Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-02-24

Two men stood facing each other
on a camping ground near Boards
town, Ill, one warm April day in
1892. One was Capt. Abraham Lin
coin, commander of a SangamOn
county company of militia num-
bering 81 men who had enlisted for
service in the Black Hawk war.
The other was Private Lorenzo
Dow Thompson Of the st. Clair
county company, grandfather of
James A. Thompson, Butte miner
living at $500 Nettie street.
The opponents, both stripped to the
waist, were about to wrestle for the
glory Of their company and the right
of occupying the campground, big
enough for but one Of the contingents
Of soldiers.
Jonathan Moore, the referee, stepped
between the gangling Lincoln, current
champion ''raSSler" of Sangamon coun-
ty, and the grandfather of the Butte
man, whose ability as a wrestler was
attested by the bulging muscles on his
giant frame.
Two falls out of three will decide
the winner" doomed the referee as he
Tipped coin to decide what kinds of
holds would be used.
Thompson won and chose side
holts;" Lincoln, Indian holts." A
sprinkling Of money, IOU's for future
pay and horses were Wagered on the
result of the match.
In the first round, Thompson
slammed the tall, 1.-the Lincoln to the
ground amid the shouts of the bearded
soldiers.
That's only one fall, two more are
necessary" observed the cool, sinewy
man who was to be president. Now,
Mr.. Thompson, it's your turn to go
down" The assailantS grappled and
both tumbled to the earth. Even the
referee had difficulty determining the
winner of the fall
Dog fall" shouted Lincoln's cohorts.
Fair fall" came back Thompson's
Lincoln lifted himself from the
ground, busted himself off, turned to
the fans and said: Boys, this man
threw me once fairly, broadly so, and
this second time, this very fall, he
threw me fairly, though not so OBJ
yiously."
Turns Defeat Into Victory
That simple statement was one of
many that proved the honesty and
pator He saved his standing among
the members of both companies and
turned defeat into noble victory.
Twenty eight years passed. 1t is now
1860. The scene changes to a lawyers
office in Springfield, Ill A delegation
Of men was introduced to Abraham
Lincoln. One of them was presented
as Professor Moore of St Clair county,
and Lincoln asked: which one of
I have a grudge against one of them"
he observed smilingly, referring to
Capt. William Moore of the st. Clair
county company, who had selected
Thompson in the famous wrestling
match.
In answer, Moore said: II suppose it
is my family you have a grudge
against, but we are going to even it
up by electing you president"
Prediction Came True
The prediction came true and Lin
United States during the most try
ing time of history. One of the
staunchest supporters of the great
president was a democrat Lorenzo
Dow Thompson, who had emigrated to
Missouri in 1886. He was elected to the
first two state assemblies and became
a power in Missouri as Lincoln was in
Illinois.
Ten years after Lincoln's asSaSsina-
ton. Thompson died in Missouri He
carried with him as his proudest mem
DRY the fact that he had once licked
Abe Lincoln at raSslin'."
On Lincoln's birthday a son Of
ThompSons youngest son recalled the
story, now one of the "heirlooms" of
the family. Butte's Thompson has
lived in the Mining city for the past
10 years, coming to Montana from
Mandan, N. D., near where his moth
er, now Sc years old, lives on farm.
Her father-in-law Is one of the few
men who could rightfully claim beat
ing Lincoln, a man honest and far
sighted enough to turn that defeat
into magnet for the friendship of
even his enemies.