Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 21, 1895)
20 THE OMAHA DAILY I BEE : SUNDAY , APRIL 21 , 1805. Organization and Operation of Old Abo's Presidential Boom. -RECOLLECTIONS OF EDITOR JOE MEDILL Careful Preparation fur the CoiiTCiitlon of 1800 How the Nntnttintloii Wits lirotiRlit About llcitciitmnut of ( toward1 * 1'oltoncri. ( Copyright. ! ; . ) It. MCHICAGO , March 11. Tlio "plan of cam paign" which paved the way to Mr. Lln- coln'a first nomination for the prf-sldency was laid out In the Illlonls state central commit tee and In the ofllce of the Chicago Tribune. Mr. ' Medlll was secretary of the committee and. editor of the newspaper. It was arranged that Lincoln's name waste to bo flrst "mentioned" by the Illinois coun- -.try newspaper press , but the Tribune , though the Icadliii ; republican paper of the west , was not to take the Initiative. A dozen county papers down In the old whig belt of the state were to broach the subject ; then the Journal In Springfield was to copy whnt they said and tlio Tribune also , with tome editorial Indorsement. A Hock Island paper was theflrst to rpcn out for the pres idency. This plan was duly carried out and It worked like a charm. The people of Illi nois took kindly to the Idea. The committee had little to do with Lin coln's trip to New York and his Cooper Union tpJtcli. Mr. Lincoln wrote that speech In Springfield In response to the Invitation to make a speech In New York. He brought It to Chicago and left It over night with Mr. Mcdlll and Dr. Hay for examination , saying : "You boys read that through and note such changes as you think ought to be made In It. " " \Vo went over It carefully , " says Mr. Medlll , "and made a number of marginal and separate notes , suggesting changas. Ho took our notes to his hotel before he left Chicago for New York and examined them at his leisure. A very few of them ho adopted ; the others he threw away. He gen erally had his mind made up before he asked for advice , and ho was not an easy man to move. " MEDILL IN WASHINGTON. When the tlmo came for the Tribune to take up Lincoln's name for the presidency In downright earnest Mr. Mcdlll went to Washington with the view to start the boom from the capital. His picture of a news paper correspondent's life at Washington may bo Instructive to thirty-five years ago the corps of today. "Telegraph tolls to Chicago , " says Mr. Mcdlll , "were 5 cents a word. As wo were not very rich most of my 'dispatches' went by mall. My office was under my hat and my headquarters wcro at the Washington house , where many of the western congress men and some of the easterners were living. Am'ong thorn were John A. lllngham of Ohio and Hannibal Hamlln of Maine , and mem bers from a dozen other states. "Deforo writing any Lincoln letters for the Tribune I began preaching Lincoln among the congressmen. I urged him chiefly upon the ground of availability In the close and doubtful states with what seemed like rea sonable success. At length I cent to the Tribune a ringing Lincoln letter , making his avalllblllty my strong point. It was the first letter written cast of Ilio Allegheny mountains In any leading newspaper urging Lincoln for president In preference to the great and overshadowing Seward. - - "When the Trlbimo came back to Wash ington with that Lincoln letter I realized that I was In for trouble. UeJoro that time there had been a mild Seward party at the Washington , but the line was not sharply .drawn. Hut now the party was sharply de nned , and all the Seward congressmen on the Seward side , among them even Owen Love- Joy himself , Karnsworth of Chicago , was for Lincoln , though ho loved Seward. 1U2SENTS THE LINCOLN DOOM. "I had been Invited to a grand reception which Seward was giving , to the British min ister at that time. I had hardly entered the drawing room when Soward. saw me. He tapped me on the shoulder , saying : 'Medlll , I want to see you. ' He took me Into his wine room and commencd at once : 'Medlll you have stunned me. I've read that letter of yours In the Tribune In which you advo cate Lincoln for president In preference to me , giving reasons availability that are T/tdp of the truth ; saying I haven't the Strength Lincoln has In states like Pennsyl vania , Indiana and Illinois , and would be de feated , as Fremont was defeated , and that your man , I'ralrlo Statesman Lincoln , can carry the essential states , which I cannot. Do you mean tliat7' "I assured him that I did believe It. " 'Well , ' he retorted , 'I consider this - , personal Insult. I had. always counted on you as "one of my boys. " You appealed to me from Cleveland ( referring to the letters written by Mr. Medlll In 1854) ) about chang ing the name of the party , etc. , and I trusted you , ' etc. He ended by saying In anger : 'Henceforth you and 1 are parted. The golden chain Is broken. I defy you to do your worst. I know threei dally papsrs In your city that are with mo ( this was true ; the Tribune stood alone In Chicago for Lin coln ) , and I shall never regard you again as a friend of mine.1 And ho turned on his heel and strode out , while I said sharply In reply : 'Success next fall I esteem of more Importance than any man's friendship. ' "And he was as good as his word , " Mr. Mcdlll continued. "I met him several times afterwards In Lincoln's chamber when ho was secretary of state to the 'man out on the prairies.1 but ho never gave mo more than a formal bow. Lincoln knew all about the episode , for I had told him , but ho never referred to It by word or look , " Mr. Medlll kept on writing Lincoln letters from Washington , and the Tribune made "Old Abe" the lssue. Once or twice he met Mr. Lincoln after returning home , and the candidate said : DOUBTFUL OP HIS OWN NOMINATION. "Seo here , you Tribune boys have got me up a peg too high. How about the vice presidency won't that do ? " ' At ono of thcso encounters the corre spondent said to Mr. Lincoln : "We are not playing second In this dance to any musician You're an apt man at telling apropos stories Now let me tell you ono that my school master used to tell mo. 'When you go to a theater , ' he would say , 'always buy a box ticket , because with that you can sit any where In the house ; but If you buy a pit ticket you must sit In the pit or go out. ' " "How do you apply that 7" asked Lin coin. , "Easily. Start In for the vice presidency nnd you have lost all chance of the higher place. If you must 'come down a peg , ' as you say , It will be mighty easy later on. The Seward fellows would jump at such a chance to get rid of you. But now It is president or nothing. Else you may count " " tlTe Tribune out. Wo are not fooling away our tlmo and science on the vice presidency. " "But , " persisted Mr. Lincoln , "how am .going to get the nomination7 What state ; can I carry In the convention after Illinois ? ' And ho took cut paper and pencil to figure It up. , "You will get your own state , solidly , to start with , " answered Mr. Medlll , "and In dlana. Do you doubt that ? " "No o , I guess not. I've lived In both states. " ' " 'Well , those are the two pivotal states In the west that Fremont lost ; and you can ge' ' . Pennsylvania. " "Pennsylvania ? Why , that's Cameron's state. " "Yes , Its Cameron's state to trade on Our men don't expect Cameron to get any thing but a cabinet position. Now , If you can carry the Keystone state In the coiiven " 'tldn you can carry It at the polls. N ' , , . Jersey goes with Pennsylvania. Oth'e states will nock to your roost. Now , you . - can'tshow me how you can be beaten If you carry those four states. " "There's Chase ho holds Ohio , " mused Mr , Lincoln , "Chase Is not formidable for president. " . "Iowa Is for Seward and Wisconsin. " "That's doubtful. " > . "There's Michigan. " "Yes , Michigan Is the daughter of New York , nnd Is for Seward. But you'll ce' Missouri , Kentucky and Nebraska. As fo Ohio leave Ohio to mo. You will get part o . . Jts vote nt least. I am sure of that. " "Aren't you an optimist ? " Mr. Lincoln finally-asked , - "A man ought to bo In a fleht ot this kind , " wns Mr , Modlll's retort , "ana you must bo an optimist , too. " And before the campaign ended Mr. Lin * coin WAS as optimistic as the most hopeful of hid party. REPUBLICAN CONVENTION OF 1S60. , The republican convention of 1SCO was held In a great wigwam temporarily erected for the purpose on Market street , Chicago. Mr. Medlll co-operated with the chairman of the itato central committee , Mr. Norman B. Judd , In arranging the delegates' scats. This allottment was one of the minor circum stances leading up to Mr. Lincoln's nomina tion , and Mr. Medlll tells of his share In It with an Irresistible took of mock contrition. "It w , " he pays , "the meanest political trick I ever hod a hand In In my life. " New York came to the convention , under the management of Thurlow Weed , tolld for her favorite son , William H. Seward , From ho Lincoln point of view It was highly de- ilrable to Isolate the Empire state delegation nd place the delegates of the doubtful states .H far outsldo of the sphere of Its Influence as possible. Most Important ot the doubtful states for Lincoln was Pennsylvania and next Ohio. This .circumstance furnished the key to the ncoln committee's plan of arrangement. Now York was seated at one extreme end of he vast hall , with no state for neighbor that , vas not already hopelessly for Seward. At ho other extreme was placed Pennsylvania , at so long a remove that the voices of Seward orators of New York could barely j lie heard by the doubtful delegates of Penn sylvania. Close about the Keystone state , on the side toward New York , were packed ho faithful Lincoln delegation of Illinois and ndlana , and also the New Jersey delegation , which was accounted but a tall to the Key stone dog. There were convenient passages ' .ending . from the Pennsylvania seats to the ante-rooms which were also directly In communication with Illinois , to that when delegates from Pennsylvania betook them selves from the hall for consulatlon they ivero reasonably certain to meet delegates rom Illinois or Indiana primed with an ar gument for Lincoln. Judge David Davis many a Quaker In this simple fash- on and expounded the truth as It was In lilm. The Ohio delegation was placed on he other side of Illinois and Indiana. LINCOLN'S NOMINATION. "I took my seat , " says Mr. Medlll , "among my old frlcndj pf the Ohio delegation , as I personally know nil of them , nnd did what Missionary work I could. Joshua H. Olddlngs soon cplcd me and , without ceremony , ordered me out. Ho mode a bitter little speech for my benefit and for the cdlllcation of the Ohio delegates within hearing. It was to the effect that Lincoln didn't amount to anything and had but a limited ac quaintance , and Seward was the natural eader of the party. My friends among the Ohloans came to my rescue and told me to stay , and I did , and we had a nice little argument. I remained with the Ohio men. "After the second * ballot I whispered to halrman Carter of Ohio : 'Now Is your time. If you can throw the Ohio vote for Lincoln , Chase can have anything he wants. 'H-how d-d'yo know ? ' stuttered Carter. 'I know , nnd you know I wouldn't say so If I ilidn't know. Ask Judge Davis. He holds the authority from Lincoln. " "So Carter got up and boldly announced eighteen or nineteen Ohio votes for Lincoln , though the delegation had not been polled. Olddlngs challenged the vote , but after nn acrimonious wrangle on the poll It was found that Carter ' ' ' hadn't 'nigged' more than one or two votes. That Ohio vote put him up alongside of Scwanl. The next ballot brought the victory , and the haughty , lordly Se ward's goose was cooked. " Mr. Medlll's estimate of the Importance of this missionary wcrk he states thus : "I don't know that this arrangement of seats In the convention was potential for the nomination of Lincoln ; but I have always believed that If Pennsylvania had been placed within the sphere of Thurlow Weed's In fluence we shouldn't have come within fifty votes of success. As for Ohio , If that state had been near New York , It would never have broken for Lincoln as It did , and the result would have been Seward's nomina tion , and defeat at the polls , for all the pro-slavery and conservative elements would have combined against the 'irrepressible con flict * man and crushed him , thus electing nmiflna . " JtKLlGlOUS. The sultan of Turkey Is sending out Mo hammedan missionaries to Africa at his own expense to counteract the Influence of the Christian missionaries In that continent. The Baltimore conference of the Methodist Episcopal church has decided , by a vote of 11 to C5 , against the proposal to elect women as delegates to the general conference , Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston , 111. , has acquired the most extensive and valuable Methodist library In the world. It contains 3,000 volumes and was secured through the efforts of Ilev. Charles H. Kelly , ex-pres ident of the British Wesleyan conference. Richmond , Vn. , Is the great Baptist city of the world. There are , Including all de nominations , eighty-eight churches , and thirty-four of these are Baptist. The entire church membership of the city Is about 12,000 , and more thau 20,000 of these , or nearly one-half , are Baptists. The Itev. Dr. J. J. Kane , who won a num ber of medals lifting the civil war , Is said to be dying In , 'ngland from pneumonia. Twice before the reverend doctor has been supposed to bo dead. On one occasion he was actually cofllncd , but before the lid was fastened the supposed dead man suddenly rose to a sitting position. The second time of his supposed death he was chaplain at the Norfolk navy yard. The Flev. Edward Everett Hale , whom Dr. Holmes called the "human dynamo , " cele brated his 73d birthday last week. The Hev. Dr. Henry M. Field , editor of the Evangelist ot this city , was 73 years of ago on the same day , and refers to the'coinci dence In a delightful article entitled , "Two Old Boys Comparing Notes. " They must be old If Dr. Field says so , but they don't look It. Passing around a whisky bottle at a re ligious meeting is not regarded as a breach of the rules of decorum In Lehlgh county , Penn sylvania. One night last week a party of young men attended services at the Sallsburg Reformed church , and , during the exercises , a bottle was passed around and all hands drank to the health of the minister. The next day the party , consisting of William Roth , William Helmbach and Edward and John Adams , wcro arrested. At a hearing 'Squire Koch decided that the act of the men was not a disturbance of a relig ious meeting , and discharged the accused. The costs wcro put on the congregation. In referring to a rumor that Bishop Wil liam Taylor , In charge of the Methodist mis sions In Africa , Is of colored origin , the Chris tian Advocate says : "The ancestors ot Bishop Taylor came from County Armagh , Ireland , to the state of Virginia. His complexion Is naturally very fair. The flrst time we ever saw him. In the state of Delaware , preaching at Red Lion camp meeting , he was almost as white as the symbolic Illy. Frequent travel and long residence In the tropics have given his features a darker cast. Probably these persons have confounded Bishop William Tay lor with the late Marshall W. Taylor , who was nominated for bishop of Africa In the general conference of 18SJ , prior to the whirlwind of approbation which swept Wil liam Taylor Into that position. " .1 DltKA.1l 0 ? tiULlTUnK. Written for The Bee. A dream of solitude ! A great , wide sen , With restless waves beneath a far-off sky. But sea and sky ! No ship , no land , no voice , Not e'en a stormy petrel's plaintive cry. A dream of solitude ! A city great. I walk amid n crowd of men unknown. The world Is full of voices , yet not one Doth call my name. A "c'roVd ! "and "yet alone ! i A dream of solitude ! Where men clasp hands In seeming friendship , yet with hearts un stirred , ' the one hand I love Is ne'er reached o'ut To totryfxrny own. The vole * best loved , ne'er mJArd.TV TV . Charles Curtz Hahn. Omaha , Neb.7af r3. 1S35. * " A lady asked Habbi"ifhlndler of Boston the other day If Jonah was rAjly swallowed by a whale. Ills answer , given VHJ ] a pleas ant little accent , was as follows : ' "I don't know anything about Chonah , and I don't know anythtvig about the whale ; It's all the ' ' came as Drllby It's a noffel ! " Cook's Kxtra Dry Imperial Champagne has no tuperlor. A. large yearly Increase. In It * i 0 tales uyi so. [ OLIVER UEHKELEY'S ' FIRST RAFT-RIDE. ( By William Oliver Oraydon. ) Ollvtr Berkeley was an even-tempered nnd unsclffsh a lad as one could wish to tec- , and these winning qualities made him a favorite with his companions. Hut the best of boys are very far from perfection , nnd Oliver had at least one or two serious faults. One was n habit of putting off as long as possible what ever he might be bidden to do , and the other was nn ovcr-wccning belief that ho knew a little more than any one else. Tlmo and again these fallings led htm Into more or less un pleasant scrapes , but he did not profit to any extent by his experience until he was 17 years old. Then occurred the adventure that forms the subject of this story. Mr. Berkeley was a prosperous lumber mer chant of Tonawanda , a thriving town on the north branch of the Susquehanna , He owned large tracts of forest land In several coun ties , nnd every spring and fall he sent a number of raftu down the river to be sold. Naturally Oliver got to know something of the business , and In the winter vacations he often spent a day or two at one of the log ging camps In the woods. But he had never taken a ride on a raft , though that pleasure had been promised him when a favorable opportunity should occur . One noon day In mid April , while going home from school , Oliver stopped In at his father's ofllce. Mr. Berkeley was silting at his desk with a perplexed look on his face and several open letters before him. "I was Just wishing for you , my boy , " ho said. "Do you think you can attend to n little business matter for me ? " "Of coursa 1 can , " Oliver replied. "What Is It ? " "Well , you know I have n hemlock raft building at Ferryport , " explained Mr. Berke ley. "I was down there yesterday , nnd Trlcket , the boss , declared that It would be ready to cut loose some tlmo this afternoon As It Is uncertain how long the high water will last , and as the moon Is full now. I told people are As punctual as himself , but I know something about these rnfUmcn. " It could not Have been far from 8 o'clock when Oliver crossed Hear creek and found himself on ( lie tdgo of the straggling little * oUlement ot'FeVryport. The tavern stood a few yards away , and through the open win dow , whence floated boisterous laughter nnd talk , he caught n gllmpso of three or tour bearded , red ahlrteO men. " 1 knew It , " Oliver muttered In a triumph ant tone. "In there stands Trlckctt and his crew. " lit took another peep , but the men had their backs toward htm and he could not Identify any of them. He went on a little farther and then turned down a rocky foot path to the river. Sure enough , here was the raft , moored to a cou ple of trees by n single rope. Ho stepped on board and strolled about In the dim light. Evidently the crew were ready to start. The sweeps were In place and outside the shanty that occupied the center of the raft were the charred embers of a recent fire. Inside a lamp was burning dimly on a shelf and tlio dull light revealed two bunks , a bin full of potatoes and .1 rude cupboard con taining tin dishes , a shoulder ot bacon and a couple of loaves of bread. A sudd n Idea brought a smile to Oliver's face. "I don't suppose the men will stay long , " he reflected , "so I'll turn In and wait for them , Just as though I was one of the crew. AVon't they be Jolly surprised ? " Accordingly the lad crawled , nto oneof the bunks , which was partly niled with straw , and when he had drawn his blanket over him he felt warm and snug. He had no Intention of going to sleep , but his long walk and the hearty meal of crackers and cheese he had eaten txion brought on a feelIng - Ing of drowsiness. He struggled against It for a time , but nt last his heavy eyelids closed and he drifted Into n deep slumber. Some hours later Oliver's sleep was ruJely Interrupted. He awoke suddenly to find him self sprawling on the floor of the shanty. He sprung to his feet with n bruised nnd nch- Itig head , and before he could do more than realize that he had been pitched out of the bunk a dizzy lurch of the raft upset him - V- INTO THE YELLOW FLOOD. Trlcket to have his crew ready to start at 7 o'clock this evening. The moon rises then almost to the minute. " "Is that the raft you arc sending to Har vard do Grace ? " asked Oliver. "It Is the one I Intended to send there , " replied Mr. Berke ley , "but I have changed my mind. Here is a letter from Rlggs & Co. of Wllkesbarre. They want a quantity of hemlock , and as they make me n fair offer , I will let them have this raft. So you must go down to Ferryport this afternoon and tell Trlckett of his nltercd destination. I would go myself , but I am called to Elinirn on urgent business , and my train leaves in half an hour. " "Can't I ride down with the raft , father ? " Oliver pleaded. "You promised I might at the flrst chance , and this Is a good one. " Mr. Berkeley hesitated a moment. "If you prefer a night ride you may try It , " ho said slowly. "It is a short run , and Trlckett Is the most careful boss I have. Tell him that I put you entirely In his charge , and be sure you take the flrst train home from Wllkesbarre. Here Is as much money as you will need. " "When ( to I start ? " asked Oliver. "By the 4 o'clock train. It stops at Black Walnut , and the ferry boat takes you across. Hurry up to dinner now , and explain all to your mother. "Be sure you don't miss that train , " Mr. Berkeley added. "Trlckett Is a methodical man , and at 7 o'clock ho will have the raft under way. I would telegrapn him If It were possible , but the nearest station for that is at Skinner's Eddy. " "I'll be there In time , " Oliver promised. "Don't you worry , father. " "You have been equally confident before , " replied Mr. Berkeley , in a meaning tone , "and you know what happened. " "But this Is different , " said Oliver. "Why , It Is more than three hours to train time , and you know I have a watch. " "Very well , then. I shall rely on you , my boy , and I will be seriously angry If you dis appoint me. " Mr. Berkeley turned to his letters , and Oliver left the ofllco whistling a lively air. He loitered on the way to witness a dog fight and to listen to a hurdy-gurdy with some companions , and was consequently a half an hour late for dlnnsr. The difficulty which he found In convincing his mother that there was no possibility of danger in a raft ride left him In bad humor , which quickly vanished , however , when he went up stairs to get ready for the trip. He donned his flshlng suit , did up a blanket and a few toilet articles In a shawl strap. Oliver left the house at half-past 3 by the watch. Ho was so sure that It was right that he did not take the trouble to compare It with the clock In the dining room. When part way to the station he met two of his companions , and stopped to tell them about the good tlmo he was going to have , thereby arousing their envy and admiration. They decided to accompany him to the station , which lay on the opposite side of the Susque hanna , and was reached by a covered bridge. At the town end of the bridge the three lads stopped to watch a man fishing , and they were still there when the train whistled on the opposite Bide of theriver. . Oliver dashed over the bridge like a professional sprinter , far out distancing his companions , but when he reached the station the train had stopped and gone. The clock In the waiting room was flve minutes ahead of Oliver's watch , and he assailed the correctness of the former In n heated argument with the ticket teller , who got rather the best of It. The only thing that could be done now was to take the 5 o'clock train , which , being a fast express , stopped only at Skinner's Eddy , three miles this side of Black Walnut. A little reflection Induced Oliver to take his usual rosy and confident view of the situation. He said : "There's a ferry across the river from the Eddy , and It's only three miles down the other side to Ferryport. I'll bo there by 7 o'clock easy. " The boys waited to tea Oliver off , and this tlmo he did not miss the train. Six o'clock eaw him at the station platform at Skinner's Eddy , and twenty minutes later ho landed from a leaky old flat on the other shore of the river. He started hopefully and briskly along the river road , which wound for the most part by the base of successive mountains , and was exceedingly hilly. Through chasing a frisky rabbit and seek ing a leaping place over a small stream that had recently lost Its bridge , It was 7 o'clock when Oliver stopped at a roadside store half way to his destination. He bought some crackers and cheese , and plodded on with an easy mind through the gathering dark- 'nesi. "J'm not a bit afraid of missing the raft , " he Assured himself. "If Trickett said ho would ls ready to start at seven , that meant or JO. I shouldn't be surprised It he didn't get Off till morning. Father thinks other f 'again. At the fcamo Instant a rusn of cold water splashed around him , and when he Jumped hastily up to escape It the flood re ceded as quickly as It 'had conio. Oliver was now wide awake , and badly scared , but he had sense enough to stagger back to the bunks and cling to them with both hands. The lamp had been upset and e-xtlnguls'hed , and the darkness was only re lieved by a pale glow that streamed through the doorway. Though the water did not return , all danger was not yet over. The raft was still quivering and creaking with a dizzy motion , and the floor of the shanty was very much aslant. Oliver was at no loss to account for his rude awakening. Ho took It for granted that the crew had come aboard and started the raft soon after he fell asleep. "The stupid fellows have run on a rock , " ho said to himself , "and It was the crash that threw me out of bed. One end must be fast , and the other Is swinging around. But it's queer the men ain't shouting and swearing. I'd better go and let them know I'm on board. " Just then came a grinding noise , and a splash , and at once the raft settled down level. It was evidently free of the rock , and running smoothly with the current. Oliver hurried from the shanty , looked right and lefi In tlio bright moon-light , and then uttered a cry of astonishment and alarm. Not a man was at the sweeps , nor was any one visible from end to end. He was alone on the raft. The lad was loath to believe It at flrst , but he made sure of the stunning fact by scraping a match and peeping Into the empty shanty. His watch marked two hours past midnight , and he could only guess how long the raft had been adrift. It was now close to mld-rlver and moving rapidly with th ? swollen current between lonely , mountainous shores. The door of the shanty faced up stream , shoeing- clearly that the raft had stuck on a rock long enough to swing around In a half circle. On going to the upper end Oliver discovered that the collision had split the raft down the middle for some yards , and knocked the sweep off Its fastenings. Ho hurried to the down-stream end , and as soon as he pulled the mooring rope out of the water ho saw that It had been severed by a sharp knife. This cleared up the mystery. Some mall- clous person had cut the raft loose while the lad slept. Oliver had no time to feel Indignant at the trick , for he suddenly made a far more startling discovery. He was on board a strange raft. This one was built of pine timber , while his father's had been of hem lock. lock.With With a bitter cry the lad sat down on a block of wood , and like a flash ho realized his reckless folly nnd carelessness. "This Is awful , " he groaned. "And Its all my own fault. What will father say ? If I had obeyed him strictly it could never have hap pened. Trlckett must have started on time , and this strange raft tied up at Ferryport after the other was gone. Why didn't I make sure before I went on board ? " But It was too late for repentence , nnd after thinking how he could best mend mat ters Oliver Jumped up nnd rnn to the sweep. "There Is only one way out of the scrape , " ho muttered. "I must get the raft safe In shore for the owners , and then find a place where I can telegraph to Plttston or Wllkes barre to have Trlckett stopped. " As ono sweep was broken and the other was on the wrong end , It was necessary to swing the raft completely around. This dif ficult and perilous task was accomplished only by an hour's labor , for the great oar- blade was hard to manage , and the raft more so. By this time Oliver was pretty tired , but he did not dare to stop to rest. He had the sweep at the rear end cf the raft where ho wanted It , nnd tor nearly an hour he worked the huge mass of lumber slowly toward shore. The current was strong , and his back and arms soon ached , but without a pause ho clung to the heavy handle , now dipping the blade , now lifting It high , as ho paced to and fro with weary steps. Mlle after mile fell behind as the floodcJ river whirled the raft on. Under the * silvery moonllgnt passed a fleeting panorama of mountains , valleys and fields , with here and there the twinkling lamps of some tiny ham let. let.By night It nil seemed strange , and not until dawn was breaking , and the raft was within 200 yards of the left shore , did Oliver discover where he was. Then a sharp curve of the river undid his labors by swinging the raft well toward ml'Jstrsam again , and he saw the town of Tunkhaunock lying half n mile below. He saw the bridge , too , and that meant danger. The- stone piers turned their sharp , triangular points up stream , and the spaces between them were alarmingly narrow. There was no chance of landing now , and Oliver bent his energies on making a safe pntuagr. Ho measured the distance with his eye * as ho piled the sweep this way and that , Our Big New Store- The busiest place in the town you'll forget all about hard times It docs you good to see the crowds bustle and push the army of clerks taking orders It reminds you of Boom times in Omaha. The cut shown hero Is tnkcii from a iihotogntpli of a CO/A' LITTLE HOME \vhlcli wo fur- iilsliinl for a recently wedded Special Offer couple In Kotint/.c Place. They frankly admitted they saved This Week ? 03.oO In ( rotting their outllt from us. Further comment Is With every outfit wo will glvo not . necessary. an elegant Jcwol Gasoline Steve free. They nro absolutely safo. Wo will teach you how to use ono. to st'r up the animals we quote : China Matting , 8c. All wool Ingrain Car pet , 3Sc ; worth 700. Window Shades , complete on spring- rollers , IOC. SoliJ Oak ' Sideboard , $10.85 ; it's a beauty ; see it. We Furnish YOUR House Complete. Furniture , Carpets , Draperies , Stoves , Ranges , Crockery , Glassware , Lamps. Remember we are headquar ters for new styles and low prices. One Price to AH-Cash or Weekly Payments Send for Send for our New our _ . . Jewel Baby - iirV'VB--w..lor'-gfjT-ffrj | y i\ 1211 1213 _ FARNAHSIT. tl" Gasoline Carriage Stove Catalogue. Catalogue. and as the bridge loomed nearer he felt pretty confident of running between the piers. But lie did not relax his caution , nor did ho pay much attention to the men whom he could see putting off In boats from the lower part of the town. lie surmised that they were heading out to intercept and board the raft. raft.Tho The critical moment was very close when pcoplo began to shout from the bank. Oliver looked up and tried In vain to understand them. When ho turned his eyes ahead he was horrified to see that the current had suddenly swept the front of the raft toward ono of the piers. Ho madly seized the sweep , but his arms seemed to have lost their strength. The next Instant the foreend of the raft struck the pier obliquely , and In less tlmo than it takes to tell the long mass of lumber swung around and crashed the adjoining plor. The shock threw Oliver oft his feet and Into the yellow flood. He was a good swim mer , and did not lose his presence of mind. As lie came to the top he saw that he was drifting alongside the pier , and with a few desperate strokes he succeeded In gaining the eddy behind It Just as the sections of the1 shattered raft went swirling by him. The masonry gave him a finger-hold , and ho clung hero until one of the boats which were happily close below pulled up and rescued him. him.When When Oliver reached shore ho had to face the angry boss nnd crew of the lost raft , who had come down from Ferryport on an early train. Dut after telling his story hi was readily exonerated from blame. It turned out that the raftsmen had quarreled the night before with some rough characters at Ferryport , and to this they attributed the malicious cutting of the mooring line. Oliver was made comfortable at the hotel until his clothes dried , and meanwhile he telegraphed to Rlggs & Co. , at Wllkes barre , to have his father's raft stopp'd there. No reply arriving by noon he took the train for home. Mr. Ilerkeley had Just returned from El- mlra , and when he heard Oliver's confession his grieved and disappointed look was , In Itself , a severe punishment to the lad. Three days later word was received that Trlckett's rait was safe at Havre do Grace , having gone by Wllkesbarre several hours before the telegram arrived , and thus caus ing a considerable loss to Mr. Berkeley. Rut the result of his heedlcssness , and the memory of his narrow escape , taught Oliver a lasting lesson , and In tlmo he was fully cured of his procrastination and Belt-confi dence. " " HOW TIUJ LAbT FLAO FJil.t , . An HUtorlcnl Hlory of I'utrlotUui and 1'luck. ( By T. C. llarbaugh. ) When the British left our shores at the close of the revolution they loft flying ono royal flag which , as they had nailed it to the flag polo , they fondly hoped would con tinue to kiss the breezes for some time to come. They had done this as an act of de fiance to the young republic , nnd many n soldier's eye was turned upon this lone Brit ish emblem ns the ships of King Ocorgo dropped down the bay nnd the spires of New York faded from view. Sir Guy Carlcton had set apart a day for the evacuation of Now York , nnd It fell on the 25th of November. Ho was not very reluctant to leave , for the long eight years' war was over , and the colonies had not only beaten the king's men In fair fight , but had captured two of his best armies. The Americana , led by some of their fa mous olllccrs , were ready to march In and take poEscsslon of New York the moment the last red coat had vanished , and on the 25th there was a great deal ot excitement which could not bo wholly subdued. The streets were thronged with men and boys , nnd the latter wore with dlfilculty kept from cheering the inarch of the British through the streets as they tramped down to the shipping to embark for England. At the foot of famous Uroadway stood Fort George , named for the British king , and from Its tall staff floated the flag which the enemy had left behind. It flapped In the breeze that November day In a manner quite distasteful to the Americans who had seen It waving there for almost seven years. They did not like the thought that It was to float on even after the last British soldier had vanished down the bay. and when General Knox and lila troops took formal possession of Fort George all eyea were turned toward that obnoxious ensign. It must come down , but how ? The pa triots did not want to destroy the tall flag staff , for they wished to hoist upon It an other flag which should represent the new est republic on the face of the globe , and no they gathered about the staff as they sug gested means for lowe-lng ( he Hrltlah flag. The English vcisela were vanishing down the narrows and their whlto sails would soon disappear , but there In the wind waved the flag they had left behind , bidding defl- anco to their conquerors , nnd saying in mitto language that , though the colonies were free , the emblem of a king still remained to disturb them. "I believe I could climb that pole , " said a boy who stood looking at the flag. An American officer , overhearing thcso words , turned and gave him a look of as tonishment. IIo was a good looking boy with a fresh face and strong young limbs. "You do ? " said the officer. "Do you really think you could climb that flag stuff and tear the banner loose ? " "I could try , anyhow. " "Here , sergeant , take this boy over to HE TOUCHED THE ENSIGN. General Knox and let him tell him what he thinks ho can do. " A continental sergeant stepped forward , and lu a little while Johnny Van Arsdale was walking at his sldo toward General Knox'B headquarters. The boy had seen the chief ot Washing ton's artillery , but had never been In his presence. The sergeant took the lad to the general's headquarters and saluted. "This boy ays ho can climb the flag staff and remove the British flag. " The kind face of Knox was Illumined by a smile. Ho looked the boy over from head to foot and said : "You look agile , boy. You have climbed before , have you ? " "Yes. sir. " replied Johnny , blushing. "If you would lot mo try to take the flag down I would do my best. " "You shall try nnd you look capable of doing it , " and with another salute the ser geant withdrew and marched the delighted boy back to the parade ground. The crowd gathered about the flagstaff , looked at the boy and soon understood what was up. A great many of them knew him , and not a few knew how agllo ho was. Not only had the departing Drltlsh nailed their flag to the pole , but they had knocked off the cleats and greased the staff go as to make It hard to climb. New cleats were soon obtained and Johnny Van Arsdalo went to work. He had brought with him a lot of sand , and by nailing back the cleats and applying the eand to the slick pole , he managed to climb up hand over hand amid the cheers of the people. Higher and higher he went , working like a beaver , but not looking down once upon the upturned facet. As he neared the top of the till flag pole a itraogo huih teemed to fall over the crowd below. It was expectation not nltogther unmingled - mingled with fear. There were those who feared that even should ho icnch the top his hands would not bo strong enough to tear the flag loose , but the little patriot persevered until ho could touch the ensign. "Look ! ho Is up now , " said a voice far be neath him. "Ho has caught hold of the flag. He Is tearing It loose ! Therel SEC how It yields ! He will accomplish his purpose ! " The boy looked like a black sp-ck , as II were , as he clung to the flag polo while ho wrenched the ffag from Its fastenings. He worked with a will , watched all the time by those on the ground' and when tly s > aw that ho had wrapped the standard around his body and had started upon his descent a great cheer arose from every throat. Lower nnd lower ho came , hand over hand , but with a flush of victory on his face. The banner flapped a little in the wind now , but Its freedom was subdued. No longee it kissed the- winds from the pinnacle of tha lofty staff , nor was It nailed there In defl * ance to the colonies. Louder than ever was the cheer that rent the air when the triumphant boy reached the ground and unwrapped from his body ; the wind-torn banner which he had secured. "I told the general I thought I could bring It down , " he said to the olllcr who stepped forward to take the captured banner. In another moment he waa hemmed In by , a wildly shouting crowd , and strong men took him upon their shoulders and carried , hm in ccstacy across the parade ground. It was n moment of proud triumph for the little patriot , and his prldo increased whcql General Knox sent to thank him for his dar * ' Ing act. In a little while another flag floated front the Hag staff of Fort George , but H was not the standard of the Icing. H was the stars and stripes of the young nation which had secured Us right to have a flag by seven years of war , and when Johnny Van Arsdalo' saw the other banner waving gracefully from the flag staff his eyes lit up with joy. "It's the prettier flag of the two. Long may It wave ! " cried he. And while It floated there the last Drltiali vessel vanished and New York hold no sol * dlers but those who would henceforth oc cupy It. Johnny Van Arpdalo lived a good many ) years after his daring act In lowering tli last Drltlsh flag , anil more than once ho was compelled to relate to groups of children how ho took It down from Its lofty height and saw the banner of freedom take Its place. Thus was the Urltlsh flag , raised by men ; taken down by a boy whoso name and deed the pages of American history have kept alive even unto ttls day , Sandpaper Is made with powdered glass Instead of eand. Glass Is readily pulverized by heating It red-hot and throwing It Into water , and finishing the powdering In att Iron mortar. Hy the use of sieves of differ ent sizes of mesh , the powder can bo arated Into various grades of flnen ss. DOCT SEARLES & SERIES Chronic , Nervous , PrivdU Diseases , TUKATJIUNT IIV MA1U ConmiUutlon Pra * ' \Vo euro Catarrh , all disoiBea of the . Nosu , Throat , Obost , Btomnch , Liver , ' Blood , Skin and Kidney Diseases , Fe male Weaknesses , Lost Manbood , nncl ALL PR .VATE DISEASES O7 MEN. WUAK MEN AHC VICTIMS TO NUIIVOU9 Debility or liiliuuillon. Waiting WruXn > , In voluntary LOIKI , with liarly be < . * y in young nil middle aged ; lacg of vim , rlcor und wtalt- tneil prematurely In approaching old aft. All yield readily to our new treatment for Ion ol vital power. Call or addrei with itimp (04 circular * , free book and receipt * . " Dr. Searles and Scarljs , FflHP'C A" " AUOUTCUAnu. rHUE J IDO I'eaturoi and neni UK lHeuil he , ! n'M p. book fur * "Uuir. lukoll. Woutlbury. 117\V.tJdfit..N. V. I Wooabuir * facial Bow.
