Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-11
IN WAR TIMES.
MI. B. p. Snyder's RecOllectiOns-Mr.
Adams Good and Honorable Work.

Mr. u. r. SnyOer'S RecOllectiOnS-Mr.
Adams Good and Honorable Work.
MIR. Benjamin P. Snyder, now the president
of the National Safe Deposit company, of this
city, supplies some interesting recolections of
Mr.. Adams:
II made the acquaintance of Mr.. Adams"
he remarked to a STAR reporter, "when re-
turned to this city soon after the war broke
out. had been stationed at Augusta Ga, in
charge OF the American Telegraph company's
Office, and when Sumter was fired upon made
up my mind TO return to nay home i'll Washing
ton and enter the army. was joined in Phila-
American Telegraph company; Mr.. George
Jones, who had been connected with Adams
Express company, and Joe Howard, the news
paper correspondent, who came with me to this
city. Washington was then iuil OF troops, and
the preparations for the defense of the city
were going ,.@ on; The @ government GOV had decided
was asked to remain, in connection with Mr.
Sanford. in charge of the Washington office. 1t
was then that my acquaintance with air. Adams
began, which continued unbroken to the pres
ent day. But it was during the period of the war
when We were both young men, that our re.a-
tions were the more intimate. We rode to-
gether on horseback about Washington, and
at night he waited for me and we walked home
together. He was one of the most genial men
that ever met. In tact, he may be said to
have made no enemies. He had good onversa-
tional powers. splendid memory, "a wide ac-
qualntance with public men and q thorough
knowledge OF politics. He was what 1 call an
able man. His judgment was specially sound
and accurate, whether brought to bear upon
the affairs of every day life or upon events of
national and political importance. There was
no one whose judgment 1 would sooner trust
and whose word could more implicitly rely
upon. AS an illustration l will mention one
fact. You know, OF course, that during the
war the government exercised a censorship
from Washinston For some time % had ad1e to psr a
form this very difficult and by no means pleas
ant duty; read over all the matter that was
filed by the correspondents, and sent only those
parts which, In my juds sment and in the light
OF official orders, thought ought to go the pub
iic II happened very frequently that
matter which he wished to wire at once,
and if was occupied frequently simply asked
him what the dispatch was about and whether
1t was proper TO be sent, and upon getting his
word that 1t was all right, have allowed the
matter to be wired without looking at it. When
tell you that l once narrowly escaped being
sent to jail by Secretary stanton tor allowing y
dispatch to be sent out which he thought ought
not TO have been sent, yon can realize the extent
judgment and word. Although he represent ted
the New York World, which was rather under
cloud because OF its alleged copperhead tend
encles, Mr.. Adams personally did not suffer.
His standing with the government officials was
equal TO that OF any newspaper man, and this
was entirely due to the reputation he had as
man OfunimpeachabIec OF character and veracity."
Mr. Adams not only displayed good judg-
ment in knowing what news was" continued
Mr, Snyder, "but he was an indefatigable news
gatherer. He stood in the first rank among the
correspondents in having the first and freshest
intelligence and he made many good beat,
as the newspaper parance has il. l remember
that he happened to attend the theater the
night Lincoln was shot, because walked with
him far as the theater that evening, but de-
clined TO go in, as was tired and wanted to go
home. He was therefore, en- eye witness of tue
tragedy, and was able to wire u full account of
the tragedy TO his paper in short time after
Booth tired his fatal shot"
Zone night resumed MIR. Snyder after brief
pause, "a lieutenant came to my office and be-
gan to make inquiries about MIR. Adams.
found that the authorities suspected him of be-
ing the author OF & bogus proclamation of the
RESIDENTS calling tor more troops, which had
appeared in the public press. 1 assured the
officer that there must be some mistake, as
was certain that Mr.. Adams was not mixed up
could 60 back 10 Secretary Stanton and tell him
that would be responsible Tor Mr.. Adams ap-
pearance to answer the charge. went at once
mother that he had gone out horseback riding,
which he did nearly every day. l lett word
that he should come to my office as soon as he
returned. That evening we went up to head
quarters, and the officials there, after talking
with Mr.. Adams, soon came to the conclusion
that he was not the guilty person and he was
although successful in whatever he UNDER
TOOK. possessing calm poise of mind and an
modest man. He was distrustful to some ex-
tent OF his own powers and at times doubtful OF
his ability to meet successfully the require
ments OF the calls that come to one in life. In
TINS respect he was not unlike many men of
native force and resources, who when the real
CcSc SOAAcS arc AOuuO Iuily prep8f0O anu equip.
ped. AS look back over the twenty-five years
OF my acquaintance with George w. Adams /
see man who was genial companion, u judi
cious counsellor, man Of native worth, true to
his word, faithful in his friendships and up
right In all the relations OF life."
DISTINGUISHED ASSOCIATES.
Mr. Adams was associated, as correspondent,
during the war and afterwards, with many men
distinguished as Journalists, or who have
since distinguished themselves In other fields
| Among these gentlemen were Samuel Wiiker-
| son and A. H. Byington, Of the New York TIT.
bstne; Henry Willard and Horace White, Of the
Chicago Tribune; Whitelaw Reid, then cor
respondent OF the Cincinnati G0zette; l. L.
CrounSe, of the New York Times; II. j.. Rams
dell, OF the New York Tribune; samuel Glenn
and !: B. Connery, OF the New York Herald;
Ben. Truman, OF the New York Times; John
Russell Young, then Of the Phiiadelphia Lress;
! Jerome SllsOn, of the New York World; d. w.
Bartlett, Gov. Il. c. Mccormick, William swim
ton, +. 2. Stedman, the poet; Joseph Mctar-
land, y; =. Painter, Sidney Andrews.
and others who have Withdrawn nom the
ROW. While engaged as correspondent
here for the Cincinnati Cbnsmercsal, Mr.. Adams
was associated In that work with Joseph 3.
McCuiiOgh, the present editor Of the st. Louis
Globe Democrat; Major BEN: PeIley Poore, Gen.