Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-08-02
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Little Story Of Two
Great Commanders
by "HOIIand."
BY "HOlland."

Yesterday told how Chester A.
Arthur, shortly after becoming presi-
dent of the United States in 1881,
acted as night Waterman in the Treas
ury Building for ten minutes TO-day's
lanecodate is supplemental Of yester-
/ days, in a measure, in that the for
mer incident has some part in this one
In February of 1883 there died Ed
win Dennison Morgan. at the age OF
| 70 years. He had been delegate from
] New York to the first national con
vention of the Republican party. He
| had been the chairman of the Repub-
| lioan national committee I'm the first
three national campaigns participated
in by that party. and again, in 1872,
he was made chairman of its national
committee. He it was who, following
his reelection as governor of New
| York in 1860, sent more than $4,000
volunteers from New York to the front
before he left Office in 1868, and for
six years after vacating the governors
chair he represented his State in the
| United States Senate. So when mis-
funeral was held in the old Brick Pres
byterian Church on Fifth avenue, New
| York. many distinguished, men, both In
/ public and business life, were present,
/ though the WdA WIS Olt VI AuN WI 81
of the winter, with the rain falling
suriously and the wind blowing vio-
! lently. President Arthur, who in the
/ early part Of the civil war had served
on Governor Morgan's staff. was one
of his pallbearers. and Captain Fred
erick G. Wagner. who. as provost mar
shall of New York, helped greatly to
duell the draft riots i'm 1868, was one
| Of the ushers.
Along the aisle in which ! served.
said Captain Wagner, there came a
period when every pew was filled ex-
cept one. Into it | showed two late
arrivals, and as It was the pew ] in
tended to eft in myself asked them
n they would be Kind enough TO look
after my overcoat and umbrella until
my official duties we're over. AS the
larger Of the two politely responded
! that they would be pleased to do so,
| II flashed across my mind that | had
seen him somewhere before and, next,
/ there came a faint recollection Of hav-
! ing met the smaller man, also. on
some previous occasion. But not until
Il was almost time for me to take my
seat did il occur to me who they We're
The larger one was General Winfield
Scott Hancock, whom / had really
never seen nelpEes Uul Win Nh'o'
much published likeness 7 had become
thoroughly familiar when Hancock
had run for president; and his COM
panion was none other than General
Phil Sheridan. Neither was in uni
form.
ITO say that was Inundated at
the thought that I had asked those
two distinguished generals to keep
watch over my overcoat and umbrella
is putting It lightly. | determined to
apologize az the first opportunity. and
after the funeral services were over |
turned to them and said: Gentlemen,
you must excuse me for having asked
you to perform this service for me.
! did not at first recognize you
INSTANTLY there sprang into General
| Sheridan's eye his characteristic twin
kle. and a little smile played about
his mouth. Well he said heartily, If
the president of the United States can
serve as night Waterman in the Treas
ury Department Building, it can't be
beneath our dignity to serve as watch
man over the overcoat and umbrella
of any one who has any part in this
funeral
"And as the man who was destined
soon to become the head Of our army
thus set me at ease. General Hancock
smiled in cordial approval"
Copyright, 1910. by e. J. Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell Of