Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-10-05
DEATH OF WIN. PRESCOTT SMITH.


colt Smith, master of transportation of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, whose
dangerous illness was announced sester-
day, died last evening at 1855 o'clock.
Mr. Smith was probably one of themest
widely known citizensof Baltimore, and
equally popular at home and abroad.
He was only forty seven years and sew
en- months of age having been born on
the 22d of February, 1929, at George
town, ID. c., removing at very carry
age to Baltimore, where he has rtiilain-
cd ever since. always identified with the
best interests OF the city,and Always one
of It's most progressive and active GU
Zens.
the daughter of Hon. Joshua Nansant'
and wos soon after appointed to the Gus
1nn.bnusr under George T. Kane, then
collector Of this port Mr. Smith was
-, Ills time an active wing, and aIdent
gjmjrer Of Henry Clay, distinguished
L;nr.If ON the rostrun as au eloquent
,no,lrr Tie was several times nomna-
,.J for local offices 10y the party to which
b. belonged and once ran for the city
,.,rnrjfin the ninth ward, but was OF
,or,r>e defeated About this time also
Ir WIS prominent rs one of the organ
ilDrS and members of the Ringgold
Light Infantry He was a member Of
the original board of managers of the
MARYLAND Institute, which started III
Isl1. under the presidency of Mr. Van
SAINT. During the number Of years he
WAS identified with this institution, Mr..
Smith impaired to lis management al
the energy, address and tact for which
ne was noted, doing more TO establish
and spread It's uSetulncc i'll the commit
nifty. probably than ANY other individual.
In his early career Mr. Smith was at
different times connected with the press
for which he had a strong production.
In music and the arts he was rare con
noSSicur, and though not wealthy man
his dwelling was a treasury OF art and
articles of virtue, rs we'll Us the abode Of
hospitality In 1850 he went into the
service Of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company, and remained contlnu-
ou>ly in the employ of the company sin
teen wears He entered the service du-
RUG the presidency OF Hon. Thomas
Swami rs assistant to Mr.. Lewis VI.
Cole. then master OF transportation, now
the general ticket agent. At TINS time
Mr. William Parker was general super
iutcudeut of the road Mr.. Smith re
luaincd as>iStm, master OF transportation
under Mr.. john ii. Done and DR. Wood
side until 1860 when he succeeded to
the office ol' master OF transportation
This important position he held all
through the irving and critical period OF
the late war, developing extraordinary
capacity for railroad matters, which,
added to his remarkable social qualities,
made him known everywhere in the
country. As the executive officer Of
one of the main arteries OF travel, upon
which $50 much depended during the
war he passed through terrible ordeal
OF sIccpicsS nights and constant rcSpon-
sibilitv in the transportation of vast
bodies Of troops and immense stores OF
munitions, of war without single acct
cidcnt. On the l>t of July, 1866, he
resigned his post - master OF trans
porIot;on Of the railroad. and was a'
pointed hy President Andrew Johnson
a r,mmi>sioucrto examine the Pacific
railroad. then in process of It's conStruc.
ton. rs required, to determine the pay
ncut Of the government bonds to that
work, and soon after waS made collector
ut' internal revenue for the third district
nr MARYLAND by the President, his nomi-
nation being confirmed without oppoSi-
tion by tine Senate, which position ne
held Tor about wear. In the mean
time. in MAY, 1861, he went to Europe,
making m extended tour for the benefit
ofhis health. On his return he resign
cd and ON the l~t of July, 1865, was
appointed general manager OF the New
\ or, and Washington mir line. This
position he held to the LIST Of September
last. when he was unanimously recalled
hv the board of directors OF the Baltl-
more and Ohio Railroad Company to
again become master OF transportation
Of tina, Ioad. in place OF John l.. Wilson
the present master of road Mr. Smith
had, therefore. rcoccupicd his old post
Lut month when removed by death.
II Is understood that he accepted his old
l,acr at the earnest solicitation of MIR.
,5arctt
During his connection with the Wash
iu.tuu and New York Airline Mr..
Smith was appointed commissioner from
Maryland to the Philadelphia Centennial
Exposition to hc held on July 4th, 1876
an honorary appointment, which gave
great deal of satisfaction to his many
tricuds i'm Philadelphia, rs we'll rs i'll
Baltimore. Mr. smith had not been in
very good health for more than SIX
months past, having during the early
part of the summer experienced vertigo
III Philadelphia, besides debility at vari-
ouS times during the trying Simmer.
through which we have passed.
He was not taken i'll, however. until
the 18th OF September, and did not 90
10 bed till three days afterwards, when
he began to suffer from neuralgia and
rheumatism. he was confined to his
room till Friday last. when he became
So much better that he rode out in
carriage, but on returning complained OF
chiliness. On Saturday his condition
became rapidly worse, the disease appa
I.