The New York herald., 1922-02-13

ing toward us the towering form of
President Lincoln. While we were hesi-
tating as to what we ought to do a de-
partment messenger boy passed us going
toward the President AS people some
times do when they meet, and one Of
them Is in hurry, the President and
the boy began lodging each other as If
they were playing a game.
AT last Mr.. Lincoln took the boy by
the collar of his jacket and, lifting him
with one hand clear of the floor. depos-
tied him against the wall on one side
and passed on with quizzical smile on
his face which remains impressed on
my memory as IL it were yesterday. The
boy was about Is years old and no
light weight. and such feat of strength
on the part of the President simply dunn
founded us as we stood aside to let him
pass and heard him say, with the same
smile, Sightseeing, boys?"
He guessed right we had seen a sight
that Immediately changed two Confed-
crate boys into two Union boys when
one OF them said "Geewillikins fellows,
he's no slouch J" And the other Sec
onded 1t with: Say, Jeff Davis couldn't
do that, you bet 70 First engagement
between President Lincoln and the Con-
federates. ending in triumph of the
Union cause.
There is one story which 1 heard in
civil war times and which have never
seen in print. Whether actual fact or
not / cannot say but Mr.. Lincoln's part
in it is so characteristic of the man that
/ 70 fpIr
would have been delighted at Just such
an opportunity to cut red tape.
A certain pilot on the Mississippi
River, Billy Pomeroy by narns had
greatly distinguished himself by his skill
and gallantry in running his boat past
the Confederate batteries and had applied
for the captaincy of one of the built up
and sheathed river boats which were
used as gunboats. Pomeroy was highly
recommended by his superior officers and
was directed to appear before the exam
ining board for examination as to his
qualifications to serve as commander of
a gunboat.
One of the first questions he was
asked was: who succeeded Cromwell 2"
tom Watson" replied Billy.
Are you drunk, sir" said the chair
man. that you presume to trifle with
the board in this way?"
WELL" said Billy. II guess I know
what I'm talking about. Old Sam Crom-
well was captain Of the Lady Gay until
he died and Tom Watson succeeded
him"
"Our question does not refer to steam
boat captains" said the chairman. but
to oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector
of England
"Oh !" said Billy. Il don't know and
don't care a damn; I'm not applying
for his place"
Thereupon the board turned Billy
down and marked his papers: mot rec
commended; ignorant and insolent."
Billy's friends at once took up the
matter. his Representative got into the
fight and it went from one department
TO another, back and forth and round
again. and the papers. with long in
dorsements on each, kept piling up until
nobody could tell exactly what It was all
about
At last Billy's Standardization
I think-became interested and went to
see President Lincoln about IL, telling
him the story. The President sent for
the papers, which had accumulated into
a huge mass. and after looking at few
of them made on the last one the follow
ing Endorsement:
"As nearly as any one can guess, this
seems to be a triangular contest be-
tween Charles Stuart. oliver Cromwell
and Billy Pomeroy. It Is generally be-
lieved here that both Charles and oliver
are now dead. IT, upon Investigation.
the board finds such to be the fact, give
the appointment to Billy.
"A. LINCOLN"
II Is hardly necessary to say that
Billy got H. HoRATfo j. BREWER.
Nav YORK, February II.