Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-10-03
A PRooIeAL SON
Returns to Wheeling After Forty
Years Absence,
But no Fatted Calf is Killed-Singular
History of Wheeling's Pioneer
Editor-The Days Of the
Old Argus.

One of the saddest things in life is to re-
turn, like Rip Van Wrinkle, after q long
absence, to ones old home and find one has
outlived friends, acquaintances and even
remembrance. This is the case with John
L. Redette, who reached this city last even
ing. he having walked most OF the way
from Washington, Pa. He returns like the
prodigal SOD, after an absence OF forty
wears, but, unlike that young spendthrift,
finds no fatted calf killed for his entertain
ment. On the contrary, at the age OF 6S,
he finds himself alone IN the world, broken
ND, physically and financially. Forty years
ago he wss a writer and printer on the
Western Virginia Argus, that curious little
Democratic sheet that furnished the people
of Wheeling with
WHAT LITTLE NEWS THEY GOT.
Clutter g. Kane were the publishers aud
Kane YVES editor, while Judge G. w.
Thompson wrote occasionally for the pa
per. Gefge W. Clutter, afterward gothic
postoffice and the Argus, passing into 9TH
or hands. Redette started on his travels.
And now, alter an absence OF forty years,
he returns, having travelled all over the
world and led an eyentful life.
Wheeling has in its growth and advance.
ment, become unTecognIzable to him, but
his memory, though failing, can well recall
the old days and the Woods, Chaplines,
Zsnes, Swearingens and other old families.
He is conscious of the great changes and
none, he says, is more conspicuous than
the Improvement of the REGISTER of TO day,
over its natural predecessor, the Argus OF
lS43.
Redette ran away from an academy at
Harrisburg when quite boy, and joined
June, Titus & Angeline's circus, and, hay-
ing quite a taste in that line, soon became
an expert leapsr, rider and general athlete.
The circus went to Europe, where he &C
through Great Britain and most OF the
Continent. On his return his father
sNATCHED HIM AWAY
and apprenticed him to printer, and thus
he learned his trade. His first writing was
for campaign paper published at Wash
ington, Pa, called the "War Club" whence
he came upon the Argus here.
After leaving Wheeling, he wandered as
far as New Orleans, where for years he led
a Bohemian life, working among news
papers and writing sketches for a variety
theatre. In 1913 he joined the First Louisi-
ana Regiment, under Col. Demussey aud
went through the Mexican war, accom-
panying SCOTS line from Vera Cruz TO the
city of Mexico. A short time after the
close OF the war found him again in the
newspaper business, the Free Trader, OF
Nstchez, claiming his attention. Two years
afterward he turned up on the Alta Cali.
fOrnia, at San Francisco, where he worked
with Sargent "He got in with the ring
says Redette, "and is now
UNITED STATES MINISTER TO BERLIN,
with a salary of 1000, but many time
have | lent him a quarter to get drink"
Drifting toward the South, Redette got on
the Courier. a Spanish American paper at
Aspinwall, but after a short stay went t.
New York and got cases on Horace
GIeelAys paper, the Tribune. Then he
went to Columbus and was on the States.
man with old Sam Medary, when Whitelaw
Reid was writing city news at IS week.
Louisville next knew him, when Prentiss
was running the Courier, and then he got
into Mississippi when the war broke out.
Entering the 18th Mississippi Volunteers,
under Col. Barksdale, he served through
the war and then gravitated back to the
printers case. Since then he has worked,
when his age would permit, and has spent
some time at the Soldiers Home at Dayton,
finding it uncomfortable there on account
of his Southern proclivities. Working on
weekly papers, when he was able, he has
gradually worked back to Wheeling, and
now, after forty years, he is here.
Redette will be sixty three in about q
month, but his raven hair is without a sill
yer thread. His heavy, dark moustache is
griz2led. but he retains his martial bearing
al only his weakened frame gives evil
dence OF his advanced age.