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RJNorton · 02-07-2015, 05:24 AM

I decided to put this in the trivial trivia section because the man I am looking for is not a common name in the Lincoln saga, so I think finding the answer will be a challenge. We shall see.

Twice on the forum we have mentioned different accounts of Lincoln performing feats with an ax to the amazement of others. For example, at City Point, we have this description:

"Holding his arm straight out, Lincoln picked up the ax by the butt, with the handle parallel to the ground, and held the 7-pound tool motionless."

I came upon yet a third account of Lincoln doing this in another setting during the time he was President. Not only did Lincoln perform his feat, but he told the man that when he was younger he could do it with two axes at the same time. He also told the man he could probably still do it but would save that attempt for later.

Whom did Lincoln tell this to?

Eva Elisabeth · 02-07-2015, 07:01 AM

(Heinrich Ritter?)

RJNorton · 02-07-2015, 08:34 AM

Eva, my mind is totally blank on a Heinrich Ritter, but that is not the man I am looking for.

Hint #1: The incident happened at the War Department.

Gene C · 02-07-2015, 09:42 AM

David Homer Bates - the author of "Lincoln in the Telegraph Office" ?

RJNorton · 02-07-2015, 09:54 AM

Gene, this is a much lesser known individual than Bates.

I think I will give away an ax as the prize for this so the winner can practice at home. I will also try to convince Dr. Houmes to perform free rotator cuff surgery in case of injury during practice.

Lincoln Wonk · 02-07-2015, 12:22 PM

(02-07-2015 09:54 AM)RJNorton Wrote: Gene, this is a much lesser known individual than Bates.

I think I will give away an ax as the prize for this so the winner can practice at home. I will also try to convince Dr. Houmes to perform free rotator cuff surgery in case of injury during practice.

Was it a soldier who wrote a memoir or was interviewed by someone later, Roger? I know I saw that mentioned in an article somewhere when I was looking for Lincoln feats of strength.

RJNorton · 02-07-2015, 02:28 PM

Excellent, Kathy! You are on the right track! He was a convalescing soldier who was assigned to guard duty at the War Department. All we need now is a name.

Hint #2: His first name was Henry.

Lincoln Wonk · 02-07-2015, 02:37 PM

(02-07-2015 02:28 PM)RJNorton Wrote: Excellent, Kathy! You are on the right track! He was a convalescing soldier who was assigned to guard duty at the War Department. All we need now is a name.

Hint #2: His first name was Henry.

I've got nothing. But I'd love know.

RJNorton · 02-07-2015, 02:46 PM

You are already a winner, Kathy. I will send you one free ax. A second ax will go to either you or whomever can post the soldier's last name.

Eva Elisabeth · 02-07-2015, 04:28 PM

I'll try in English. Henry Knight?

RJNorton · 02-07-2015, 04:58 PM

Oh my...I finally looked up this gentleman with your first guess. I didn't understand. Now I get it!

You win, Eva! Also, Kathy is a winner! Both of you will be sent an ax, but please be careful so you won't need Dr. Houmes' services.

Henry Knight recalled the incident as follows:

Those who may have been in the old War Department may remember that there were two short flights of stairs which had to be ascended in order to reach the second floor. At the head of the first flight was a platform or landing, and here the non-commissioned officer in charge of the guard had a desk and chair. Mr. Lincoln had to pass me whenever he came up these stairs, and as he did so I always arose, and, taking off my hat, remained standing till he passed. The taking-off of the hat was a mark of personal respect simply, for no soldier on duty, under any circumstances, is required to raise his hat.

On one occasion, Mr. Lincoln, who always had a pleasant "Good-evening," and sometimes stopped to pass a word or two, hesitated on this landing, and, looking at the wall, where hung a pair of axes to be used in case of fire, asked what they were there for. I replied that they were to be used in case of fire.

"Well, now," said he, "I wonder if I could lift one of those axes up by the end of the handle?" and, suiting the action to the word, he took one down, and, laying the heavy end on the floor, he commenced raising it till he held it out at arm's length, and kept it there several seconds.

"I thought I could do it," he said, as he put it down. "You try it."

I did try it, and failed. Mr. Lincoln laughed, and as he passed on he said: "When I used to split rails, thirty years ago in Illinois, I could lift two axes that way; and I believe I could do it now, and I will try
it some other time."

Eva Elisabeth · (This post was last modified: 02-07-2015 06:58 PM by Eva Elisabeth.)

(02-07-2015 04:58 PM)RJNorton Wrote: Oh my...I finally looked up this gentleman with your first guess. I didn't understand. Now I get it!

Roger, please accept my apologies - it's much simpler and was well intended. I lately got several questions others would have known, too, simply because I was in advantage of daytime, and pledged to wait longer in future. Now it was just too tempting to simply translate the name (found it in the Fehrenbacher's "Recollected Words") "Henry Knight" into German, which is literally "Heinrich Ritter" and thus post the name while still "allowing" others to guess. By hindsight I feel guilty of using unfair means and being very silly and cheeky, and I'm really sorry!

(As P. T. Barnum perhaps said - there's a fool born every minute...)

RJNorton · 02-08-2015, 05:05 AM

Please don't worry, Eva!!! I should have known something was up when your reply was in parentheses. That should have triggered something in my brain, but (for some reason) it didn't. I figured you knew something that I didn't, but I couldn't figure it out!

RJNorton · 02-09-2015, 05:11 AM

What kind of animal was Jocko?

RJNorton · 02-09-2015, 10:06 AM

Hint #1: Jocko was not a White House pet or anything like that. He was in a story Lincoln told.