The Washington times., 1903-04-26

servant severed their relations at APP
pomattox. though Harrison often saw
his old employer after the war
Back to the Old Home.
Harrison. now twenty-five. had had 2
world Of experience. but under greatly
changed conditions he was adrift with
out prospect Of employment He natu-
rally first bent his course to Orange
county, where had dweIt his family and
friends But here. too, meanwhile. had
occurred one OF the great tragedies in
cident to slavery. Both his father and
mother had been sold down South, -
not to the same master, but ruthlessly
parted, the father going to a South Car
olina planter and the mother TO one of
the great Mississippi cotton plantations.
He mustered up a little capital, and
for two years fndustriousIy traversed
the Orange county roads as small
huckster of farm produce. But par
ticipation in the stirring scenes of the
preceding ten years had united him for
this tame existence.
Advent in Washington.
washington
entered the service of the late George
". Riggs. Of the widely-known banking
house Of Riggs & Corcoran. and was
soon promoted to butler of the old
Riggs mansion at 1917 I Street, near the
Army and Navy Club building. He was
the directing servant of the Riggs family
for twelve years. The Riggses enter
tanned good deal, and as this period
covered the eight years of President
Grants Administration he often had the
pleasure Of serving the general. In those
days he was often detailed as an expert
to assist at the White House receptions.
and dinner parties. Not only in dinuer
giving circles. but among clubmen and
diners out, Harrison was soon recog-
nized as a superior man for q house
function. one among a thousand for an
upper house servant. Many fashionable
and wealthy families, not only in Wash
ingten but in Philadelphia and New
York made him tempting offers 10 leave
the employment OF the Riggses. but he
steadily declined 10 quit their service
But after the senior Mr. Riggs death in
1880 a new condition was created.
Employed by General Grant.
Harrison had fallen under the per
sonaI notice of General Grant on divers
occasions at the White House. In 1880,
after the Grants had settled down in
New York. the general teIegraphed over
an offer 10 Harrison to become his but
le~. While the younger Riggses desired
him 10 remain with them. they were
willing to defer to General Grants wish
es if Harrison desired to go. He de-
cided 10 go, and soon after reported for
duty AS the domestic chief OF STAFF
Of the most conspicuous figure in Ameri-
ca. Harrison was now an important
parsonage
The accidental injury sustained by
General Grant in 1888, before alluded
70, entirely changed Harrison's rela-
lions in the Grant household He be
came the personal attendant of the gen
eral. The latter in his numerous goings
and comings needed a strong arm to
lean upon, and the robust and discreet
Harrison was exactly the man he wanted
Wherever General Grant went, Harri-
son Terrell went also In this relation
Harrison. naturally, became cognizant
Of every detail of the mysterious Grant
and Ward partnership, and was a spec
tator of the events connected with the
sensational failure that followed. With
folded arms ne was standing respectfully
behind General Grants chair in old
Commodore VauderbiIts private office
when that Napoleonic fnancier handed
the NapoIeonic soldier the celebrated
check for $4,000. which temporarily
bridged the chusm caused by Wards de-
falCatious.
The Fatal Illness.
Harrison was the first person to take
heed Of the generals throat trouble.
and the victims earliest complaints Of
the queer difficulty he began TO exper-