West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-06-16
SIDE LIGHTS ON QUAY
Pennsylvania Senator's Method
of Outwitting Reporters.
An IsslAEoE OF HIS BRAVERY.

HOW Ills Presence OF Mind stopped
n Panic In the Civu war-rhc sem
ator's Mythical Namcsai<e-An Ex-
perience with Coach Driver In
the AdirondacI<s.
The late Senator Matthew S. Quay's
ability to give newspaper men the slip
Is shown by the following incident,
says the Philadelphia Telegraph.
Senator Quay reached the Stratford
House in Philadelphia at Z p. m. one
night. His arrival quickly became
known TO the newspaper men, who
planned 10 bottle" him, to the end
that he might not escape them, as ho
had frequently done before. A bold
dozen reporters stood watch at the
Broad street entrance 20 the hotel, two
others from the Press and Times
standing guard at the Walnut street
exit An agreed that the senator was
bottled sure. An hour passed. and the
Press man fumbled In his vest pocket
for cigar, but could find none. The
Times man also fumbled with a like
result. Tho night was cold and the
vigil tiresome. A smoke, they agreed,
would greatly relieve the teiiousness
of the watch. They finally decided
that IL would be safe 60 leave their
post long enough 20 cross Brond street
and Tight up" at the Bellevue. They
hurrledly crossed and returned, pulling
contentedly, TO renew the watch
Another hour passed. Then Pitts
burg correspondent walked up 20 the
group OF writer's at the Broad street
entrance. "What are you fellows do
ing hcreT was his greeting. ''Walting
for Quay. Got him bottled up" was
the reply. Their confidence, however,
gave way 10 chagrin when told that
Quay had left the hotel by the Walnut
street door, The group as one man
hastened 10 the watchers at that point
to demand an accounting. The latter
scofed. Quay gone; impossibleP But
the truth could not be suppressed. The
guilty pair owned up 10 dereliction
OF two minutes dur ton. Quay had
slipped out IN those two minutes. A
long and f-uitless search for the sena-
tor then ensued. At II p. m. the "old
man" returned 10 tue hotel. The ro-
porters were invited 70 his room, when
Quay stretched both arms above his
head and yawned, ooh, I'm so tIredw
That was the extent Of the interview.
Then IL was that reporter briefly de-
scribed the offense OF the two faithless
watchers, closing by saying:
How would you punish such q de-
Hnduency, scnatorY There was mer.
ry light IN Quay's eyes rs he answered:
"In the army they shoot sentinel
who deserts liis post"
"a great many persons do not know
that Senator Quay won deserved rep
utation FOR bravery In the civil war"
said Or Edward Bedloe az the Wal.
dorf-Astoria hotol TO the New York
correspondent Of tho Philadelphia Pub.
lie Ledger. 1T wus IN the charge UP
on Marye's heights. where Quay was a
volunteer aid ddc-camp. When an cf.
fort was made to rally the breaking
line he noticed backward movement
among the men.
ID Il. boys hc cried, what arc
you dodging for2 n j cnn sit on my
horse and the bullets go over my head,
they certainly can't hit your His pres
N'tNN ~ tnt'A Nf'IiNa tit Htllts
Quay was once riding from Cleveland
to Toledo on train TO the rear OF
which We're hitched two immigrant
cars. says the New York Press. AtD
O'Clock In the evening a man entered
the Pullman car where the senator sat
and said:
Ladies and gentlemen. child has
just been born In one OF the immigrant
cars. It's boy, and, though we are in
Ohio, ! anu Pennsylvania. As Sena.
tor Quay Is on the train. II IL proposed
to name the baby Quay CobeieslI and
that we all chip in and raise a purse
for him."
They clipped. Quay contributed 50,
snyiDg he was proud OF the honor. The
man passed on into the next car with
$50. An hour later Il was learned that
no child had been born on the train
and that the fellow had raised $50 and
dropped on at a way station.
mr.. Quay and a shrowd Adirondack
native once figured In the following IN.
eldent says the Philadelphia Public
Ledger When the senator went 20 the
AdiFondacks some time ago TO prepare
for the return home OF bis family. he
rode up the mountain I'm a coach that
was disiressingly tardy and which was
following after another that, II pos.
bible, was even slower. He chafed for
n time at the pace and then hit upon
q plan he thought would serve 10 speed /
both teams Ho leaned over to The
driver and offered a dollar if the latter /
would get ahead Of tho team Ia front /
The driver smilingly agreed and then /
raised his voice 90 say. "Hcy, / say,
Bill Bnl! Turn yer rig 90 the sido |
Of the road, viii yer7 There's a guy
here says he'l give me o dollar if / I