The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-29
THE SHARON-HILL ROMANCE.
Miss Hills Display of Grief on Learning of
the Senator's Fatal Illness.

Miss Hills Display of Grief on Learning of
the Senator's Fatal Illness.
San Francisco Special.
Senator Sharon's death has revived o great
deal Of the interest that was formerly manifested
in him and his protracted litigation with Sarah
Althea Hill. When Miss Hill was informed of
Mr.. Sharon's approaching death she manifested
great sorrow, wringing her hands and storming
up and down the room because she could not be
with him. She lives comfortably in a house by
herself, and has been busy of late preparing for
her forthcoming appearance on the stage. Upon
the announcement of Sharon's fatal illness she
soliloquized over the situation, and with tears
in her eyes asked why it was that she, a dutiful
wife, must be kept from the bedside of her hus-
band when she knew that she could give him
better care than anybody else. She attributed
ali her sorrows To his family, and declared that
if they were out of the way she would go to him
and effect a reconciliation.
Her preparations for the stage have been made
on the most elaborate scale, and in utter defiance
Of all presidents. In her arrangements every
thing has been subordinated to the exhibition Of
herself as the claimant FOR the Sharon millions.
The play in which she is to appear, THE. Mer-
chant of Venice" has been rewritten, in order to
bring in a hundred or more local gags. and in
one or two places scenes from the famous divorce
trial have been introduced. Besides this, she
has determined to appear in the red velvet dress
which she wore at the wedding of Sharon'ss
daughter to Sir Thomas Hesketh, of England
a garment which was the gift Of the Senator
himself.
Most people are surprised at the amount of
property which Sharon died possessed of. It
had been supposed that his estate was pretty
well run down, but it appears from the schedule
which he placed on record that he was worth
$15, 600, 900 at least. The great country place of
Belmont, which fell into his hands at the time
of the failure and death of it's original owner,
Mr.. Ralston, has been occupied of late by Frank
Newland, son-in-law of Sharon. This place.
about which so many memories cluster, was
never enjoyed by Sharon as it was by Ralston.
Sharon visited IL cccaSiOnaIlv and ranaipod
there a day or two at a time, but i'll the main he
was satisfied to live in his few we'll furnished
rooms in the city. His tastes were all simple, and
even when he was at Belmont over night he in
variably slept in the plainest room in that
spacious mansion.
Belmont is about twenty-five miles from this
city, ON the Southern Pacific road, and is, per-
haps, ten miles from the ocean. The house ia
about half q mile from the railroad, and is sur
rounded by many different varieties of trees.
some of them covered with clinging ivy and trop-
ical vines. Although the architecture of the
house is not imposing, the mansion is of great
size, with spacious entrances, and, taken to-
gether with the magnificent landscape, it pre-
sents a very inviting appearance. Standing ona
side hill, it is possible for guests on any Of the
floors to walk out Of their rooms to graveled
paths leading to the porches, while On the other
side fine views of the valley stretching away for
many miles may be obtained.
Ralston furnished the house without regard to
expense. Wherever solid silver could be used it
was employed IN ornamentation, and from top to
bottom the mansion is fairly lined with the cost
Hest mirrors. It stands to-day in about the
same condition that Ralston left it in. In the
days of its original owner Belmont was a place
for the entertainment of distinguished visitors to
the coast Hundreds of prominent men of both
hemispheres have partaken of it's hospitality.
Since it fell into Sharon's possession only one
great fete has occurred there. that on the occa-
sion of the marriage of his daughter to Sir
Thomas Hesketh. No money was spared
to make this entertainment as brilliant
as any that ever took place on the
coast. 1t was at this ceremony that Sarah
VINE having flowed considerably they contrived
Sharon, and he purchased an outfit for her.
Althea Hill figured conspicuously. She had only
a little while before formed the acquaintance OF
In the splendidly decorated rooms, in her
brilliant attire she cut a pretty big figure. She
exacted liberal attention from the master of the
place. and, besides being introduced by him to
many of the most prominent people present,
1t was upon his arm that she leaned when
she went forward to congratulate the groom
and kiss the bride. Many of Sharon's friends
have felt little sympathy for him since
it was discovered that Miss Hill was the enc
whom he so persistently thrust upon their atten-
ton at the Hesketh wedding. On her part it
was the triumph of her life, and it is not denied
that the millionaire's honors for her on that
evening have had a good deal to do in giving
piausibiiity TO her claim that she was then his
wife, as even his friends have not been willing
to admit that he would parade a mistress at his
own daughters wedding.
BEFORE signing the deed of trust conveying all
his property TO his children, Sharon exacted from
his son aud son-in-law a most solemn promise
that they would never in any manner compro-
mise with Miss Hill Once or twice he reiapssu
into unconselousness, and his death was tnoushs
to be near. But on rallying again ne wouiu once
more demand OF his relatives a promise that tney
would not settle the suit which the woman HAS