Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-01-22
THE TURKEYS FLIGHT.
Funny Incident of General Washing
tent Visit to Bed ford in 179A

Funny Incident of General Washing
tens Visit to Bedford in 1904
The stone dwelling on the corner of
the village square in Bedford was then
occupied by William McDermett,
Scotchman, and his English wife.
He was the pioneer among steel man.
ufacturers in this country, and his wife
was q woman of birth. breeding and
quite unusual education, who had left
wealth and ease to follow the for
tunes OF the man she loved. Very va
ried fortunes they were; but of all
the strange tales of her experiences
with which she delighted her children
and grandchildren, the one oftenest
demanded was this true story of Presi-
dent Washington's turkey. Such tur-
key-one that by good luck and good
management had arrived at the very
acme of perfection exactly at this
most auspicious time. With what
mighty spread of pinions had he flown
straight to the hunters lure! And no.
bly, had the marksman met his en-
thusiastic desire to render up his life
for Washington; no stray shot would
be found among the tender meat to
disconcert his excellency. Could the
turkey himself have selected the one
in all that region best qualified to
contribute to the glory of his taking
off. undoubtedly Mrs. McDermett
would have been his choice There
fore we may feel confident that, when
General Washington and his staff sat
down at dinner, it was with we'll justi-
fed complacency that their host pre-
pared to carve the piece de resistance
when it should be placed before him.
Between the kitchen and the dining
room was a passage lighted by one
window, about the height of a mans
shoulder, and an alleyway ran along
this side of the house. The window
was open, and through it for hours
had been waited a mingling of deli
scious odors as the preparations for the
dinner progressed.
Just at the moment when the hos
tess was carrying the turkey through
this narrow passage. prepared to make
triumphal entry into the dining
room, soldiers arm was thrust
through the window, a hand seized
king Mrs. McDermett was left star
ing at an empty dish, while flying feet
beat the road as the hungry thief
made off with his prize
Poor Mrs. McDermett, thus robbed
of her turkey and her triumph at the
very crowning moment of success.
after a pause of helpless consterna-
ton, marched bravely forward to face
her husbands chagrin, her guests dis
appointment, and Washington's-
what would President Washington
think or say?
Putting down the empty platter be-
fore the astounded host, amid the
quizzical surprise of the staff officers,
she told her story Of the soldier-thief,
and then. overcome with modification,
turned with a sob to apologize to
Washington. Arising from his place.
he took her hand and gallantly kissed
it, saying: think no more of it, my
dear madam" with a motion toward
the we'll furnished table; "surely 1 can
say with your countryman, Sir Philip
Sidney, His need is greater than
mine.'"
1t is no wonder that in after years,
Mrs. McDermett avowed that to be
thus consoled by General Washington
was we'll worth all the chagrin and
embarrassment that had been caused
by the sudden loss of the turkey
St. Nicholas.