The morning call., 1890-07-14

the first stages from the excessive heat OF
last Tuesday. The following day, Wednes-
day, he experienced some pain, and Thurs
day was worse, but did not COM
plain. Matters assumed SO much worse
turn on Friday that he sent
for bis physician. The doctor advised the
sick man to take a sail and get little fresh
air. While he was out on the water he got
a bad chill. On Friday night he
sent for DR.. Martin again. On
the following morning Saturday the
disease developed enough to show its true
character (peritonitis) But even then his
case was not considered dangerous and a
dispatch to that effect was sent to Sea
Bright. The final dissolution was sudden.
The General was II years and months old
Ito day) at tile time of his death.
Mrs. Fremont and her daughter, Eliza
beth. are at Los Angeles.
The above dispatch announces the
fact that another prominent figure in
American history has passed away. 1t is
only little over the period of two brief
months since the Congress of the United
States rendered him the tardy act Of JUS
tice which was the occasion of the follow
ing notice published in THE CALL of
April 9Oth;
Major-General John c. Fremont, who
was recently retired In consequence of his
advanced age, and who was nominated 20
his present rank by the President of the
United States, is now in his seYenty-eighth
year, and resides on Staten Island. The
lovely driveway which extends from New
Brighton aroul the shore is lined by stately
old mansions with Corinthian pillars,
as well as with more modern Queen
Anne and Gothic cottages. In one If the
latter is the present home of John C. Ere
mont, the daring and half-forgotten Pres
ideutal candidate, with whose name the
country once rang from end to end. Old
he IS, but feeble not at all. He carries his
years with a step as springy and form rs
straight as they were when he carved a
pathway over the Rocky Mountains to tlra
new FL Dorado, nearly fifty years ago. His
snowy-white hair and whiskers are as
neatly kept as were his blonde locks in the
days when he stole the heart of pretty Jes-
sic Benton in spite of her fathers protests.
HIS BIRTHPLACE.
John Charles Fremont was born in
Savannah, Ga, January q, 1913. His
father was Frenchman who had settled in
Norfolk. Va, where he supported himself
by traehing his native language. H is
mother, whose maiden name was Anne
Beverly Whiting, was the daughter of an
opulent and prominent Vlrglnlan, con-
Deeted by marriage with the Washington
family. She was left an orphan at an early
age and when Il years old was persuaded
by her relatives to marry Major Pryor, a
rich and gouly gentleman, forty-fve years
her senior. This union was childless and
unhappy and at the end of twelve years
was terminated by divorce. which the
friends of both parties combined to procure
from the Legislature Major Pryor soon
married his hOusekeeper and Mrs. Pryor
married Mr Fremont, who died in 1918.
Mrs. Fremont, upon the death of her hus-
band, removed to Charleston, s. c., where,
with her three infant children, she settled.
At the age Of 10 years John &. entered the
Junior class Of Charleston College. For
some time he stood high in college, and
made remarkable attainmentS in mathemat-
les. "But about this time" says Mr.. Big
Glow, one of his biographers, "he became
acquainted with young West Indian girl,
whose raven hair and soft black eyes inter-
ferred sadly with his studes." His iuat-
teDtiOn and frequent absences at length
caused his expulsion IRON the college. Alter
this event he obtained employment as a
private teacher, and took charge at the
same time of an evening school. In 1888
be obtained the position of teacher Of
mathematics on board the United States
sloop-of,war Natchez and sailed on 4 cruise
to tile coast Of South America.
COLLEGE HoNoEs.
Fremont was absent in her for more than
two years, and on his return to Charleston
he received from the college which had ex-
PEELED him the degrees of Bachelor and
Master of Arts. Shortly afterward lie
passed successfully rigorous examination
at Baltimore for the post of Professor of
Mathematics in the navy, and was appointed
to the frigate Independence, but he soon re-
solved to quit the sea, and engaged him.
self as surveyor and railroad engineer on
line between Charleston and Augusta, Ga.
Subsequently lie assisted in the survey Uf
the railroad line from Charleston to Gin
clnnatl, ana particularly In the exploration
of the mountain passes between South Car
olina and Tennessee. He was engaged in
this work till the autumn of 1887, when, in
consequence of its suspension. lie aceompa-
MED Captain Williams of the United States
army in a military reconn0 isance Of the
mountainous country in Georgia, North
Carolina and Tennessee.
In anticipation OF hostilities with the
Indians this survey was rapidly made In
the depth of winter, and was Fremonts
first experience of a campaign amid noun
tain SHOWS. In 1889 he accompanied NJ
NicOllet, a Frenchman, and distinguished
man of science, in explorations of the coun-
try between tile Missouri and the British
line. These explorations were made under
the authority of the Government and
while engaged in them in 1885, Fremont
received from President Van Buren. under
date OF July 7th, commission as Second
Lieutenant In the corps of Typographical
engineers. While at Washington, in 1910,
employed in the preparation of the report
OF these expeditions. he became acquainted
with Miss Jessie Benton, daughter of
Colonel Thomas II. Benton, at that time