New Britain herald., 1928-11-28

a Westernport, Md, Nov. 2S.- Burvige Coleman Tranum, the .eountry's oldest Civil war veteran, Is celebrating his 112th Thanksgiving today-and he says that each year Thanksgiving is better than it was before.
 Born in Richmond, Va, in 1916, Tranum is still hearty and active. He is no sit-in-the-c corner old man, con- tent to dodder about the fireplace with his memories; he prefers to get out and see his friends. He counts them the chief of his Thanksgiving day blessings.
 For all the things in the world I'm thankful, but my friends are my greatest comforts" he says. But l have so many blessings they are be- yond recall"
 He talks in suited. old-fashioned phrases like that, does this old man who has lived dozen years past the century mark. It's easy to under stand why he does; after all. he was a middle-aged man when the Civil war broke out.
 To<lay's Young People
 "Young people today aren't at all thankful" says Tranum. They should be even more thankful for the bounties of the earth than an old fellow like am. that's just wait ing foS call to an unknown world"
 He casts his mind far back when you ask. him to tell about the first Thanksgiving he can remember. His mindldelves back into the days before yfur grandfather was born: then he says:
 ''The first Thanksgiving I can re- call wasn't such pleasant one. l was at the home of old Martin kneff near Harrisonburg, Va. Kneff had kidnapped me after my father and mother died. He was the meanest man on earth.
 T was only ten. Every day he took me out to the stable. tied me to a beam and whipped me with d switch until the blood would run down my legs. Then he would run salt and pepper in the wounds.
 ''The day before Thanksgiving I had some fun, though. l snared a hare and had him for dinner-not a rabbit. hare. There used to be lots of them in Virginia, and they were better than any old turkey gobbler ever expected to be.
 And Got Drunk, Too! "The Thanksgiving I recall most vividly was in 1865, just after the war. I took part in a rifle match and won nine turkeys. quarter Of , beef and two geese. And I got l drunk. besides"
 He takes pleasure in telling about the old days. He has plenty to talk about: his story is like a romance of Americas youth, colorful and bright with the tang of a day that has been dead for many decades.
 When he was a tiny boy he went to forest outside of Richmond with his father to haul some wood. The team bolted and their wagon overturned. pinning his father be- meath it. The little boy scurried home, a distance of mile. to tell his mother, who was sick in bed. She ran all the way to the wreck. found her husband dead. and collapsed. A few days later she, too. died. ' There were no relatives. and young Tranum became q homeless waif. In few days Martin kneff ap- propriated him and gave him the kind of treatment Tranum has just described. A few months of this was all the boy could stand: SO. one day. he stole a knife and revolver and ran away. He hid in a wheat field for three days. living on wheat that he piucked on the spot. Once kneff. hunting for him. passed within a few feet of him without seeing him. Tranum says that if kneff had found him he-Tranum-would have shot him. At that time. remember, he was nine years old.
 l A few days later the boy met a teamster. told him bis story. and was invited to "come along and make your home with me" His new friend drove up to the Winchester Valley. where he and his wife gave the boy a good home.
 ! It was only a few years, however before the untamed and unschooled youngster ran away and took to wandering again. |
 For . long time he was a homc- less wanderer. Eventually he set.