The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-09-21
THE NAJOR IS REMINISCENT
PAT MAINLAND or ALABAMA
~ NAMING rs 4 VISIT.
iced - Gene Up prem the ssath Pretty
Often when He Was OstPaetSed for
NottnG for Grant the NrN IOrk -
the Early 'JOs-Chu war Days.

Often when Ne VAS OstPaeiSed Tor
NOtinE for Grant the NsN IOrh -
the Early 'JOs Ci,u VAR Days
Major q = kirkland 81 Birmingham.
Ala ~ paving his first visit to New York
ia thirty wears He used to come here
frequently. bat somehow he got 81 busy
that he could never get a chance to come.
This summer, however. he made up his
mind To- break away and come. He Ia
tall, with " hisk ers somewhat on the Dun
dreary pattern. though he il stouter than
the usual figure worn with such trimmings.
His card bears the legend. 81 y Kirkland.
Promoter though. az he saws. he a
better known ~ Pat Kirkland
i saw the first gun fired ON Fort Sum
ter said the Major. seating himself in
one of the RrmchAirs IN the inner lobby
At the Imperial yesterday At that
time ! was a member ~ the First South
Carolina. under Colonel. later General.
Havw ard. and on the day uf the attack
was the Colonel's orderly II was just
before daylight that the shot which was
more of n signal than anything else was
fired II was fired from mortar and a
prettier sight have never beheld than
that redhpt thing that went up like a
rocket. curved through the air and came
down on the fort
Our battery was on Morris Island and
IL had been training for that first shot
for weeks The ~ hole Of Charleston lined
the waterfront Of the city and there were
a lot - people from outside IN town for
the occasion After We had fired the first
shot all the other batteries took up the
A.. I,.N l.
from Fort sumter until along toward
: clock
Soon after the Confederacy was organ
iZed I went ~ Virginia just before the
first battle 81 Manassas | was in the
infantry then. and then later got into the
artillery.
After the war ! lived in Charleston |
for a time. hut when Grant came up for
election voted for him. II was not
q matter 81 political principle AZ all. he-
caus" | really had no politics. I was just |
an enthusiastic adnirer Of tho General |
Nv voting for him was a great mistake |
for me. I reckon. for II led To my complete |
social u-tracism | lost all tho social |
standing ! had az home and that = how |
got into the habit IT coming 10 New |
York I used Ia come w here every /
year. and often"r u could get the chance
Then ] went to birmingham. Ala, then /
: little village. and since have heen there
have h+en So busy that until recently
have never had chance To- get - far
away from home.
I used 10 know Central Park whom it
was up IN the woods Where the Gould
lous~ - now you could buy land by tho
Icr~. ! used Ia go up To tho races At
Jerome Park. for | have hsen somewhat |
4 sport in my day. when it took all
lay ~ get Their" ! was in New York
ghsn they wsrc building the Gilsav Hotaa
which was regarded "a a foolish expert
n"ut h"CauS' II was 50 far uptown
They were talking about building tho
levat"d railroads n, those DAYS and many
~rsons thought they could never -
n those days. and favoTits' place ~
e-ort Nith' me Vas the old Rooth Theatre.
i hen ] was here Wh"n 'hsv first nut on
IN" BLACK Crook AT NIhlo- II wasn't
'onsIdered quite resIsCtAhl" 70 60 To zee
. hut ! took II in. The old HaynArket
Sas going IN those DAYS and Il was q
pretty tough place.
-Coney Island was then a tough reaort
where the tough element ~ tho city
lad To congreEaie on Sundays. I have
zen amazed Ia learn that now IL II quite
hs thing for respectable persons To 60
here AZ any time. Everybody who came
% New York used 10 ~ taken 90 Harry
ILLS, which was Haid 10 h. the most
iefe ptitabl" resort IN the world. | don Z
NACtlV rement-.r whore IL was. but there
ras dog fighting and chicken fighting
md every other Kind ~ fighting
\ was in New York when Jim Fisk
Tas killed | used 10 stop AZ the New
'Ork Hotel. which was then considered
ne ~ the best eating places 10 the world :
here YOU could have "a fine room with =
u your meals for 81 a dav n wasn't
ard "a find a gambling game Of any kind
n those days. and remembering how
asy u was for a thirsty soul 20 get a drink ,
N Sundays ! have been amazed 10 learn
hat II u now practically impossible
: least have been told 80. ! have. only
Passing curiosity in the matter
Birmingham. Said the Mai or. is the '
asIest place in the world To make money
Nhy. ] know Of a small lot that was sold
Tithtn the last twenty five wears for SIPS
ThICh recently brought tl0I 0ED But
arm talking about New York DO Won
nov the only place ! have recognized
~ Broadway i the ~ DENIS Hotel u
'--. 81 Cours" there were green goods =
lsn in those ia vs. and the clothing msr "a
hantS along the Bowery used 10 trv 10
ulI you into their stores have he-n
ver To look ~ the Pennsylvania station u
~ marvellous Why. remember J.
then q you wanted TO go anywhere on A
.ong Island u would taxi. Won Who'll.
ay 90 make the Journey nave h,e..n 4.
njovinR myself IN New York 49, much "
tis time, Just seeing how much u has u
hanged, that sort uf don liz" the idea v
going back home =.
Then the Major SAID som" more about :.