The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-06-01
ANECDOTES ABOUT LEE
Virginia Generals Fight With
a Comanche Indian.
INCIDENTS OF HIS COLLEGE DAYS

Advised Special Care of Dull Stu
dents-His Little Trick of RecOgni-
tion Prospective Fun of an Old
Comrade In Arms-His Experience
With "a Telephone Operator Not Fa-
miIiar With the Generals Name.
Many stories are told of the reckless
daring and the brilliant fighting of the
late General F'itZ-Hugh Lee Of Virginia
his graduation from West Point, says
the New York Times. In one Of his
fights with the Comanche Indians he
met chief more tlAl six feet in
height and all bones and muscles and
sinews.- The chief attacked Lee and
tried to stab him. Lee had revoly-
er in his hand and fired, but the red
man grabbed the barrel and sent the
bullet wide of it's mark. Lee then
dropped the revolver and rushed in up
On the Indian and Rugged him, though
the latter held his bowie knife poised
and ready to plunge into his adversary.
They wrestied long and fiercely, but
finally Lee used the old Virginia ''back
heel trip" which he had learned as a
boy, and felled the Indian. Before the
warrior could rise Lee recovered his re-
yolver and shot him to death.
Professor Charles A. Graves Of the
University of Virginia Law school re-
lates the following anecdote Of General
Lee, says the Louisville KyD Times:
when had taken my masters de-
gree at Washington and Lee during the
presidency Of General Lee became an
instructor in the law department. One
morning General Lee met me on the
campus and in his kindly way asked
me how I was getting on. 1 replied
that | was making it very we'll, but
made some allusion to the dull boys 10
the class
"'Mr. Graves said General Lee in
his quiet, serious manner, I hope you
will follow the stage drivers rule
"'What is that? 1 asked. 1 could not
see how any rule of the driver of
stagecoach could be of value to law
teacher
"Lool out for the poor horses, SIR
replied the general, and he bowed with
his usual courtesy and passed on.
have always tried to look out for the
poor horses
Hundreds of poor horses" scattered
over the United States have cause to
thank Old Charley, as the boys call
Professor Graves, for his conscientious
following of the advice given him by
General Lee.
General Lee was the most accom-
plished manager of men, if that be the
right term, that | have ever known,
said Professor Graves. Il have been
walking with him when he would see a
student approaching. The general
would ask me the name of the young
man, where he was from, whether his
parents were living and how he was
standing III bis classes. When the STU
dent came 10 to rs General Lee would
speak to him, calling him by name.
would ask when he heard from lis
mother-we will say his father was
dead-remark he was glad to hear he
had shown recent improvement in his
class standing and urge him to show
the same advance the next month, and,
wishing him good day, would pass on.
The boy would go his way, wondering
that man at the head Of university
having 600 or 700 students should have
such detailed information concerning
unit of the student body. This had a
powerful effect upon students, the be-
lief that the personal course Of each
man in the university was being watch
ed with such close interest by the pres
ident."
On one occasion when General Lee,
who distinguished himself in the Con-
federate service, was visiting West Vir
ginia he met an old comrade in arms,
whose reception was somewhat frigid,
says the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
"Well, what's the matter?" said Gen
eral Lee.
ooh, nothing much" was the non
committal reply.
"There is something wrong" persist
ed the general. "Out with it! What
do you wantT'
After being strenuously urged the old
comrade said:
"Well, l want to die at least half an
hour before you do. want to be in
the other world when you arrive there,
just to hear what General Jubal Early
says when be sees you in blue uni
FORM"
General Lee received much attention
during one Of his visits to the United
States from Cuba. He had stories to