The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-05-02
DOG SPEECH PUT
HIM IN SENATE
WAS A POOR ATTORNEY
Possibly the Speech Was the Direct
Cause, but the Result Night
Have Been Different.

One of the things that goes thu
rounds of the press periodically is thl
"rog "Speech" of Uuited States Sen
ator George Graham Vest, of Missouri
| Another revival of this classic begar
about a month ago. Perhaps the com
ing into prominence of the Missouri
"Dawg Song" suggested it. 1t is 9
marvellous bit of pathos and eloquenct
aud worth all the space that has ever
been given it. Vest delivered it in 8
lawsuit for damages for the killing ot
a hound-a Missouri hound possibly
the one that "the boys kept kicking
around" 1t is said that this speech
made him United States Senator.
Possibly it was the direct cause, but
there are few old men still living
who know of another incident but for
which Vest would never have gone to
the Senate from Missouri.
George Graham Vest was a lawyer
in the town of Owensboro, Ky. Per
haps he was not overrun with practice.
At any rate he found time TO play
poker, and there was no lack of con-
genial spirits who were always ready
to ''set in" But Vest played a gen.
tleman's game and did not care to hob
mob with the ordinary poker players
about the hotels.
Capt. Bob Triplett, brother-in-law
of Vest, was partner in the old Louis
Vile d Memphis Packet Company and
had personal charge of the company's
large wharf boat ut Owensboro-an
immence craft tied into the south
bank of the Ohio River with great
cables. The Office on this boat, quiet,
free from possibility Of intrusion, af
forded an excellent place for just the
kind of game in which Vest took
greatest delight. He induced his
brother-in-law to give him key, and
the game went merily on, being mere
ly adjourned from evening to evening.
Now, it chanced, on an evening
when Vests evil star was in the ascen-
dent that the chips sought the other
side of the table and stayed there.
While the game was yet young, Vest
was 'cleaned." He bethought him of
that required doing at his
office, laid down his hand and made
for the open. Outside, under the stars
where the waves Tapped and the will
lows rustled, Vest shook his fist at the
boat and swore softly to himself. He
was sore-resolved never to play pok-
er again, and thirsting deeply for ven-
geance. Finally, he stood still for
and there may have been a
smile on his face, only there was no
body to see it, The men on the boat
they heard one peal of unholy
laughter, but they give it no head.
Vest took his kife out of his pocket,
ran his thum along the keen edge and
chuckled. Then he crept stealthiIy TO
the lower rope that held the wharf
boat to the bank and severed it, slow
ly, section by section, SO that there
would be no jar. The stern of the big,
clumsy craft swung slowly into the
current. Then Vest severed the other
rope, and the old boat moved slowly
down in the sluggish current of the
tawny Ohio.
When the dawn came and the game
ended, certain grave and venerable |
gentlemen beheld strange sights. The
familiar tobacco warehouses that lined |
he bank at Owensboro were nowhere
% be seen. Instead, there was tan
yled forest as far as eyes could see, up
Ind down stream. On the other shore
vas to be seen, not the fertile-low-ly-
ng fields of Luce Township, Ind, but
agged, locust grown gulleys. Some of
he gentlemen recognized the place as
! point about halfway between
)wensboro and Evansville. They had
he DEVILS own work getting their un-
vieldly craft to shore, and when they
lid reach shore they were days jour
ley from home.
That morning there was consterna-
ion in Owensboro. At 8 o'clock the
heriff cried from the courthouse win
low, shear ye, hear ye! This honor
lble circuit court is now open pursu-
mt to adjournment, Judge James l..
Tnt,.ao,. he horoh 1