Far From Home

The Nebraska State Journal

Lincoln, Nebraska

July 10, 1899

The Emporia (Kansas) Gazette told this story the other day: Charles McPherson, one of Roosevelt’s Rough Riders was carried by Emporia the other day while on his way home from Las Vegas, where he attended the Rough Rider reunion. He came back here to take the train for Caddo, I.T., his home. He wore his Rough Rider uniform. He didn’t have enough money to complete the trip. He went into the Emporia National Bank and stated his case to Major Hood and wanted to give a small check on his home bank. The major didn’t quiz the man, but said, “That uniform is as good in this bank as a letter of credit. If you can show your right to wear it, you can have anything you want.” He produced his invitation to the reunion and got his check cashed in short order. He told a reporter for the Gazette, “Say, that’s an old soldier’s bank, and my uniform was as good as a bank book.”