Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-03-09
HARMON MEETS AN
OLD FRIEND
Governor and Congressman
Recall An Incident of Their
Youthful Days Half Cen
fury Ago.

Washington, March 9.--About so
years ago there resided m western
New York, not many miles from Buff
falo, a family consisting OF father.
mother ana several children. THAT
was considered as western then. and
as the family did not prosper Il was
decided to go farther west IN the hone
.ol improving their condition and at
the same time By locating In a city
give their children a chance az an
education. But moving In those days
was hardship, and the family aid
NOT possess even u Coneetoga wagon
ana a pair OF mules to pull it. Rail.
road lacilities were scarce and the
lafe nigh not 10 mention the round
ABOUT route that would have to be
taken TO reach their destination. The
section IN which this family lived WAS
on the headwaters of tho Allegheny
river, and as the lumbermen when
ireshets came In the river made up
ratts OF lumber and navigated that
stream as far as Pittsburg and even
70 Cincinnati and Louisville, the fam
liy selected a raft as their method OF
transportation and awaited the next
freshet.
When II came they obtained trans
portation on one OF the RATS and
started for their new Eldorado. where
ever II might be located. The pilot
OF the raft was n young hunberman
about 10 years or age. who had al
ready made several trips t9 pittsburg
and knew the route Among the mas.
sengers was son OF the family named
bnt few years the junior 81 the pilot
and between tho two young men there
sprang up warm friendBhip. The
young passenger was ambitions and
athletic and when ii became necessary
for q hard pull az the oars 10 avoid
being wrecked he was found giving
helping hand. The trip was slow
one but as they pulled their oars 10
avoid the RIFLES az Warren, the dan
gerous shoals at Tldloute the swift
cdrrent at President or other danger
Gus obstacles at Emlenton, Brady's
bend, or Sharpsburg, on the Allegheny
or wheeling, Parkorsburg or other
points on the Ohio, the pilot and
Young passenger had many interest
ing talks ana drew air castles of what
they hored 70 become later In life
As might be expected the accommo-
dations for passengers on the raft
were meager, but they were shared
with the crew Sleep was obtained
on a bundle OF straw or hay, and the
meals consisted OF pork ana corn
bread with rice covered with sugar
as The dessert. Coffee there was. but
ffasN a.. ffra
color with a little brown sugar for
those Who desired TO have II sweet
tned. However, the journey was en-.
loved By the PASSENGERS and all were
reluctant when the time came 70 say
good-bye 70 tho pilot and crew.
The two young men lost track Of
each other The young pilot remained
IN the lumber business, ond hy invest
ing bis savings IN timber land s0oa
amassed wealth and distinction. Final
~ his constituents hon1red him by
sending him to congress for two terms
m which he made a good record. The
hoy passenger eagerly took an his
studies IN his new home and when ho
became old enough studied law, was
admitted 70 the bar and steadily forced
his way upward He was called To
&c member Of the cabinet of one
Of tho presidents. and later on the
people OF his home state decided that
ne was a proper man 20 be govern
or and elected him to that office de-
spite the fact that the other party
was IN control
About the time he waS elected gov.
ernor he came here for an official Wis
4 and stopped at the New Willard
hotel. where n 30 happened that his
pilot boy friend, now q Congressman,
Was also stopping with his family. A
mutual friend brought these two to-
eether, the young men who nearly a
half century ago had started out poor
and risen BY their natural abilities.
And whom Governor Harmon OF Ohio
and Congressman Nelson p. Wheeler
o. Pennsylyanla met they recalled
their earlier meeting and for hours
went over again the incidents OF that
trip down the Allegheny and the Ohm
together when Governor Harmon OF
Ohio pulled an oar on the raft and
partly worked ont his transportation