Nebraska Newspapers

    WP
THE OMAHA PAIJ/y BEE ; SUNJT Y MAY 28 , 18Da-TWEKTY PAGES.
THE ERA OF THE WILD CAT
Whrrn Banks of Issue Bloomed and Scattered
Bills Broadcast ,
EX-CONGRESSMAN PUSEY'S ' RECOLLECTIONS
An Instructive Aildronn on ttin Rink * nnd
Jtciiilnlnrrnccn of 1'loncrr llnnklntr
I'lnnnclnl I.eclilntlmi AlKO
Touched Upon.
lion. W. 11. M. Pusoy , ex-congressman nnd
banker of Conncll Dlufts , delivered the fol
lowing address before the Hankers associa
tion in that city last Wednesday :
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Asso
ciation : The period immediately subsequent
to the discovery of gold In California is
known as the "golden era" of American
finance. Within less than n dccado the
native product of gold was in excess of fGOO- ,
' 000,000 , n sum equal to the estimated volume
now In the entire country. The suudon crnzo
to bo rich stimulated immigration from nil
lands to Iho now Kldorado of the west. Civ
ilization under this impulse , In ono gigantic
struggle with natural obstacles , in Its marvelous -
velous achievements of a few years , did
what would have taken half n century to
accomplish without thcso Incentives.
From the Orient to the Occident they
came hy land and sea. representing the host
energies and enterprise of the aggressive
.Anglo-Saxon race. They were the chosen
instruments in the hand of an Inscrutable.
Providence to blare the continental
highway from the Missouri to the
Pacific. Uncxplorcu nnd arid deserts , un-
bridged streams and hostile Indians wcro no
barriers to these avant couriers of a modern
civilization. The white covered wagons nnd
long lines of eager gold hunters , stretching
across a continent , wore but the forerunners
of. the rushing railroad trains , I'ullman sleep
ing cars nud fast mall with "news from all
nations lumbering at Us back. "
Contemporaneous with this Immigration
came a religious sect , journeying , they know
. * not where. Hounded , hunted , persecuted
and driven from Nauvoo with tholr wives
and little ones , "what sought they thus
afar ! " "Bright Jewels of the mine ? " No !
They sought a faith's pure shriiio , and mid
way to the ocean they founded their "happy
Zion ; " bultdcd their temple , planted our llag
HIV over the city of the plain , nnd for forty
" " years have held the fort , surrounded hi'
semi-barbarous tribes of peopleit ; city of
H , refuge In the mountain fastnesses of our re
public ; and today , in their decadence , con
spicuously illustrating the law of the sur
vival of the fittest. "God moves in a myste
rious way Ills wonders to perform. "
The C.nUrny of the Kxodtia ,
The people of Council Bluffs stood in ono
of , the gateways of this wondrous exodus.
Its retlcx inllucnco did very much to give to
our western states and territories a health
ful and permanent population.
The Mexican soldier had tarried long
enough with us to place his pension , In the
form of a military land-warrant , upon our
virgin prarles , the commencement of the
happy homes and rich farms of our now be
loved nnd prosperous commonwealth. It
was auild these surroundings many of us
if ; commenced our business life In the undevol-
f ! oped west. It was In the age of wild
nnd hazardous speculation. The plethora of
gold had stimulated every branch of Indus
try , ran real estate up to fabulous prices ,
Increased the cost of living nnd decreased
tne purchasing power of the gold dollar.
The volume of our circulating medium was
swelled for beyond the domnuds of commerce
nnd trade by an alien and irredeemable
paper currency. The value of a metallc del
lar depends upon Its purchasing power , Its
stability , its universal acceptlbillty and its
convertibility Into the money of commerce
nnd the money of the world. The value of
. paper money which has been In use for over
MX ) years among civilized nations of the
earth , depends , wholly oh the ability of the
authority issuing It to give value for It when
payment Is demanded.
4 * " " " "
Wild Cut ainnoy.
The people of Iowa wore then living under
our olu constitution , which inhibited the
Croat Ion of banks of issue , but surrounded
by states and territories which , by leirisla-
tlvo enactments nnd general incorporation
laws , fostered and encouraged systems of
free' banking , whoso circulations wore
founded on nonlntcrcst paying stocks and
bonds of almost every conceivable corpora
tion and association of men , devised and
clothed with powers to issue money , ruuchcf
which never knew that its redeemer lived.
Iowa was the favorite dumping ground for
this currency , and when the financial crash
came was , possibly , one of the greatest suf
ferers. '
The scarcity of bank bills under the de
nomination of $5 , and the want of.subsidlary
coin , almost forced us to tolerate the small
bills of thcso foreign banks. The dearth of
silver for change among retail dealers In
duced the proprietor of ono of our llourlng
mills to resort to n plan ( within the law ) to
supply the long felt want. Ho Issued his
chocks In denominations less than $1 upon
his bank on circular pasteboard chips ; had
them certified , payable on presentation In
silms of (5 nnd upwards. They proved so
convenient und popular that the miller had
orders for them from Sioux City to St.
Joseph ,
This was also an era of successful counter
feiting , and the receiving tellorof a bank bc-
camb an expert in his knowledge of the
genuineness of bank currency. It was not
enough that ho should know a genuine from
a spurious bill. Every bank issue had a
different current value In the community ;
there was the bill which the steamboat
would take for passage and freight ; the bill
which would buy the necessities of life ; the
Western Stage Company received for faro
'
and p'a'y the laborer for his' toll. Every
package of bills presented at the bank
counter had to bo properly classified , and
discounted Into either par funds ( which
would bo exchange ) current funds and spe
cial funds' to Uo returned to the depositor
Itvllko funds , and the pass book , and the
bank account of the depositor was so speci
fied , no bank being willing to assume the
possibilities of disastrous and sudden de
preciation to which this money was con
stantly subjected. Wide spread distrust and
want of confidence had seized upom the pub
lie mind.
The Draft ficiirod Him. .
Quo morning nn Iowa banker dropped
Into thoolllco of his St. Ixniis correspondent ;
the cashier of the big bank carelessly
handed him a draft drawn on Duncan ,
Sherman & Co. of Now York , which ho had
Just signed , calling for f 1,1)00,000. Faceti
ously remarking , "Do you Iowa bankers
often draw drafts for so largo a sum of
thntt" "No ! " the "
money as was reply , "and
I doubt If then ) is a man in Iowa who over
Baw as large a draft. " ' 'What is it issued
for } " "Oh , don't you know wo are building
the Ohio & Mississippi railroad ; that draft
! ; * > Is the first payment on the iron rails. " The
country banker soon after withdraw , nnd ,
t , vr hat may possibly have been a surprise to
the big bunk , also withdrew his balance , not
wlnhlng to become an Involuntary stock
holder in the Ohio < & Mississippi railroad.
The laws for the speedy collection of
debts were suspended by substituting up-
' poarnnco terms and stay laws In the interest
of debtors.
* Ono dayn merchant In good credit and
standing hurried into his bank and asked for
the loan of f 1,000. but was refused the ac
commodation. Uo excitedly oxchilmed , "it
you don't let mo have the money I am a
tulited man,1' "How's that I" asked the
banker. " 1 , will go to protest , " \vas there-
ply , "Ob , Is that all ! You simply mean
yon will join the great army of delinquents. "
'But you must lot uio have it , my dear nlr ,
nnd I will pay It back to you Monday morn.
Ing at 1) ) o'clock on the opening of your bank ,
If I am a living inuu. " Nine o'clock Monday
morning came ; 10 o'clock ; 12 o'clock ; but
Jones had not put In an appearance.
Collecting u Debt.
! \ The banker , on his way to dinner , called at
. * the undertaker's and ordered the hearse to
bo vent to Jones' rclsdonco and there remain -
main until he , the banker , should order It
away. On his return to the bank Jones was
v on hand , greatly disturbed at the presence
of the hearsti at his residence. The banker
erootod him cordially ; "Is it possiblo.Jonos ,
this is you , alive and well. I supposed you
were certainly dead j I have always known
you to bo u man of your word ; you said you
woulu pay that note at t ) o'clock this morn-
iiiK'fjou were allying man ; ' It is now
ne.ily"J , nud I was determined to do my
if * , , parllii giving you a Christian burial. " lioth
T thpiogentlemen have passed away ; stcti
P
i
nst friend * through life , leaving , M ft
icrltngo to their children , Inrco fortunes
nnd the reputation of blameless lives.
As cnrly ns 1855 the gold product of this
ountry h.vl reached Its 'maximum annual
iroduct of JC7,00 < ) ,000 , and silver , which had
> ccn debased 8 i > cr cent by the legislation of
BK ) , In a vain effort on the part of our
loctrlnalrcs and law makers to sustain the
parity of the precious metals , suddenly
toured Us silver Mood upon the market of
, ho world , until Its nnmial output exceeded
tnat of gold by more than $2 < ) ,000,000 per
annum , causing a reversion In the natural
ratloof thcso metals , and causing an entire
change of legislative policy to sustain their
equilibrium. The conservative llnanclcrs of
the country then nud over since have advo
cated the doctrines of the fratnora of our
onstltutlon on the fiscal policy of the nation ;
.hat the standard money of the country
ihould bo gold and silver , to go hand In
land at a ratio which will maintain their
parity , and that no ilat legislation can pro
vide for the oscillations caused by the varl-
iblcnuss of their product , nnd the ceaseless
3bb and How of commerce which chances
, hclr convertible value as the tidal wave of
the ocean troubles Its surfauo.
No nation on earth has any trouble about
-ho money ciucstlou which sclli moro than
t buys. But this country and continental
Europe , debtor nations Jn the absence of in-
.cnmilomil concurrence , w 111 ever bo sub-
cctcd to dinicultics constantly arising.
During the period referred to Urlllsli India
ind the Latin union throw open their
nints to frco coinage , causing the drainauo
of our gold reserve and precipitating the
lational revulsion of 18. .
The lne\ltulilo Co'.lnpir.
Prosperous Iowa , now rejoicing In
conscious strength and an assured future ,
was prostrated and utterly helpless under
ts exhausting effect. Far removed from the
seaboard , witii no railroad communications
with the markets of the country , agriculture
> aralyzcd. labor unrcmuncrativo , our peotilo
limply existing under forced frugality , the
junking business was neither rcmuncrativu
lor ornamental. Securities and collaterals
wcro unconvertible and our circulating
medium was practically worthless-
Later on the eloquent Kmory Storrs was
"
"iskcd to address u convention of flat money
TollowsJu southern Illinois. 11 o commenced
ils remarkable address by saying , In sub
stance : "Thus far in life I have had no use
tor a bank but to borrow what mpney 1 could
yf itand , spend it as fust ns my constantly
pressing necessities required. But I thought ,
as Lhad to address so largo an audience of
experienced llnancicrs as I find hero assem
bled , I would take a few lessons In practical
banking. " In my walks about Chicago I as
certained the banks wcro full of surplus and
idle money seeking investment on call at 0
| ) or cent Interest. I concluded I would bor
row some of it , and lot the banks do tnocall-
iiitf. I found they Invariably asked mo for
collaterals , of which ornaments I was en
tirely destitute. This leads mo to lay down
my flrst proposition In the discussion of the
mrnoy question in this country. What wo
nocd most Is not an expansion of the cur
rency ad llbl'um , but an expansion of collat
erals. " Storra epigrammatic utterances
liavu not lapsed into inocuous desuetude 'by
the flight of years.
Not Charitable Institutions.
These of you gentlemen who passed
through Iho dccado preceding the war ,
whatever may have been your avocation in
life , have carried with you lessons of experi
ence on questions affecting our national
ilnnnco which wo don't always lind Incor
porated In our modern political platforms ,
and which hold us to such conservative
views and actions in our business lives in no
sense conforming with popular sentiment so
often expressed on the platform and in the
halls of legislation. As bunkers and cus
todians of the people's money wo are com
pelled to spend thousands upon burglarproof -
proof work , throwing every safeguard in
this direction about our business , and as con
servators of correct sentiment and action on
all matters of linauco coming Immediately
under our control , wo should bo over alert in
our action and Inlluetico to avert and dis
courage many of the methods and practices
of modern banking.
A bank is in no sense an eleemosynary in
stitution , and no properly educated public
sentiment demands of it something for
nothing. When your customer asks you to
take the risk and responsibility of transfer-
ing his money to distant cities , he is willing
to comuonsato you for the expense and haz
ards of your business. It is not so much the
volume of one's business as the motto of the
UomansNulla dto "
, sina llnea , which the
banker interprets , "Not a day without a
proflt , " which will augment the reserve of
our mjmoyed institutions moro than the vol
ume of unremunorating transactions.
The flscal and liduclury interests of the
country are being controlled by "young
America , " who nro rapidly introducing inno
vations , methods , ana stimulated enter
prises of the age. While wo would not ud-
vise the vso of the hearse in the collecting
of over-duo bills receivable , we protest
ngalnst the gift of chromos.gratuitous adver
tising and frco exchange to exacting custo
mers of a. bank.
As ono of the youngest of your organiza
tion ( in juniority of membership ) I earnestly
hope that your association may result in
lopping oil many things of modern growth ,
and by concurrence and unison of action lead
to the adoption of moro conservative methods
und practices In the business of banking.
A I'HOHIJIA Afi'lt A HO Ml'flUX.
Hariier'ti llazar.
"Wheru .shall wo BO ihk summer ? " Is the ques
tion now tliut wo
Are agitating dally at our breakfast , dinner.
tea.
Hlmll It bo Saratoga , or 'tho golden Jersey
hhoro ?
Shall it bi > Adirondack woods , with piny scent
guloro ?
Or fclmll wo crow the ocean for a tour In an
cient hinds ,
AnUwi transfer our dollars from our own to
foinl n hamlH ?
Or shall wo seulc Alaska , with Its bracing wln-
Or hliall we bo content to go und sco Chicago's
For mo , when mimincr comes , I love to KO to
that ttwcctplnco
Wliuro 1 can roam about , ( ho lord of every 1)11
of space j
Whimi nftor dinner ono inuy MUmilot mid not
hoar
A bund of six musicians
playing operas by ear.
Where bathtubs may be had without a charge
And where at night ono need not dress , as men
say , 111 to kill ;
Whom munis at all hours may ho hud. und
whom my hoys and 1
M y hit toKUthur when wo dine , with no
btrnngu
To look distressed wlien'Tominy trios to take
tin our of corn
And. Ilkoii hey , pretend with It he' * plnylmr
J b
on a horn ;
To frown him llttln Jcimlu's
w hand , by some
sllsht cnrulfssncss ,
UpsutH a pinto of Mitip upon her next door
neighbor a dress.
And as I look about to Mud asumnicr nlacu
like this
1 HIM convinced there U hut ono just faiich
abodi ) of bliss ;
And that Is why my family and I no longer
roam
About the land In summer t line , but. rest con
tent at homo.
The Uohlirr WIIB Out.
A lady from Huffalo had quite an experi
ence in a largo Ilurlin hotel , suys Harper's
Haznr. She was n bravo little woman
"doing" the continent alone with her two
children without being ablu to speak a word
of any language except United States , Quo
night , having retired early with the little
ones , she was suddenly awakened by a pe
culiar noise , which she soon became con
vinced was caused by snmo ono trying to
open the door between her room and the one
. bho "wasn't bit "
adjoining. a scared , but
got uu quickly , turned on the electric light ,
and rang the bell , which resounded through
the whole house. The sound at the door
cuxised suddenly , and after a slight delay a
"Dutchman , " as she called him , appeared to
answer the bell.
"Speak English ? " ( the usual question ) ,
" 1 nhpcaks hucin a lootlo , " was the * reply.
"There is some one in the next room try-
inir to open my door , " excitedly ,
"No ; ho is out , " positively ,
"Hut thuru Is some ono there a robber , a
burglar don't you understand ! "
He is oudtj Ho vill bo ecu at halluf past
zwelf. "
"No a robber I a burglar 1 a thief a
thief , I tell you a thief in the next room ! "
"Veil , " meditatively , " 1 Co uot t'ink ho
ccs u t'lof , but ho is oudt. Ho vill be con at
halluf past zwelf , nnd I vill toll hcem
riit you want to see -hocm. "
i
Cook's lixtru Dry Imperial Champagne
should bo In every household. Jt U perfectly
l > uru and natura'Iy fermented.
JEHORIAUAY STORIES ,
How Two Union flenr la
| J. II , Urontlitrs In lllrihrtn ,
In 1804 Gcnornl Crook of the union
army WJIB stationed at Cumberland ,
Md. , a town of about 7,000 people. Ho
established his hondqunrfors nt h hotel
cnllod the Kovcro house. General Kelley -
loy , another federal ofllcor , was situated
at the St. Nicholas hotel. In and about
the town were 7,000 or 8,000 of their
troops.
In the confederate army was a young
lieutenant named Jesse MuNalll. , II o
was of a dnrlnp disposition and the Idea
entered his head that it was possible fern
n few bravo men to take those two union
genera prisoners. So he formed a hold
plan and proceeded to put It Into execu
tion.
tion.Klrst
Klrst , ho posted himself thoroughly In
regard to the situation of the union
army In nnd around Cumberland. Then
he gathered a band of sixty trusty men
and rode toward the union lines/ Cross
ing the north branch of the Potomac ho
soon encountered n federal picket. QL'lns
man was a German and did not sneak
very good English. Lieutenant McNolll
pretended not to understand hlni ) and ,
while talking , managed to got close
enough to take him prisoner without
giving him a nhanco to flre his gun.
Then , by means of ( lorco threats , the
unlucky sentinel was forced to toU'hls
captors the countersign , which was
"Bull's Gap. "
Having obtained this valuable In
formation , the party pushed rapidly
ahead. By means of the password they
managed to deceive and to capture all
the pickets they mot. Entering the
town undiscovered , they rode boldly up
the principal street. To and fro wont
union soldiers , looking with passing In
terest at the little band of horsemen
coolly riding along , whistling , laughIng -
Ing and talking as though returning
from a lark.
As they trotted ahead they mot with
the frequent and friendly hull :
"Hollo , boys ! where are you from ? "
"Scouts from Now Crook , " was the
careless response.
In this manner they reached the St.
Nicholas hotel without interruption of
any sort. It was between 2 and 'i
o'clock in the morning. Part of the
command stopped there and half a dozen
men , with Joseph Kuykondall at .their
head , entered the hotel und demanded
to bo shown General Kolloy's room , as
thov had inportant information for him.
Having found which was his apartment
they obtained a light and entered with
drawn revolvers. The general rose in
his bed , resting on ono elbow , and
wanted to know the cause of the disturb
ance.
"You know.mo , general , don't you ? I
have been your prisoner , " said Kuykon
dall.
dall."I do , " said the general , mentioning
his name. "What do you want ? "
"Well , general , wo want you. You
are a prisoner. "
"A prisoner ! " exclaimed the aston
ished oilleor. "To whom must I surren
der ? "
"To mo , sir , " answered Kuykondall.
"General , wo must insist that you dress
immediately , or wo will take you as you
are. No delay will bo allowed. "
So General Kclley arose and quietly
put on his clothes , wondering all the
time how the town had been captured
without a battle and without his having
boon disturbed.
General Kelley's adjutant , . Major
Molo'in , occupied one of the rooms 'in
his commander's' , and ho also was
made a prisoner. Four headquarter
colors were discovered and carried
away as trophies.
While this was going on at the St.
Nicholas another scene was transpiring
at the Revere house. Lieutenant Mc-
Neill had divided his command and sent
Lieutenant Wolton to capture General
Crook. Reaching the hotel , five men in
charge of Joboph Vandivor , dismounted
and entered.
"Halt ! who comes there ? " demanded
a sentry just inside the door.
"Friends , with password , " answered
Vundivor.
"Advance , ono , and give countersign , ' '
was the next command.
"Bull's Gap , " said Vandiver. "Wo
have important dispatches for General
Crook and must see him at onco. "
Saying this the confederate throw
themselves on the guard and took him
prisoner. Then they sought General
Crook's apartments. They tried the
door and it was locked. They then
knocked , not wishing to run the chances
of mooting with a hot reception by
breaking In the door , thua giving the
general notice of the approach of
enemies. In rojponso to the knock a
small darky opened the door.
"Is Uenoral Crook inV" asked the Van
divor.
"Yes , sir. "
"Show mo his room. "
" 1 am afraid to disturb him at this
lime of night , " answered the nogro.
Vandiver made a threatening remark
and gesture which frightened the darkey
and ho advanced and knocked at the
general's door.
"Come in , " was the response.
At this invitation the confederates
crowded into the room nnd surrounded
the dazed otllcer.
"General Crook , I presume ? " said
Vandiver.
"I am , sir , " was the reply , "I - "
"I am General Rossor , sir , " said Van-
diver. "You are in my power and I
only can give you two mtnulos to dross
in. Then wo move , sharp. "
General Crook passed his hand over
his eyes in a dazed sort of manner , but
did not oiler to move.
' 'Come , como , general , there are your
clothes ; you can either put them on ergo
go as you arc. "
At this the general arose and quickly
dressed. Then the prisoner and 'his
captors joined the party keeping guard
outside. General Crook was made to
mount behind Vandiver , and off the
command rode and soon joined Lieu
tenant McNcill's detachment , which was
walling for them. All this was done
without any general alarm being givon.
When the two parties wore united
Lieutenant MuNeill commenced his
retreat quietly nnd in good
order. On the hills about the
town wore encamped many of
Crook's nnd Kolloy's soldiers. Most of
them wore Bleeping , but a few , awakened
by the noibo , drowsily hailed , thorn ,
' About live miles below the city the
flrst of the outposts was encountered.
To the sentry's challenge Lieutenant
McNeill replied to the countersign , and
in response to his questions 'as to their
destination said : '
"Going out on a snout. No .time to
dismount , Are in a hurry. You must
look sharp , for the enemy is reported to
ho close. General Crook lias sent us out
to watch his movements. "
"Go on then , boys. Cold night , Ibh't
it ? "
"Yes , it is. "
"Do the Johnnies up stiff , follows. "
"That HO will. We're' jttat the chaps
to do that , " nal < l the lieutenant , laugh
ing , and ho and his men lilcd past the
unsuspecting tentinel.
In this way they passed the outposts
and got into Virginia without
being detected. They ptishe'd rap
idly on to Itpmnoy , Vu. ,
twenty-seven miles from Cumberland.
There they flaw Uin first fllgns of pur
suit , about slxty.iiftTon cavalrymen com
ing in sight. Al " 2 o'clock the next day
similar rode on Uio'ot her side. Abreast
of ouch other tfi/j > > dashed on as fast ns
their weary honsoR could travel. The
federals had rlfldjm thirty-five miles
already and thol1 * horses were In as bad
shape as were MaNBill's. At length tlic
road the canfoderniioa were following loft
the river , and a < UHb federals could not
cross the deep stn&m , McNclll was safe
from them. \y-\ \
At Moorfloldti'ti learned that the
whole country ' s aroused and that
union cavalry was 'moving in every di
rection to intercept him. All the next
day ho was hotly pursued. But ho at
length drew near to the confederate
lines nnd through his intimate knowl
edge of the country ho eluded all his
pursuers and escaped in safety with his
captives.
It Is unnecessary to point out the dar
ing and valor of this remarkable ad
venture. The story speaks for itself.
Immediately on hearing this exploit
General Early promoted Lieutenant Mc
Nolll to the rank of captain.
A FnintiilAiir Molls' .
Clias. 0. StMiuu ( u tlit ir < ? ) ; ( i SUir.
One of the most remarkable characters
brought to the surface by the throes of
the civil war was Major Lainar Fen
taine , a famous scout and lighter In the
confederate army. Ho acted as scout
for Stonewall Jackson , , T. E. B. Stuart ,
R. E. Leo , R..S. Ewell and Joe K. John
ston. He is also celebrated as the author
of a popular war song. Ho was and still
Is a Mississlpplan. Holt was who , in
May , 18011 , undertook the seemingly fool
hardy , but , nevertheless , successful ex
ploit of carrying a supply of10,000
musket caps from the confederate
general Lorlng's headquarters at Jack
son , Miss. , through the union lines to
holcngured General Pombortonln Vicksburg -
burg , when that commander was out of
caps , nnd , consequently , could not fire
a gun , a condition of things which had
Grant known of would have hastened
the fall of that stronghold.
In that expedition Fontaino had
horses shot under him and any quantity
of bullets llrcd at him , making numer
ous holes in his olothos and equipage ,
besides mooting other frightful dangers.
It was , altogether , a terrible experi
ence. Ho is the hero of twenty-seven
hard fought battles , and came out of the
war minus a leg and bearing other evi
dences of his army experiences. Hois _
still a resident of hisnativostato , whore ,
at the age of 01 , ho works hard daily at
his profession of surveyor and civil engi
neer.
Another thing forwhich , ho Is cele
brated is as the author the real author
of "All Quiet Along the Potomac To
night. " To bo sure , that fact has been
disputed , but I notice in a book of war
songs lately publialfbd ho is given the
credit which to lijltn , rightfully belongs.
But it is not pw'purposo to go into the
discussion of a question in which the
public is little , ifTauy , interested. What
ido ; care for is thei deeply interesting
narrative of a war'time episode in con
nection with thfi ipoom , as told in his
recent correspondence with me. .And
this is the storyi" :
It appears thatfhot long after the first
battle of Bull Rin 'in which Fontaine ,
as a private in cw'nipany K the Burt
Rilles Eighteenth Mississippi regiment ,
took part , ho Wits'1 transferred to the
Second Virginia cavalry , and at the time
of which this naifavitvb treats was doing
picket duty JUst rTKJvb the head of an
island near the 'Seneca Falls on the
Potomac. This wasin August , 1861 , ono
month after BulrRtiti. " § t > # iany of the
confederates had gone homo on furlough
that the picket lines wore thin , being
stretched over , ' a vast „ extent of rivet-
front , and what few men , comparatively ,
wore on the front had to do double duty.
It was here that Fontaine and-another
private named Moore formed a close
friendship. Moore was a married man
and fairly idolized his wife and their
two beautiful young children. Moore
and Fontaino wore almost constantly to
gether , whether on picket or guard duty.
They clung to each other They bought
little hand books of poems Byron ,
Burns and others nnd together they
would sit in the cool shade of trees or
hanging rocks that lined the Potomac
above the falls of Seneca and read aloud
to each other passages from their favor
ite authors.
At this section of the two army lines
the pickets on either side of the waters ,
federal and confederate , had como to an
understanding and agreement that there
should bo no lirlnfr at each other while
on picket duty. And but for a treach
erous violation of this contract by a federal -
oral soldier the incident herewith re
lated would not have occurred and "All
Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight"
would never have been written. I give
the story in Fontaine's own graphic
words :
"Wo had to stand on a post six hours
at a time. That night I took my stand
at 0 o'clock and Moore retired to rest.
The nights wcro chilly and we usually
kept some fire burning. There was a
small spring of water close by and a
largo fallen pine tree that I iibed to sit
on and rest at times after walking my
beat , and I have frequently stopped at
the spring and bathed my face when the
dread monotony of the still night had a
tendency to lull mo to sleep. As boon as
I found that midnight had arrived I
stopped to the lire und throw on some
pine knots and roused Moore to take my
place.
"Ho rose slowly , picked up his gun ,
stopped to the fire and stretched himself ,
as a sleepy soldier will , and gaped and
yawned , and while his arms were ex
tended and his hand grasping the bar
rel of his gun there was a Hash across
the river and the whiz of a bullet , and
ho sank to the earth with a hole just
above his eye on the loft side , from
which flowed a darlt'tcrlnison tide. Not
a word , nota grohn' scapod him ,
"I removed liisj'Qmuins from near the
lire where ho hadjaflon. And as I did
so my eyes fell ointhe | telegraphic col
umn of a nowspar § > : . 'and ' it was headed
All Quiet Along > itlfo. Potomao Tonight. '
And , oh , h&w tijhtftful it was ! It was
certainly all quw > tjjjvlth mo and with
him whom I loved lutfa brother ,
' I could not hoW heddlng a tear , and
my thoughts revonrUa to his homo , his
wffo and his ohllih/dfj and to the false
hood told by those whoso guest I had
been and whoso | Srtl ohcry had caused
his death , and tbcyigrow bitter , and a
demon of vcngeonw arose In my heart
which was not st\ilel , ( until the white
dove of peace ! liai' spread her snowy
pinions over the whojp face of the land ,
and the bombsholrTolled across the
sward the plaything of a child.
"When morning dawned the words of
that newspaper were burned in my
bruin. They rang 1 my curs and were
painted on every scene that met my
view. I put my friend's ' effects together
his letters , sword , hat and all and
expressed them to his wife , with a true
and perfect description of his death.
And while I stood beside his cold form
and gazed at his marble face and glazed
eyes In the unbroken alienee of my
lonely watch I felt what few mortals
over feel In this shadowy vale. I penned
the outlines of the poem then and there ,
but not as they now appear , for the llrst
wore biting and sarcastic. I read the
crude copy to Orderly Sergeant W. W.
' Williamson , who was a line critic , and
Lieutenant * Graham and Dopritt of my
company , and Williamson suggested
that If I would only make it more pa
thetic Inatoad of sarcastic it would take
better.
"I did so nnd on the Oth of August I
had it complete as the poem now stands ,
and I read It to my mcasmiito.i and re
ceived their highest commendations. I
gave them copies of the original and
they recopied nnd sent thorn homo , and
soon the , whole regiment , brigade , divi
sion and army-wcro In possession of It.
"My father , whom I mot shortly after
the completion of it , suggested that In-
stond Of 'stray picket' I ought to pay
'luno picket. ' But 1 did not alter it.
rho ladles of Lccsburg , in Loudotm
county , Va. . put the words to music and
Used to sing them for us long before they
wore printed. Tgave ono copy to a Miss
Kvn l eu and' ono to a Miss Ilomstono ;
also a copy to John M. Orr , who nt the
time was mayor of the town. I gave
copies to many others whoso names I
cannot recall. The following Is a copy
from
Tin : ouuilNAt , vor.M.
"All quint nlons the Potomac , " they siy : ,
"Kxcopt here nnd thorn : i Mirny picket.
Is Hhot , us ho ualkion his Ix'utui nnd fro ,
Hy u rlllomun hid In the thicket. "
TU nothing a private or two , now nnd then ,
, \ \ 111 not count In thn nnw.s of tlin hattle ;
ft it an olllcer.lost only 0110 of the inon
Moaning out , all nlono , the ili-.ith raltlu.
All quiet alone the I'ntomnc tonight ,
Where the soldiers lit ) pcimofiilly dreaming :
Their touts lu the rnys of the clear autumn0
moon ,
Or In the lighter their camp II res gleaming.
A tremulous sigh astiKontlo nlRht wind
Through the forest louvos softly Is cropping ,
Wlillo lliuHtiirsupuhovo , with their KllUcrlng
eyes ,
Keen guard o'er the iirmy while .sluonlng.
Thorn Is only the .sound of the lone sentry's
tread ,
As lin trntnpa from the rock to the fountain ,
And thinks of the two on the low trundle
lied ,
Fur uwtiy In the cot on the mountain.
Ilia tnusknt falls back and his face dark and
Krlm
Grows gi'titlo with memories tender ,
And ho mutlor * a pniyi-r for the children
asluep
Kor tholr mother may hpuvvn defend her !
The moon suciiis toshlnoas brightly as then ,
That night , wliun the love yet unspoken
Leaped up to his Itus , and wnon low murmured
vows .
Vcro pledged , to bo over unbroken.
Then , drawing Ills slcovoroughly o'or his eyes ,
Up dailies olT tears that are welling ,
And Kuiliors Ills gun close up to Its iiluco ,
As If to keep down the hcart-swotlliig.
lin nasscs the fountain , thn blastuil plno tree ;
Ills footsteps are lagging and weary ;
i ol , onward hu gou.s through the broad bait of
light , '
Toward the shades of the forest so droary.
Hark ! was It the nlghlwlml rustled the leaves ?
WHS It moonlight so wnmlrnusly Hushing ?
It looked like a rlllo "Ha ! Mary , good-liy ! "
A I'd the life-blood Is ebbing and plashing.
All qulot along this I'otomar. tonight ;
No sound SOTU the rush of thu river :
Whtlusofl falls thu dew on the f aci ) ot the dead ,
That picket's off duly foroverl
Upward of thirty years have elapsed
since the scene was enacted which in
spired the poem , and this soldier-poet ,
this whilom champion of ti ' 'lost caitbO , "
touchingly writes mo that ' 'the glory he
fought for has faded ; that ho cares noth
ing for what is in the eternal past and
has no enmity in his heart , but loves the
soldiers who wore the blue and fought
to maintain the Union. "
oooit JtOAit at.tifisa.
Correct Locution in the First KtuiuUito of a ,
Uootl itonil.
In November , 1800 , the Department of
State sent inquiries to Its consuls in foreign
countries concerning the construction and
maintenance of roads In their respective dis
tricts. Appended arc some of the conclusions
arrived at by Oscar F. Williams , consul at
Havre :
The perpetual advantage of an easy prado
should bo secured at the beginning.
Straight lines nro best and on like grades
are cheapest ; it is economy , however , to
secure easy grades nt thoexpenseof straight
lines where such grade is otherwise unob
tainable , because the perpetual advantage to
all users of the road more than offsets the
disadvantage to the land owner from 111-
shapon Holds.
Capacious middle blind drains in all roads
will dry the. soil in summer und minimize
the damage by frost in winter.
Side drains should novcr bo omitted.
If natural soil of road bo arched at center
Its drainage ivlll bo easier.
All stones liable to disintegrate the road
surface should bo rejected.
Comparatively largo cost is unavoidable ;
cheaply made roads will prove the most ex
pensive roads.
Material should DO carefully selected , du
rability nnd cheapness when prepared being
llrst considered ; then by using local stone
local labor may bo employed , and so by out
lay for stone and labor each locality will to
an extent bo benefited directly by the dis
tribution of the money cost of the road in
such locality.
ISvory county should own and operate at
least ono steam road roller.
Itoad sweepings , except manure , and com
mon sand and clay make suitable binding
material over broken stone.
In making n now road wetting down or
sprinkling has been proven Injurious ; such
practice is wise in repair , as then the bind
ing material is solldillcd , while the water
does uot penetrate the surface coating to
soften or weaken It.
no u > KEuriNn.
Repair should never be delayed.
Scientific supervision Is essential.
Wetting down aids repair by hclpinc thu
now added material to ndiieru to the old.
For repair , especially of largo areas , as
well as forjcoustruotlon , a steam roller effects
great economy.
The use of wide tires should bo cncour
aged either hy bounty on such or by tax on
narrow ones.
Four-wheeled freighting vehicles should
not track ; the hind wheels should roll out
side the track of the fora wheels ,
Local tax for maintenance tends to prevent
local misuse , promotes local supervision , and
prompts repair.
OENKIUI. CONHIPKIIATIOXJ ) .
Increase of railroad mileage .seems to
lesson Interest in highways , hut It should
not bo forgotten tjiut nearly nil railroad
freight has boon previously carted over
highways.
The use of springs on freight wagons
greatly .diminishes the Jot or falling force In
road depressions , prevents ruts and pre
serves roads.
The effects ot wheels of large diamoterand
width of tire is to greatly dtmlmsn spot
pressure , uud the breaking of the road sur
face Is thus obviated.
The reduction of cost of transit of persons
and freight by lower pricps for liveries and
for hauling would no bonellcial , and , as
transportation is a large element of cost to
every one not a producer , good roads would
much cheapen living.
The cost of transporting products or of
hauling to market Is by tenfold thu highest
tax now piid by our farmers and hucksters.
The cost of lilcliwny transportation over
the properly built roads of France does not
exceed one-third the like expense In the
United State's , it being common in thu rural
districts of Franco to haul three tons , and in
the cititis from three to live tons , net freight ,
with ono horso.
In this way the good road saves the farmer
each year much jnoro than its cost , and wo
may ignore the increased pleasure in Us uso.
If two horse * haul the load of four , ono
wagon of two , ono sot of harness of two , ono
driver servo for two , and If six miles Instead
of thrpe bo passed per hour , the aggregate
saving would double the net Income of the
average huckster or farmer.
Land values are Increased by improved
roads. This effects (1) ) Increased assessment
and taxes on lands abutting because most
benefited. ( U ) This. Increased assessment re
duces per cent of tax und tax on lands not
abutting , and which nrohmicelrss benefited.
There are , three tiling * worth saving
Time , Trouble and money und Uo Witt's
Little luuvlv lUsers will save them for you.
Those little pilU will save you time , as they
act promptly , They will save you trouble as
theycauiu no pain. They will save you
monevus they economize doctor's bills
The flrst record taken by American as-
tronoinora of an eclipse was on Ixing Isluud
on October 27,1780.
REFRIGERATORS ,
SOLID OAK OR ASH. SIX WALLS
CHARCOAL FILLED ,
All Styles , SUes nnil Prices.
From 80.00 up
NEW PROCESS.
GASOLINE RANGE. Improved'1893
MANY NEW FEATURES.
THE ORIGINAL THE BEST.
MORE SOLD THAN ALL OTHERS
Milton Rogers & Sons
14th and Farnam Streets ,
Solo agents for Nebraska.
Dealers supplied at factory prices.
Send for catalogue and price list.
THOUSANDS OF SSSSSSS
Will bo made at 1IAKVEV HK1OHTS Jnit as
thousand ! ) h.ivu boon innilo In and around
Clncupo. by Investors who wont In on the
cround Hoar. 1/ots KiHo lOO. oiic-toiitli down ,
biilanco * S to $10monthly. WITHOUT INTEU-
KST. Free abstract , tltlo porfoot. Invustl-
Ruto and plant a few dollurt ! wlioro they will
grow. I'or prosnootua , pliitE , mo. , address ,
W. L. WIMCINB , ( Jan. AR'I ,
73 Dearborn St. ,
RAMGE BUILDING.
J3ost of Woolens *
Superb olTeets in Modes and
Finishing- various styles will
be noted in our clothes.
Frank J. H.amge , Tailor.
FOll mCN'J' : Stores and Of
fices in ibis building1 , with all
con von ioneos. Inquire ) of
Prank J.
DOCOR
Searles
&
Searles
SPECIALISTS
nit. r. i , . SIAKI.KS , notnultlntiurzoun ,
Ornduuto or Hush Modlc il Collogo. ICON-
MJI.TATMKN I'HKK. ) I 'or Iho treatment ot
CHRONIC , NERVOUS
PRIVATE DISEASES
We oaro Catarrh , AH Dlioasok of the
None , Throat , Chest , Stniuaoh , Bowel *
undLlvor.
Blood , SUln aud Kidney Dlkuat > ei ,
Female Wcaliuone * . I.o t Manhood
CURED.
riIK * . KlHTtir.A , nSSUUK permanent/ ! cured
without lti moot kuire. ligature or cauilic.
AlliuuIuJleiof iirlmto ur dtllcatu nature , of
( slitter > ax , poiUlvalr cured.
C llou or ttd.lri'j , wlttiitauip rorClrculari , lr u
Dr. SeailEs & Searles ,
NflitdcoHo t'OHl ago.
Shams
Are tho33 Igmrii * pratjaijn
withoutnny qualifications , nny ability ,
nny oxporionen , any skill , claim tc
possess the power to cure ixll the ills ol
ho hunmu raoa. But tholr want of
worth soon becomes apparent to thoinj
would * bo dupes , nud those conscioncoj
loosquacks are soon couslpnoi t the |
oblivion they so richly inorit.
lii strange and strong contrastwltbj
these miserable boasters ia the } uiotl
dignified yet courteous demeanor ofl
hose noted loadara of tholr profossloa
Wlio , during the past 37 years , liava
abundantly demonstrated their ability
to oflbct speedy , perfect and pormanon'
cures in all the worst forms of thouo delicate -
icato sexual mnlndios embraced within
the general terms of _
NERVOUS , CHRONIC
AND
PRIVATE DISEASES.
Send 4. cents for their illustrated'now
book of 120 pages , "Know Thyself. "
Consultation froo. Call upon or address -
dross , with stamp ,
Drs. Betfs & Belts ,
119 S , ! 4tii Streal ,
Cor. Donglai St' ,
OMAHA. NEB ,
BLISS.
Special Sale
this week of
Midsummer
Pattern
Hats , white and light
colors.
The largest line of
leghorn hats in " " .
the city.vwiS.urr 2nd
For bargains in
Children's Hats ,
Flowers and
Millinery.
Bliss , 1514Douglas-st
OUR EMPLOYMENT DEFT
nhilocottln ; tlio o-nnloyor mil omp'oyai
tiotlilni : . h is enabled us to mlvansa the Intur-
ests of both , ami aUo our own , Uy suourln ;
better rosutts with tlie niaohlno.
Wyckoff , Seaman & Benedici
TELKl'llONK iriJ. 17U FAIINA.M 3C.
HIRSGHBERG'S i
The
bratcd No- ,
changeable
Spcctacl u
u Ji d K y c
hisses for
aha hy
MAX MEYKK & 1MO. CO , , ONLY
OR.
MCGREW
THH BPBCIALIBT.
Ii uncurpOMed In tin
treatment of all
PRIVATE DISEASES
ami all Wiakniulieu
and Dliordtu of MCR
Bjonriorperlooco.
Writa for circ lilk
nnd 'lucttlon lUt tree ,
lltli anil Kifttam BU
OuiuUa. ib.