The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-04-01
Anecdotes OF Gen. Sidney Johnston.


Anecdotes OF Gen. Sidney Johnston.
Rev. Mr.. Fontaine, now of Missis-
sippi, formerly Of Texas, relates the
following anecdotes Of this distin-
guished man
l have said that he had at all times
perfect self-control. I will mention
some instances in which 1 saw his
power of self-government severely
tried; but his temper stood the test
admirably.
l was onoe fishing with him in the
Colorado river. A large bass seized
his hook, and it required all his skill
to reel him to the surface of the water
w::h 9 sma!! silk LIE. ATE. . coz
test of several minutes with the pow
erful fish, he succeeded in bringing
his fine proportions in full view; but
just as he vas about landing him,
with a sharp strain upon his rod, he
gave ar indignant founce, and disap-
peared in the clear depths. of that
stream, leaving the snapt line tangled
fast to a willow limb, high above the
head Of the disappointed general. He
gave it q gentle pull; but finding it
hung fast he.walked up the bank and
cut q pole with a hook to it, and pull
ed down the limb very cautiously; land
then set to work very deliberately to
untangle the gordian knot into which
he, the bass, and the limb together,
had tied the line.
After the patient labor of at least
half an hour, he succeeded in righting
his tackle. put on another hook and
minnow, and "threw OUT to tempt
another bite. IL the meantime 1
watched his motions, very much
amused at the mishap, but said moth
ing. He made no exclamation Of i'm
patience, and exhibited no emotion.
Ithen remarked /: General, although
yoT are not a member Of the Church,
[ Delieve you are a better Christian
than myself in one respect-you are
moro patient. If old LEAK Walton
himself had lost that fish after such a
russell, and lost his hook with him,
and tied up his tackle in that way he
might not have cussed the fish or his
LUCK, but l think he would have said
something spiteful, and have felt a
little blasphemous." He replied /:
II have long since learned, sir, by
experience, that it's best never to get
excited about anything; for. in a fit of
excitement, very sensible men are apt
to do or say something rash or foolish,
for which they may have to repent in
a cooler moment"
He had a great Newfoundland dog,
which was a very great favorite with
the family. He guarded little Sidney,
McClung and Bette, his three young
est children, in their rambles about
his premises, and I think he some
times pulled the little girl in a toy
carriage. But the dog one day went
into the lot Of q mean neighbor, to
play with a "cur of low degree" q
proper dog for q master as mean and
worthless as himself. This man, who
had been kindly treated by the general
and his family, but who envied and
hated him with that sort Of malice
which the base and vulgar generally
cherish towards the noble and refined,
to distre'e The children or show his
spite against the distinguished neigh
bors, or from the promptings Of some
dirty motive W ..ch is only understood
by the devils that got into the swine
of Genesseret, or by those who are in
stigsted by them, threw o piece Of
meat, poisoned with stryohnine, to the
dog, which came homo and il 6 few
minutes died with commissions, in the
presence Of the children and their pa
rents. The little children wept Bit
terly the loss Of their favorite, and
Mrs. Johnston shed tears. The gen.
eral was deeply distressed, but said
nothing in anger. Some one present
declared that the villain who commit
ted the deed ought TO he prosecuted
or shot. He replied that If he sued
or killed him it would make the man
no better, and it would do himself
! and his family no good; that he would