Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-12-16

Watrous, Edmund G. Ross. now of
New Mexico, has been coming TO the
front every now and then. Half a
century ago he surprised his brother
printers on a Milwaukee paper by say
ing that he was going to Kansas
Those We're the days when it was not
very wholesome for an Abolitiouist-
like Mr.. Ross TO locate in Kansas. But
he went there, and in 1861 enlisted.
AT the END of the war he was a cap
tain. After the war he 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 a mem
Der 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 10 find any one who does
| not commend Captain Rose for that
act He returned to Kansas about as
dead politically. as an Egyptian mum
my that has been in the show bust
ness for 1900 years.
From that time until Grover Cleve-
land became President MIR Ross had
many difficulties TO overcome in get
ting on in the world; but he was pa
rent hard worker. and respected.
A dozen years ago he was a journey
man printer on a paper in New Mex
| leo. The fore man discovered while
cutting copy a dispatch which he
knew would be of vital interest to
Printer Ross and so hung ii 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. inclosed
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 day would come
some time. He had no substantial
reason for thinking such day would
come Then he walked TO the hook.
lifted Il take, and returned to the case.
put on his steel bowed spectacIes. n
cheap pair, placed the copy in position,
looked at it, Strengthened M. and
looked again. Then the spcctacles
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 God
The old printer, soldier. Senator.
had come to the front again. That
which so intensely interested him. aud
for which he gave thanks, was a dis
patch announcing that he had been
| appointed snd 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 he had been and
they showed 1t IN tears Of gratitude
and by giving him hugs and kisses "a.
lore
Captain Ross gave Now Mexico q
good administration, but when he re
tired he again returned to ohscurity
The other day, true to tradition. he
came to the front again Uncle Sam
{ 10
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 10 the
front in different ways Those stories
about stopping cannon balls with the
feet reminded me that ! saw one poor
fellow try to stop n rolling cannon ball
by putting out his foot. and that the
result was broken leg AS | won
dered what had become Of him aud
how he explained the loss Of his leg
10 his children and grandchildren.
there came TO my mind a little expert
ence of my own with shells. which
was outside the army regulations and
rules of war
I'm May, 1863. / took stroll over
the battle ground Of Stone River. The
evidences of hard fought battle lay
thick on every hand -unexploded
shells. both fuse and percussion 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
Breckenridge on the left Of our line. /
have bullets picked up on that spot
by me that May day.
Every one who has seen stone Riv-
er knows that IT was rightly named.
In some places the river flowed
against a solid mass Of rock thirty or
forty feet high, and in other places