The Washington herald., 1907-03-10
FUN With LANKY STRANGER
Two Indiana Lawyers Ride with
Awkward Abe Lincoln.
They Thought They Had Scared Him
with a Wild Theory About
Comet, but Learned Better.

III ISIS Thomas II. Nelson, q leading
Terre Haute lawyer. and ex-Gov Ham
n5ad. Of Indiana, travelled together from
Terre Haute to the capital 10y the old
stage coach route. along the National
road. recalls the indianapolis News. It
was ID rainy morning when al one O'Clock
they climbed 10 their seats over the legs
Of "a sleepy lone occupant OF the back
half of the inside Of the stage. When
they rallied him on taking so much OF
the best space ne unlimbered and.
Strengthened up. apoIogized in homespun
phrases for the seeming obtrusiveness.
but NE said he had been Up all night
coming from Illinois and could hardly
keep his eyes open.
when they reached the old Cunning
ham tavern, sixteen miles out from the
Prairie City. the driver Of the outfit
stopped to feed and water the horses
and give the three hungry passengers an
opportunity 10 take d hasty breakfast
To was stiU raining, and the awkward
man Of the back seat jumped out into the
mud and courteously held his umbrella
over Messrs Nelson and Hammond as
hC conducted them into the public house
breakfast room.
Ia was the year of the great comet
which extended from the zenith TO the
Western horizon; and the clouds grad
ugIlv disappearing with the coming dawn.
they ali became intUDJy interested in the
wonderful phenomenon. and talked about
IL as they continued their way. Nelson
was "a witty man, and thought 90 have
some fun At the strangers expense. and
when the man, in apparent open-mouthCd
wonder. asked him what he thought
about the celestial visitaut. and whether
il rorteuded danger be answered that IL
might turn out 50. and ''Le wouldn't be
a hit surprised If the darned thing would
twist its tail around the earth and go
of with it, The man expressed the
utmost fear OF IT, and wondered what
they had better do. 50 Nelson and Ham
mond enjoyed TO their hearts content
the mans seeming apprehension, and did
all they could to increase 10 as they went
on their tedious way toward Indianapolis
With a flourish of his whip and sound
ing of his horn. the driver pulled up IT
the cid Bates House and unloaded his
baggage and passengers. The two COM
rades took ii room together, while they
lost sight Of the third man from Illinois
Shortly aftcrward Nelson went from bis
room 70 the hotel Office 10 give some di-
recti0ns 70 the clerk, when his attention
was attracted to "a number Of lawyers
sitting on the veraBd8 Of the hotel
among wnom he recognized Col. r w
Thompson and J. +. Mcdonald and sev-
cral other prominent Indiana attorneys
who had assembled to attend the session
Of the Supreme Court. Seeing they were
having great enjoyment from q recital of
closely and discovered To his c7nstcrua-
ton his late travelling companion relating
TO the upr0arious company the account
of his journey from Terre Haute. Hear
ing his own name mentioned. Nelson
stepped back To the clerk and asked the
name Of the tail. awkward man who WAS
talking and laughing with these lawyers
Why said the clerk. don't YOU know
him? That's Abe Lincoln, of Springfield,
one of the best lawyers and one OF the
greatest iokers In Illinois"
Nelson rushed back 20 hts room and
gave the information TO Hammond.
The governors eyes opened wide and
his face showed great alarm. Without
saying "A word he put back into his grip
sack the clean shirt he had intended TO
put on for dinner at the Bates. and both
he and Nelson gathered up their belong
iugS. slipped down a back stairway, and
went over TO the other hOtel-thc Old
Palmer House.
More than two years later, and more
than forty-siX years ago, Mr.. Lincoln,
Pres ident-elect, was on his way TO Wash
ington for his Inauguration. and a great
company Of "ius and outs Office holders
and office seekers-stcpped here with him
% dine at the Bates House
Col Nelson came in a little late and
was being shown into the diniug-rocm.
crowded with a galaxy OF hungry guests.
when suddenly a great long arm. with "a
bony hand attached TO il. reached out
and caught hold Of his COattail. bringing
him to a haSty halt Then TaucOuS
voice cried out: So. Nelson. do YOU
think, sure enough, that the d3rned thing
Will twist its tail around the earth and
get off with it,"