The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1909-02-13
LsocOln Helped an Emi9rant..

true story, never before published, OF
how Lincoln helped an emigrant COM
ing west:
"Mr. j B. Bates relates the follow
ing characteristic story of Abraham
Lincoln which was told him some years
ago by Mr. Gordon, a venerable and
highly respected citizen of Logan cOun-
ty, since dead. 1t was back in the
fifties, when MIR. Gordon was attending
court at old POstville- then the county
seat of Logan county. Mr. Lincoln,
Judge Samuel H Treat, Richard Yates
and other prominent attorneys from
Springfield and elsewhere in the circuit
were present. 1t was late In the sum
mer, or early autumn and the weather
was hot and the water at the PostViile
hotel was bad. Mr.. Lincoln one morn
ing at the hotel commented on the poor
water and said he would not mind it so
much if he could only get watermeions
to eat, but he had not been able to find
one in town. He expressed surprise
that some of the settlers in that COM
munity did not think to provide the
D. ople with substitute for drinking
water at such a season by raising
patch of melons Mr. Gordon who was
fine patch of watermeions at home and
IL MIR, Lincoln would drive out with
HIM he could have all he could eat and
as many as he could bring hack with
him The suggestion pieased Mr.. Lin
coin and he mentioned it to the other
lawyers and the Judge who were 1T the
hotel. The idea took and as Mr. Cor
don extended the invitation to all, they
concluded to accept. There was an ab-
sent witness or a sick juror and the
judge adjournt d court for the day.
few minutes later the Judge and
lawyers were loaded into four or five
buggies and on their way to the Gordon
homestead, some eighteen miles dis
tant The road led northeast, good
deal of the way across an open prairie.
As they were driving merrilv along
they came to a pond through which the
road led and which was passable in dry
weather, but around which there was
longer route for use In wet weather.
On this occasion the pond WAS covered
with water and mud and our company
took the dry route around. but they
discovered that some poor emigrant.
going the other way, had been less dis
Greet. BOurd for the west with his
wife ard child and his earthly all in II
wagon with one yoke of oxen, he had
taken the short cut and was mired
down about midway OF the pond, The
poor feIlaW was out wading about in
the mud and water Try Jog to urge his
team on. But helabOF anl coax and
threaten as he would the e6eR would
not bulge, The mans unfortunate
predicament was commented on by our
company, but like the Levite, they
were proceeding to pass by on the
other side when Mr. LincpIn, whose
buggy was SomeW hat in the rear, called
out, why, men. you aFS not geing to
leave that poor fellow in that fix, are
you?" "What can we do for him?
came back the answer. :tWe can not
GO in there" 'Well, will do some
thing for him. said Mr. Lincoln as he
stopped his buggy and aligbted. He
proceeded at once to take off his coat
and vest and then his she 8 and stock
ings. He then rolled up his pants abov e
his knees and started into the slough of
towards the objects of his
sympathy. His tall, lank, ungainIy
form, divested OF hat, coat and vest.
and with legs bare to the
knees. presented lgdicreqa spectacle
and shouts OF laughter arose from the
crowd who were looking on, But Mr.
Lincoln needed it not, but waded on
till he reached the wagon He took
the whip from TIM hand of the driver
and tod him 90 60 around on the other
side and when he Raye the word to yell
as he never did before. Mr. Lincoln
then raised the CAD and as he brought
it down on the oxen uttered a whoop
like a Comanche Indian, in unison
with the yell OF the owner, The af-
frighted animals sprang forward nor
did they halt until thev had landed thu
wagon and it's precious cargo on firm
ground.
After they were safely ant Mr.. Lin |
coin remarked to those present, .iTheFe |
ia poor mover on his way to the west !
to take up home. If in the future |
should ever h4ppen his way in hunger
and distress | have ma doubt he would
take me in al d divide ais last loaf with I
me-" yes" said the wife who now
Doked her head out of the covered
Pagon, "God bless you, we would give
it all to you" Mr. Lincoln washed
he mud from his legs and feet rein
rested himself with his clothing and
he party went On their way. There
vas a great feast of WateFRelons at
Farmer GordOn's that day, but the in
'ident above ali others that made the
rip memorable was the humane act of
he man who was destined to undying
anne as one of earth's greatest rulers