Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-27
THE STORY OF FAR0UHAR
He Rode Into the Eneny's Camp and
Rode Out Again with the Pass.
word-A Rare Election Record.
1oyer's Qulet LIE
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

A B. FARQUHAR, Of York. now past
"A. eighty years Of age, has long been a
prominent figure and leading Democrat in
Southeastern Pennsyl lvania.
My most vivid recollection OF Mr.. Far.
quhar was when he was Executive Commits:
sioner. appointed by Governor Pattison. OF
Pennsylyania, to, to the Chicago Columbian
Exposition Of 1893. A.
Pennsylvania Building, and there was nobody
who came in contact with him who was not
made aware Of the fact.
He had dominant personality.
sions when for three months after the open
ing Of the exposition ] was in Chicago as
staff correspondent Of the Philadelphia
Press.
For year or so past Mr.. Farquhar has
been engaged in collaboration with Samuel
biography.
It is an exceedingly clever book for man
past eighty years; somewhat after the Ed
ward Box style.
One Of the most Interesting stories he
tells is Civil War incident Of how he was
really spy. and yet was welcomed openly
in the Confederate camp.
MIHEN the Confederates. under General
w Fitzhugh Lee, started on their raid into
Pennsylvania. A. b. Farquhar was mem
Der Of local volunteer cavalry company in
York.
The company started out to reconnoiter.
The men. unused to riding or discipline.
began to grow weary the further they went
and dropped out.
Finally no one was left but Farquhar,
who found himself fifteen miles beyond
Hanover, in the vicinity of the rebel forces
and riding a borrowed horse.
-! did not feel that l was in any par
II was not in uniform, and anyway our
Civil War was fight between gentlemen:
Moreover. ! expected to meet old friends"
At length a picket in Southern gray
slouched out from the roadside and inquired
as to his destination.
Farquhar frankly told him he was hunt.
ing for headquarters. The sentry gave him
very complete d directions and he finally rode
to Confederate headquarters and entered the
tent of General Fitzhugh Lee.
q" TOLD him where had come from and
"1s it true" I asked. THAT t. you're %.eI going
through York? I'm interested, because I
have some property there.
NO. he answered, without the least
hesitation. We're not going through York
we y may go uP, through the Cumberland
valley toward Harrisburg. You are in no
1--WE gossiped a few minutes more and
then started to 60. General Lee gave me
the password. but said that would prob
lines
Mr.. Farquhar rode to York and gave the
people the interesting news. That night he
went to Harrisburg and had an audience
with Governor Curtin. He told him just
what he had done and received his thanks
for the expedition.
General Lee had given the young man per-
mission to make use of the information he
had given him.
It was IN unusual experience and cleverly
told.
nR. o. s. KR1EBEL. Of Pennsburs. in
OUpper Montgomery County, one Of the
distinguished educators Of Eastern Penn.
sylvania, tells me that the aftermath of the
primary election furnished an almost un-
precedented record in three districts in
Upper Montgomery County.
l do not think the record has been
ee1ualed in any three adjacent districts in
the State.
-, In the First District Of Upper Hanover
township Pinchot received seventeen votes
In the Third District Of Upper Hanover
Pinchot received seventy. seven ballots to
none for Alter, while in Pennsburg proper.
the borough. out Of seventy-two votes cast,
only one was recorded for Alter
My friend DR.. Kriebel is, think, per.
iectly right in his statement that these
three contiguous districts stand uneoualed in
the records of the late election.
uENRi X. BOYER former State Treas.
L L urer, twice Speaker of the PENNSYLVANIA
House and during the World War A food
administrator for Montgomery County. has
for years resided in Evansburg, on the Ger
mnntown pike. about twenty miles from
Philadelphia.
Mr.. Boyer. who is past seventy wears Of
age. resides in the same house which his
parents bought back in 1S41, and in which
he himself was born
1t Is quaint two story plastered stone
dwelling. ''0A'
1t has long extension in the rear. and
at the end Of the large lot are the farm
buildings. -"''
The side yard is paved with large flag.
stones set in cement
An ornamental iron fence runs next the
pavement. while veranda extends along
the entire front of the structure.
BESIDE the entrance and within toucb of
tne passerby on the sidewalk stands one of
the finest umbrella trees in this part Of the
country. ~ 'A'
The former State Treasurer has bean
living in Evausburg for the last fifteen vearu
or more. He takes, he tells me, only a pass
ing interest in present day politics
NearIy all the men whom he knew in the
heyday Of his political career are Jeod ,Tbs
last to go was Senator Penrose.
lie could do no greater service N thu
coming generation than TO write a volume
OF his personal recOllectiOns of the famous
! men he has known in State politics
Some day, perhaps. he will do so.