Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-04
VERY LIKE WEBSTER.
Man Who Said He Was "a Son of the
Great JalrfSf.

Great JurtSt.
New York Correspondent, May IS. Boston
Herald.
A man who claimed to be son of Daniel
Webster, and was regarded by his ac-
quaintances as such, died in low
Blocker street groggery, and his body is
to- day in the morgue. He was bum
mer and drink killed him. He was born
fifty-five years ago in hotel near the
Battery, now known as the Eastern,
where Webster stayed when in this city.
His mother was a pretty chanbermaid.
Webster was the instrument in subse-
quently making her the wife of his coach
man, named Hunt, and he bought the
hotel as wedding present for the couple.
The child was called Charles Hunt. He
was carefully educated, being put
through Harvard, and then given a
good place in the treasury depart
ment at Washington, through Webster's
influence. But, while bright intelletu-
ally, he had little moral stamina, and be-
came drunkard. He came to New York
and lived with Hunt His abilities,
backed by strong influence, obtained for
him position in one of the banks, and
latterly, when he got down in the world,
he would, in remorseful mood, remark
to some of his old friends; "Only for my
own foolishness, l might be paying-teller
of the National Exchange bank" Con-
vivial, eccentric and brilliant, he gather
ed around him choice lot of spirits;
and, when he should be attending to his
bank duties, he would be off in some par
lor of the old downtown hotels imper-
sonating Forrest or delivering an Grafton
on some great questions of the day to
his delighted and equally reckless boon
companions. He was about Webster's
height, had Webster's large head and
features, but still more striking resemb-
lance was his voice, strong, loud sound
ing and coarse. He got out of the bank
ing business, and Webster was dead; but
there were some ia the city who knew
the
SECRET OF HIS BIRTH
and took an interest in him for the sake
of his fathers memory. They procured
for him a position in the custom house,
where he got along very well for few
years, a great deal of allowance being
made for his eccentricities. From the
custom house he went to the postofice,
where he remained until about six or
seven years ago, since which time he has
done nothing except so down hill very
rapidly. He had for number of years
been frequenter of sporting places, and
with sporting men was exceedingly pop
ular. One of the latter, speaking of him
day, said: "When l knew him first,
some ten years ago, he was one of the
most elegantly dressed men to be seen on
Do n II n oil Il
wore valuable gold watch and other
jewelry. He was robust, healthy
looking, and had a superb
physique. was then in a law Office my
self, but got out that business and went
into the sporting. | met Hunt frequently.
He would quote Shakespeare by the hour,
and his voice was truly Websterian. He
was also deeply read in scriptures. and
could converse on any subject like col
lege professor. He had many odd ways,
and would do some very remarkable
things; for instance, have known him
more than once to take in an old tramp
from the street, give him all the drink he
wanted, and then give him his elegant
hat and coat, while he would take the
tramp's. As they would be generally too
small for him, he would present very
care. He would pass the evening in them
early morning. Of late years his STEP
SOME TIME AGO.
he was discharged. 'Old Hunt as he used
to call him, took care Of him while he
could, and always kept home for him;
but, when Hunt got out of the custom
house, he had to break up house, go
among his friends himself, and Charley
was thrown on the streets. He spent the
past six months gravitating between two
or three places in Blocker and Crosby
streets. used to give him money to get
food, but he would go right direct and
spend 1t for drink. To get him to eat
anything, had to buy it for HIM and
make him sit down and eat it. The sport
ing men all liked him, and even when
completely broke down they addressed
him as colonel He used to do quite
lot of writing for them, and
give them information. His penmanship
was the most beautiful ever saw. When
some rough would insult him in his de-
graded days he would threaten to go
down to the First ward and bring up
SOIue VI Gue UdttcTy uOdIueu, WHO Seem
to have been friends of his, to chastise
the insulter. I never knew him to do
mean or dishonest act, and have known
him all through his downward career"
Matt Grace, in whose saloon he died, al
lowed him to sleep in chair when he
had nowhere else to go. He went into
Grace's saloon and said he had a chill,
and hot drink was given him. He sat
down in chair, and in a minute or less
fell dead.
"There is no doubt whatever that he
was Webster's son." said Mr.. Belts, pro-
prietor of the Eastern hotel. sHe was
Webster all over. now sleep myself In
the room which Webster used to occupy,
on the second floor. The dead man knew
he was Hunts son, and none of Hunts
children looked at all like him. When
intoxicated, he would say to his half
brothers: Il was never one Of old Hunts
sons. You are no brother of NINE He
was quite eloquent, whether drunk or
sober. There were a number Of wealthy
men I know who would have. taken
hold of him if he would only let drink
alone.''
Asubscription was made to-day to bury
the remains.