The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-12-21

New Mexico, has been coming to the
front every now and then. Half n
century ago he surprised his brother
printers OH Milwaukee paper by say
Ing that he was going to Kansas.
Those were the days when 1t was not
very wholesome for an Abolitionlst
like Mr. Ross to locate In Kansas. But
he went there and in 1861 enlisted.
At the end of the war he was cap
tain. After the war lie engaged in the
newspaper business and won consider
able prominence.
Through one of those sudden i'm
pulses for which Kansas has been
known ever since she became n men,
ber of the family of States, Captain
Ross was elected to the United States
Senate; but he made himself very un-
popular with his people by voting
against the impeachment of President
Andrew johnson. BY the way, to-day
1t Is not easy to find any one who does
not commend Captain Rose for that
act. He returned to Kansas about as
dead, politically, as an Egyptian num-
my that has been in the show busl-
ness for 5000 years.
From that time until Grover Cleve-
land became President, Mr.. Ross had
many difficulties to overcome in get
ting on in the world but lie was pa
tient. n hard worker, and respected.
A dozen years ago he was Journey
man printer on paper In New Mex
leo. The foreman discovered, while
cutting copy dispatch which he
knew would be of vital interest to
Printer Ross, and so hung it on the
hook that Mr.. Ross would get the
take The old printer entered the
office. hung up his coat and hat. rolled
up the sleeve Of his right arm, incloscd
his stick In his left hand, while his
thumb and finger drew from his vest
pocket long used and well worn
printers rule.
For moment he stood and looked
through the dusty window, and
thought Of his hard lot, and maybe
wondered If better dny would come
some time. He had 10 substantial
reason for thinking such day would
come. Then he walked to the hook,
lifted take, and returned to the case,
put OH his steel bowed spectacles, a
cheap pair, placed the copy In position,
looked Mt 1t, Strengthened up, and
looked again. Then the spectacles
came Off and were carefully cleaned
Then he looked again, and as he
brought his two hands to his face and
bowed his head on the case, brother
printer heard him say, Thank Cod
THE old printer, soldier, Senator
had come to the front again. That
which so intensely interested him, and
for which he gave thanks, was dis
patch announcing that he had been
appointed and confirmed Governor of
New Mexico. The new Governor
pulled himself together as quickly as
he could, hurried on his coat and hat,
and started for the humble home
where wife and daughters were as
much surprised as lie had been. and
they showed 1t in tears of gratitude
and by giving him hugs and kisses ga
lore.
Captain Ross gave Now Mexico a
good administration, but when be re-
tired he again returned to obscurity.
The other day, true to tradition, he
came to the front again. Uncle Sam
increased his pension from $12 to $50
a month, and every one who knows
him, or knows his history, feels like
thanking the government for remem-
bering the old fellow"
'"The old boys" said Dan r. Ander-
son, "are all the time coming to the
front in different ways. Those stories
about stopping cannon balls with the
feet reminded me that saw one poor
fellow try to stop rolling cannon ball
by putting out his foot, and that the
result was broken leg. AS l Won
dcred what had become of him and
how he explained the loss of his leg
70 his children and grandchildren,
there came to my mind little expert
ence of my own with shells, which
was outside the army regulations and
rules of war.
in May, 1868. took a stroll over
the battle-ground OF Stone River. The
evidences of II hard fought battle lay
thick on every hand-unexpl0ded
shells, both fuse and pcrcussion; round
solid shot, mimic balls literally covered
the ground whereon lay the First Ken
lucky infantry In support of the can
mons massed against the charge of the
Rebels under command Of General
Brecklnridge on the left of our line. |
have bullets picked up on that spot
by me that May day.
Every one who has seen Stone Riy-
er knows that 1t was rightly named.
VI some places the river flowed
against solid mass of rock thirty or
forty feet high, and in other places
had cnt away the rock till 1t was near
ly hidden from view. In one Of these
places l had II miniature battle all by
my lonely self, pretty nearly, till !
was re-enforced by squad OF cavalry
and section OF artillery. 1t all hap