The Washington herald., 1912-04-29

Mai. Archibald Butt, the Presidents
military and social aid, who was
drowned In the Titantic disaster. handled
his Job In a way that made his work
piece Of art.
For example. when receiving a long
line Of people at a big white House re-
ception. President Taft could tell II he
had ever before met the person being
introduced just by noting Butts in1ec-
tion when he pronounced the name
Usually the introduction consists simply
in announcing the guests one after an
other in this fashion: Mr.. Smith, Mr..
and Mrs. Robinson" etc. II Maj. Butt
varied the routine by saying, ''Mr.
Smith, Mr. President" then the Presi-
dent knew that Smith was somebody
out OF the ordinary; that he had met
him before or should know him by
reputation. But not lnfrequently the
tip would be considerably more subtle
Just a slight trick Of emphasis that no
body but the President could detect.
And Mai. Butt appeared to have an in
fallible memory for every human being
that the President had ever met in his
travels from coast to coast. He never
fumbled a name, either. The next per-
son In the reception line might give his
name while Butt was keeping an eye on
something In an adjoining room, but he
never failed to apply the right name TO
the right person and with the proper
pronunciation
Once. twice, thrice has George Curry.
Representative-at-large from New Mex
leo, read accounts of his own death.
He grew 50 accustomed to being re-
earded as dead that IL he were to
aN ka hra
fast table now and see his own obit-
uary he wouldn't even attach enough
Importance to the item TO mention it to
his family.
The first time Curry was killed was
back in 81. He went from New Mexico
to Trinidad TO play a game OF baseball.
and while there shared a hotel room
with a stranger who was about to set
out into the wilds TO buy cattle. This
stranger got up to make an early start.
and by mistake put on Curryis vest.
The next day he was shot and robbed.
or robbed and shot. out In the hills, and
the only thing to identify him by was
a letter in his vest pocket addressed to
George Curry. The coroner at Trinidad
then and there held an inquest. at
which he adjudged George N. Curry
dead. That news was sent out by the
Associated Press. and when Curry got
OF the train on his return to New Mex
leo the first people he saw were two
rival undertakers who had come after
him.
Just twenty years later, when Curry
was InauEurated Governor Of New Mex
leo Territory, the coroner who had ad-
judged him dead journeyed to Santa Fe
from Colorado just for the satisfaction
of seeing a dead man made Governor.
On another occasion. Curry was sup
posed to have been killed In a fight on
the plains and his obituary was flashed
over the country.
Then. at the battle Of San Mateo, in
the Philippines. where Gen. Lawton was
killed. all Curry's company perished and
he was supposed to have been included.
But the F1lipinos liked Curry. and they
allowed him to escape He had
to go without food for two or three days,
but merely frightened his belt and kept on
his way.
Curry was at one time an outlaw.
When he was q cowboy he got into a
row with the Territorial government over
some land grants. and a company OF
militia was sent to arrest him. But
Curry didn't purpose to be arrested. as
Il was much pleasanter In the mountains
at that season than in jail, and he and
his cowboy friends chased the militia
lxay When he got around to II Curry
went down and allowed himself TO be
and received. his mail at the
county bastile for a season, but such
was his personal popularity that IN a
triie over a year after he got out Of
mas been holding one place after another
Intil he broke into Washington as Repre-
Senator Poindexter. on his way to
State last summer, sat on the |
limited talking to a |
tranger about the weather. They were |
,assing through Oregon. and the stranger
Who was making Ms arst trip out that
way said he wouldn't have believed it !
,ould be so beastly hot. At that moment |
I was more than 1o6 IN the car.
''Oh. IT'S hot now. OF course" said Poin- |
,rised at the way it'n cool on after night |
all. The Thermometer VIII drop three
" four notches at time"
Il hope you're right" said the stranger, |
hopping his brow, but can't imagine |
low It would feel ever to be cool again"
At 10 D. m. II was still 1e5-an unheard |
u temperature for inst time OF night, |
md the stranger sat and giowered at |
ooindexter as II he were responsible
The Senator strolled through the train |
Ioping to meet up with some weather |
,xpert who could offer an explanation |
)ther passengers also began to pace back
md forth from one car to another. Final |
y somebody stumbled upon a noteworthy |
act.
Through the boneheaaedness Of some
'Ailroad ernploye, the steam had been ac-