William Howard Taft, 27th President of the United States, paid a visit to Sewanee on November 10, 1911. According to Miss Johnnie Tucker, Matron of Tuckaway Inn, "Major Archie Butt had persuaded his chief to give a few hours of his precious time to visit Sewanee, Major Butt's Alma Mater."
Miss Johnnie described the visit in the following way. "It was a typical fall day; a fine drizzle was falling, and the unpaved street from the railroad station to the University was rough and muddy. A very mixed and motley crowd had gathered to meet the Mountain Goat at eight-fifteen."
"Henry Hoskins had decorated one of his old sea going hacks in red, white, and blue bunting for the President to ride in, but someone had spied the only automobile on the Mountain, belonging to a gentleman from Tracy City, coming down the street. It was immediately commandeered for the President, Bishop Gailor, the vice-chancellor, and two secret service men."
"Chief McBee swore in 12 men to assist him. (Tom Hamilton and White Campbell rode the best steeds.) The chief himself, clad in a costume of Charles the First, with Vandyke beard and buskins, the nether (lower) portion of a billiard cue in one hand and a sack of handcuffs on the pommel of his Pegasus, and four revolveers dispersed about his person, was a living exponent of Tennessee law."
"Just before the arrival of the Presidential train he gathered his underlings behind John Reuf's barn and served out as many guns and as much ammunition as their clothing would hold. Their horses aroused such admiration that the offers which were wired in for them would, if accepted, have brought more money to the Mountain than ever before seen except in the coffers of the Supply Store and the Civic League."
"We note that Mrs. Lovell refused to go to the window to look, though they passed her house, because he was a Republican President!"
"Five months after President Taft's visit to Sewanee, Major Butt, his chief of staff, went down with the Titanic."
Most of above article was taken from "Purple Sewanee" p. 131-132, and appeared in Pat Makris, title, p. 57. Photo courtesy of Horry Parker.
President Taft visited Sewanee in November and all the mountain people for miles around came up afoot or on horseback, starting in the grey dawn of day to get to town in time to greet the “President,” as they call him. Some ancient vehicles were fetched out for the old folk, but most preferred mule or horseback.
We passed one old soul hustling her aged feet along the railroad track, and called out “You’ll be late, auntie,” and she called back, “Well, if I am, Mr. Taft ain’t no better than the rest of us.”
Old Uncle Baylis carried his eighty-odd years ten miles afoot, and as he arrived he said with a serious shake of his head, “I didn’t have enough interest to come out and see James K. Polk in ’45, but I thought I’d better see Mr. Taft before I died.”
We overheard a tall grey-haired veteran observing solemnly, “Well, this makes the second President I’ve seen.” Someone was curious enough to ask, “Who was the other?” He replied with a dignity, “Mr. Jefferson Davis.” There was a glint in his eye that showed that an old loyalty still lived.
But one old friend of ours was not able to come. She is creeping toward ninety years and her knees will never be limber again, but she has a long memory. “No, I won’t be out to see Mr. Taft, but I’d hire a two-horse wagon and go twenty miles to see General Washington.” “Why’s that,” we asked. She answered with tremendous conviction, “‘Cause he was the best President we ever had.” So the name of the great George is still one to conjure with among the old folk. The glorious battle of King’s Mountain was fought by the Tennessee mountain men in 1780 against Cornwallis and his ‘red-coats,’ and the old memories of the heroes of the Revolution still live."
Vol. III, January 1912, No. 8
St. Andrew’s Messenger
p. 7-8
Photo courtesy of Horry Parker