The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-02-06
VETERANS IN THE CITY.

Comrade D. o. Clements brought two
superb horses to the city from East St.
Louis for the Presidents tables. The
horses are not the personal property of
the President, but belong to the Gov
eminent. having been purchased by
the Quartermaster's Department. They
are saddle horses, and it Ia understood
by employees of that Department that
they are designed for use of Mrs. Roose-
welt and other ladies of the White
House, as both are ladies' mounts. Com
rade Clements is a Special agent of the
Quartermaster's Department, and has
been for nearly 10 years. His duties
bring him to the Capital two or three
times year, sometimes oftener, and
send him to all quarters of the coun-
try. Quite recently he went to Seattle
in charge of number of men, having
the care of large number of mules
consigned by the Government to the
Philippines and elsewhere. He served
in Co. A, 18th Pa. Cav, and removed
to st. Louis in 1866. His travels en-
able him to come into social contact
with comrades all over the Union and
he does not neglect his opportunities.
He has a great desire to ride from
Washington to Harper's Ferry, but thus
far he has not been able to secure con-
sent of his chiefs in the Department to
take the necessary time. He has a live
ly recollection of a trip in which he
participated which is the cause of this
active desire. When in the service,
with his command, encamped at a Po-
tomac point, that, so far as he can
recall. had no name On any map, he,
with two comrades, responded to a call
for men to carry dispatches to Harper's
Ferry, in 1864, by the shortest route.
That meant thru the country then oc-
cur;ed by the enemy. They were sew
orally supplied with copies of the dis
patches, but set out together, being al
lowed to determine for themselves by
what methods they would execute the
orders to bear and deliver the docu-
ments. They crossed the river after
dark, and finding that their horses could
be heard far, they dismounted and drew
all the shoes off the animals, which
greatly reduced the clatter their prog
resS made. as they rode on I'm the darK-
ness following unkhown roads, never
certain whittier they led, always ex-
pecting to be commanded by an enemy
to halt and give an account of them
selves. Now, don't let your hair stand
up in fright or your heart stand still
in fear for what befell them, for they
did an almost unbelievable thing-they
reached Harper's Ferry unchallenged
till halted by the Federal rickets around
that place. They neither saw nor heard
human being in all that ride, yet 1t
was thru territory occupied and dill
gently guarded by the enemy. 1t was
one of the extraordinary things that
occur in war.
Isaac r. Lane, GAINESVILLE, o. Com
rade Lane, who served in the Gath Ohio
as Sergeant, has been most of the time
since the war agent for the Baltimore
& Ohio at GAINESVILLE, which has now
grown to a pleasant little city of 5000
inhabitants, with important manufac-
tories. 1t has two glass factories. max
ing window glass. and the Watt Mining
Car Wheel Company. a great establish
ment which sends its products all over
the country. Natural gas has helped
GAINESVILLE, and there are many wells
in the neighborhood Of the city,, with
supplies brought in also from farther
off. Comrade Lane says that in his inn
mediate section the sentiment is over
whelmingly for Taft. He and his wife
are on a visit to his son in this city. Maj.
Rufus H. Lane, who is Assistant Adju-
tant-General and Inspector Of the Ma
rine Corps. and has been In the service
\ 20 yAasA