Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-07-01
We will give one more brief para

|
"Gen. Suffers hospitality is known
ali over the world, for thousands have
enjoyed it. His fort was an asylum for
all that were hungry, and no one was
ever refused, who, having crossed the
Sierras, knocked at his gate for bread.
The man who discovered for US the New
Eldorado is now, in his old age, exposed,
by an unjust judicial decision, to hard
ships which he so often alleviated. Will
you, members of Congress, let him ask
in vain? We surely believe that the
generous American people will hail with
pleasure any act of Congress for the re-
lief of the California pioneer"
We were much surprised to find Gen.
Suffer in such vigorous health. But for
from which he suffers ex-
erutiatingly at intervals, he looks like
he might live twenty years. He is short
of stature, of rnddy complexion, album
dant hair, very white, and with side
whiskefs. His weight would be near
two hundred pounds. He was for ten |
years in the French army, with the |
rank of Lieutenant. Was cotempo-
rary and intimate friend of Louis Nal
poleon, two years his junior, and has
many pleasant "reminiscences of him.
He speaks and reads equally well half
dozen or more languages, with either
one of which he is perhaps more famil-
lar than the English. His wife is also
Swiss, and his children, two sons and a
daughter, were born in Europe, and re-
ceived much of their education in Swift
erland. We often recall the very pecu'
liar circumstances under which one
lovely Sabbath morning, about the Goth
of May, 1869, in the elegant steamer
Cn1nrohn form t0naA and
| friend, Capt. Parker, Commander, we
entered the beautiful harbof of Acapul-
| CO. Some days before, an interesting
little daughter of one of our lady pas
sengers died. The mother shrank from
the ordinary mode of disposing of the
body, and tearfully appealed to Capt.
Parker to await our arrival at Acapulco,
that it might be buried in the 'Stran-
gers Cemetery" there. one of the most
attractive spots, that reminded us, in
some of its features, of that unique and
unequalled resting place for the dead,
"Bonaventure,h at Savannah. AS we
enter the harbor of Acapulco, the most
capacious and safe on the Mexican coast,
the extensive promonitory on our right,
shaded by the graceful cocoanut and
palms and other trees of the tropics,
with the green carpet of grass contrast
ing with the many tastefully arranged
J tombs of strangers" here sleeping qui'
city together, always decked with flow
ers, and their rest breathed over at times
by the gentle murmurs of the waves,
and anon having an awful diapasOn OF
old oceans music when lashed by storm.
Here, on this lovely Sabbath morning,
| did this pious mother have her wish, in
seeing her loved one laid away in this
. beautiful spot, her remains carried by
stranger hands, and her tomb moistened
/ by strangers tears, to sleep until this
! earthquake -rocked coast shall surrender
its dead.
In this ancient city of Acapulco, with
which we were greatly interested. were
, then living. as they yet are, two chill
dren of our distinguished friend. His
son has been Consul of the United States
for many years, and his only daughter
the wife Of Dr. Link, native Of Ger.
| many, but at the time he became &C
quainted with his wife their family
r physician at Sacramento, then known
as 'sSutter's Fort" The other.son is 6
f resident of San Francisco, and for many
years has held the Greek Consulship
e Some nine yeeTs ago, Gen. Suttel
# brought his granddaughter to Bethle
J hem, in this State, to the Moraviar
l SCAOOl, UutJ uCU OClH9 p'CGOCA. cOuSoA
LitiZ; and, becoming charmed with its
/ many attractions as home, bough
, property.
2 Maj. John Randolph Brinker, tt
whom we were Indebted for the knowl-
edge of the General being here and 9th
G er courtesies, had his house built, ant
has ever been one of his most intimate
, and attached friends.
q One of his granddaughter is married
, to Mr.. FL. G. Hull, talented young en-
e gineer, whom we had cause to remem-
e Der with pleasure.
D We met the General twice, and OF
a our second call. before taking leave, was
: honored with the opening Of very ole
d bottle of pure whiskey, donated by
e cherished friend.
!, I'VE cannot close this brief and unsat
: isfactory notice of this remarkable anC
O shamefully wronged old patriot withou
j appealing to our delegation in Congress
d through Gen. Jos. e. johnson and J
b Randolph Tucker. to take itupon them
e selves to right his aOrongs, as represent.
a atives from Virginia, and thereby doins
o honor to their State. If, as has beer
e well said, he could have so far lost hi
: self-respect as to have urged claim fO
0 a million of dollars, and said to Ben
e Butler and others, if you will recove
:, me one or two hundred thousand, yot
. may pocket the remainder, he would
0 have long since received his money.
: Under the incest sense of honor, h,
refused, as he modestiy told me, a pen
D sion the State of California gave him O
q twenty-five hundred dollars year. HI
would not accept it as gratuity.
S We do not know anything that woult
b afford us more unmixed pleasure than t,
: know that Congress has done justice
a tardy though it be, to Gen. Suffer.
# Deeming our communication suffi
q GENTLY extended, we may trespass OIL
:. your columns again.
: A VIRGINIAN.