Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-06-22
WARD
HILL
LAMON,
His Friend.
Partner
and
Bodysuard


.'of seeing Mr.. Lincoln out Of temper
and laughing at the same time. 1t was
at New Salem. The boys were having
a jollifcation after an election. They
had q large fire made Of slavings and
hemp stalks, and some of the boys
made bet with a fellow that I shall
call Ike that he couldn't run his little
bobtail pony through the fire. Ike took
them up and trotted his pony back
about hundred yards to give him a
good start, as he said. The boys all
formed a line on either side to make
way for Ike and his pony. Presently
here he came, full tilt, with his hat
off, and, just as he reached the blazing
fire, Ike raised in his saddle for the
jump straight ahead But the pony was
not Of the same opinion, so he flew the
track and pitched poor Ike into the de
vouring element Mr.. Lincoln saw it
and ran to his assistance, saying, You
have carried this thing far enough l
could see he was mad, though he could
not help laughing himself. The poor
fellow was considerably scorched about
the head and face. Jack Armstrong
took him to the doctor, who shaved his
head to fix him up and put salve'on the
burn. 1 think Mr.. Lincoln was little
mad at Armstrong, and Jack himself
was very sorry for it. Jack gave Ike
next morning dram, his breakfast
and sealskin cap and sent him home.'
One cold winter day Lincoln saw a
poor fellow named Alb Trent hard at
work chopping up house which Mr..
Hill had employed him to convert into
firewood. Alb was barefooted and shiv-
cred pitifully while he worked. Lin
coin watched him a few moments and
asked him what he was to get for the
job. Alb answered, Zone dollar" and,
pointing to his naked and suffering
feet, said that he wished to buy a pair
Of shoes.
Lincoln seized the ak and, ordering
the boy to comfort himself at the near
est fire, chopped up the house so fast
that Alb and the owner were both
amazed when they saw it done. Ac-
eording to Mr.. Rutledge, Sab remem-
bered this act with the liveliest graft
tude. Once he, being cast iron Dem
party and for Mr.. Lincoln, but the
friends, as he afterward said, with
tears in his eyes, made him drunk, and
he had voted against Abe. Thus he did
not even have an opportunity to return
the noble conduct Of Mr.. Lincoln by
this small measure Of thanks"
Champion of the Oppressed.
We have given some instances Of Mr..
Lincoln's unfailing disposition to sue
cor the weak and the unfortunate. He
never seems to have hesitated on ac-
count Of actual or fancied danger to
himself, but boldly espoused the side
of the oppressed against the oppressor,
whoever. or whatever the latter might
be. In fsticuff or a rough and tumble
fight he was one Of the most formidable
men of the region in which he lived. 1t
took big bully and a persevering one
to force him into collision; but, being
in, his enemy found good reason to be-
ware Of him. He was cool, calculating,
but swift in action and terribly strong.
Nevertheless he never promoted a
quarrel and would be at infinite trouble
any time to compose one. An unneces-
sary broil gave him pain, and whenever
there was the slightest hope Of sue
cessfuI mediation, whether by soft
speech or by the strong hand, he was
instant and fearless for peace. His
good nature, his humor, his fertility In
expedients and his alliance, offensive
and defensive, with Jack Armstrong
made him almost irresistible in his be-
nevolent efforts to keep the ordinary
ruffian Of New Salem within decent
bounds
! If he was talking to Squire Godbey
or Row Herndon leach of them gives in
cidents of the kind), and he heard the
sounds or saw the signs which betoken
row in the street, he would jump up
| saying, Lets go and stop it, He
would push through the ring which was
generally formed around the combat.
| ants and, after separating the latter
| would demand truce and "a talk >
and so soon as he got them to talking
| the victory was his. If it happened to
| be rough Jack himself who was at the
/ bottom Of the disturbance, he usually
| duct, and offered to treat, or do any.
| thing else that would atone for his bru-
| tally.
Lincoln has often been seen in the old
mill on the river bank to lift a box OF
stones weighing from a thousand tc
twelve hundred pounds OF course II
!; was not done by straight lift Of the
! hands. He was harnessed to the box
with ropes and straps. 1t was even
( said he could easily raise a barrel OF
whisky to his mouth when standing
upright and take drink out Of the
! bunghole, but of course one cannot be
| | lieve it. Frequent exhibitions Of such
strength doubtless had much to do with
| his ,unbounded influence over the rough.
er class OF men sz.F: xsast
: n 4