The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-07-06
TWO FIGHTS
AND A TEMPERANCE LECTURE I'M
ONE TUG.

A scene laid in the police court of
Bath, n. Y, few days ago, demon
strated that the fighting qualities in a
jug of Scoth whisky are in no wise I'M
! paired, though the aforesaid jug may
rest on the bottom of a mill pond for a
half century before its pugiliStic pro-
clivlties are again tested.
Forty-four years ago, when the cloud
of civil war was darkening the national
horizon, Robert and Alexander Nc
Gregor, brothers, were at work in a
bayfield, on their fathers farm, the late
Donald McGregor, on Campbell Greek,
a few miles south of this village. The
father, native Scot, by thrift and in
dustry had won for himself one of the
handsomest and most extensive proper
ties in the community While otliciat-
ing as an elder in the Presbyterian
| Church at Bath the elder McGregor
was nevertheless ''canny Scot" and
had brought with him to the home of
his adoption not alone the dialect, but
also most of the customs of his bonnie
Scotland. So, as was his wont in har-
vest time, there reposed in a spring on
the field gallon jug of Scotch whisky
upon which, to accelerate their efforts
and maintain their spirits, the harvest
hands made draughts after every sec
Ond load had been safely housed in the
large barns.
On the afternoon in question, Robert,
the youngest of the two brothers, who,
with other farm hands, had been dis
cussing the paramount question of the
war, accused Alexander OF lack of suf-
ticlent courage to enlist in support of
the Union cause. Both brothers, having
imbibed freely of the jug, were ripe for
a discussion, which soon came to blows
The father separated the belligerants,
and, divining that the contents of the
foolish quarrel, after brief but forci-
BILE argument in favor of temperance,
hurled the receptacle into a mill pond
which bordered the field. In his settle
ment of the argument the elder Nc
Gregor was unusually severe in his
reprimand to Robert, whom he held
responsible for beginning the quarrel
This rebuke angered the younger broth
er, who, after the load had been drawn
to the barn, was suddenly missed. This
was the last time for forty-four years
he was ever seen by his family. When
the morning came and Robert had not
returned home, fears were entertained
that he had committed suicide. A fruit
less search was made of all places in the
vicinity where his body was likely to be
found. Days passed into weeks, and
weeks into months, then finally letter
came from the missing lad. He had
enlisted and was then at the front, a
corporal in the Fourteenth New York.
After the battle of Gettysburg Roberts
name was reported among the killed.
In the fall of 1864, the McGregors
rented their farm and moved to Min
nesota, near the village of Kasson,
where each took up a homestead. They
remained there five years, and then re-
turned to their old homestead on Camp
bell Creek. Alexander married and as
sumed the management of the farm,
the father having aged rapidly. Among
the children born to Alexander was a
boy who was named Robert, after his
uncle. The elder McGregor soon after
died.
A few weeks ago Alexander McGreg-
or received letter postmarked Day
tona, Fla. Greatly to his surprise he
found it was from his brother Robert,
so long mourned as dead. The letter
explained that Robert had not been
killed at Gettysburg, as reported, but
had been taken prisoner and confined
VII oCIlO lo1Ilus w uOu 1CICdoC
came, eighteen months later, he began
tour of the South, wandering from
point to point, until he settled in the
Indian River territory in Florida. Here
his natural aptitude for fruit-growing
gave him an advantage of which he
was not slow to avail himself. Gradual
ly his business grew until today he owns
extensive orange groves and can write
his check up to the six mark figure, and
have it honored. Robert stated that a
few months after locating in the South,
he had written two letters to his brother
at the old home, but they were returned
from the dead-letter office. This was
while Alexander and his father we're in
the West. The first apprisal Robert
had that Alexander was still on the old
homestead was from Hiram Van Vie
of Howard. N. Y, who spent the past
winter in Florida, and with whom Rob-
ert sought acquaintance when he learn
ed Van Vie was also from old Steuben
county.
Alexander fastened to reply to the
letter, extending to Robert the hearth