Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-18
WAS A KING INDEED.
The Lofty Charity of Texas Cattle
Man to an Entire Stranger
WHO WAS SUFFERING MISFORTUNE
Peculiar Outcome of q Chance Acquaintance
Made by Rev. Mr.. Grange.
A STORY STRANGER THAN FICTION.

New W. 0tduRc, phstOI vi VIC
Church of the Ascension, corner of Neville
and Ellsworth avenues, East End, received
a letter yesterday that added the last chapter
to story fraught with number of unusual
and interesting circumstances. The letter
came from Alpine, Brewster county, Tex.
and told of the death of young man named
Williams, which occurred there about a
week ago.
The story dates back to last summer, when
Mr.. Grange, his wife and two interesting
little boys were on journey to New Mex
leo. They were making the trip on the
Southern Pacific Railroad. One day two
fne-looking men of middle age, finely
dressed and wearing considerable jewelry,
boarded the train. They wore the regula-
tion sombrero hat and were free and manly
in their manner. As a consequence they
were soon in conversation with Mr.. Grange,
and it did not take him long to ascertain
that they were cattle men. The spokesman
of the party gave his name as Dubois and
introduced his companion as Mr.. Went
worth, nephew of Long John Wentworth,
of Chicago.
THE LIFE OF A CATTLE KING.
During the conversation that followed Mr..
Du Bois related very interesting story of
his life in the Southwest. He stated that
some ten years previous he had been quite
extensively engaged in business at Elgin,
Ill. Among other things he owned and
managed an opera house there. His health
became bad, however, he being attacked
with lung trouble, and number of physl-
clans advised him to seek change of
climate at once. Accordingly he went to
Texas, and at once his health began to i'm
prove. He finally selected a suitable site
in what is now known as Alpine, Brewster
county, and started in the cattle business,
in company with Wentworth. The climate
agreed with him exactly, and as his busi-
ness was also prospering he sold out all his
interests in Elgin and invested the proceeds
in his new venture. They now owned 200, 900
acres of land, had thousands Of cattle and
we're doing elegantly.
Mr.. Du Bois said his lungs had become
as sound as pair of bellows and he knew
of many people who had been suffering
from lung troubles, or incipient consump-
tion, who found perfect cure there.
Turning to his vile Rev. Mr.. Grange re-
marked: "What a delightful place that
would be for poor,Williams." The remark
caught the ear of Du Bois and he asked
who poor Williams was. Mr.. Grange ex-
planned that he was young Englishman OF
good family, who came to this country some
time ago and located in Pittsburg. He had
young wife, but no children, and was
consumptiy. He was we'll educated, and
among other accomplishments was quite a
fine musician. His health, however, would
not permit of his doing either heavy or con-
fning work, and the members of Rev. Mr..
Oranges congregation had given him en-
ployment in the capacity of sexton of the
church. His musical talents also came into
good use, and for some time he oficiated as
organist for the choir.
MORE THAN PASSING INTEREST.
The big cattle king listened to the story
with marked attention, and evinced great
interest in Williams. He made many in
quiries about him and on leaving the train
e&acted promise from Mr.. Grange that he
would write to him when he reached his
destination, Glorietts New Mexico. On
his arrival Mr.. Grange wrote to Du Bois,
telling him of his safe arrival, etc., and
thought that would probably end the mat
ter. So far as the cattle kings interest in
Williams was concerned, he thought it
might have been a little burst of humanity
that would die out in a short time. In this,
however, he was mistaken, for after writing
to Williams himself, he. learned that Du
Bois had done likewise. The next informa-
tion he received was to the effect that Du
Bois had sent Williams check for 5000 to
pay the expenses of himself and wife to AL
pine, accompanied by promise to care for
him on arrival.
Williams had the check cashed at we'll
known bank in this city, and at once started
for his Southern home. For some weeks
after his arrival he improved greatly, but
the disease was too deep-seated, and he
finally yielded his life to its ravages. His
body was buried with tenderness and respect
by his newly made friends, and nice home
was pro sided for his wife.
TRUE WESTERN GENEROSITY.
Rev. Mr.. Grange, in speaking of the cir.
cumstances yesterday, said they showed
to him the brighter side OF the
lives of these rugged men, who did
not always fare so we'll in print,
and demonstrated the higher qualities OF
heart and soul that made mankind kindred.
He could remember no similar instance in
his experience where general love of his
fellow man had led total stranger to inter-
est himself thus thoroughly in the welfare
of an unfortunate.
Mr.. Grange thought that Williams would
probably have recovered had he sought the
climate earlier, but the result did not de.
tract particle from the lofty humanity oi
the cattle king.