a wooden blanket the rum is lighted
and the fumes or vaDor produce prOfuSe
PRECIPITATION. Fhe patient is then put 10
bed between wooden blankets. given hoJ
decOction of ginger and the sweating con-
tinues
The next morning after the rum sweat
Mr.. Lincoln made his appearance bright
and early When asked how he was feel
ing he replied: Why. I'm feeling like
a fighting cock. i can jump a siN-rail
fence right now. I've heard Of drinking
LIQUOR and rubbing the limbs with the
bottle but never vet heard OF driving the
LIQUOR through the hide to get a man full.
Where is Mrs Flovd? ! want to see her.
II she would only accompany US through
this campaign and prescribe for me.
think we can clean out Judge Douglas.
slick and clean"
Abraham Lincoln never forgot a favor.
In 1861 | was in business in Montgomery,
Ala. The confederate government formed
there in February. 1851. JEFF Davis was
inaugurated there Feb. IS and the gov
eminent continued there till July, when
II was removed to Richmond. Va. Hav-
ing mail and other contracts with the
confederate government. | was exempt
from military duty, while every male from
is TO 60 was compelled to perform military
duty. My connection with the officials
enabled me 10 peep behind the scenes and
watch some of the workings OF the in
genious" leaders of the lost cause" Be
ing a native of the northern states.
didn't banker for a gun on my shoulder
and I was not in love with the ''secesh'
movement. Having quite a bit Of prop
erty in Montgomery l returned there to
take care of It.
There are facts connected with the war
of the confederates from 1851 to 1855 that
are interesting. but have never been pub
lished Many stories have been told and
published as facts that have either been
COMPOUNDED with sensational Fumors OF
discolOred by violent preiudices. The
sufferings, the depredations, the sacri-