San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-08-21
HE COULD NOT HELP 1T.
CAPT. KING, THE BRAVE SOLDIER WHO
WAS FORCED TO BE A NOVELIST.

Dresses and Works-The Romance of
His Life.
novels, have exceeded all the publishers
expectations, and astonished nobody
more than the author himself. His
largest work-and considered by profess
sional critics his beSt-is The Famous
Battles of the World" an 500 page vol
ulne, published in Philadelphia, but he
has written several short stories and
sketches for Lippincotts, Harpers and
others, anC for the next year or two,
am told by the captain himself, he can
accept no more offers, for all that he can
possibly write is bespoken.
In answer to question as to his
method of work Capt. King said that
there had been only three months year
until 1887 that he could give to writing.
The national guard is thing in which
he is deeply interested, and he has given
it great deal of time. When he does
write it is generally for several hours at
a stretch, from or in the morning I'M
til or sometimes 2. He writes rapidly
and yet hates to revise and correct, but
no one ever sees his work, good or bad,
until it is opened in the publishers Office.
Everything he has written since 1882 and
much that he wrote before has found its
market.
Capt. King was born in Albany, NY,
Oct. II, 1874, and comes of a family dis
tinguished in literature and politics. His
father was for several years United
States minister TO Rome, and during the
war became brigadier general OF volun-
teers. His grandfather, Charles King,
Ii. D., was once president of Columbia
college, and his great-grandfather, Gen.
Rufus King, was one of the signers of
the Declaration of Independence and
twice minister to England. On his moth
er's side he is a direct descendant of
John Eliot, the Indian apostle. In 1916
Rufus King went to Milwaukee and be-
came editor of The Sentinel, residing
there continuously until his appointment
to Rome. In 1858 Charles King was
sent to Columbia college, where he re-
NAMED until 1861. Within few hours
after Fort Sumter had been fired upon
young King turned up in the camp of
the Wisconsin volunteers at Washing
ton, with drum sticks in hand. At 16
years of age he saw his first soldering
il Virginia. He was guide for Gen. w.
s. Hancock when he first crossed the
Potomac at the head of his brigade. In
1862 King was appointed cadet at
Z, est Point by President Lincoln, and
he graduated No. 2,136, and number %
in a class of 46. After graduating at
West Point he was kept there for some
time IS military instruction. high COM
pliment to subaltern officer.
From 1866 to 1869 Capt. King served
in the regular army as cavalry officer,
stationed at New Orleans. Then he was
ordered to West Point as instructor in
cavalry tactics. He was relieved from
duty in 1871 to accept a staff position.
From 1871 to 1874 he was confidential
aid on the staff of Maj. Gen. w. II.
Emory, with station at New Orleans.
There was a romantic turn to Capt.
Kings life about this time. 1t will be
remembered that there was good deal
of excitement over an international race
of gentlemen riders on the old Metaire
track, at New Orleans, in April, 1872.
England, Ireland, France and Austria
were represented, but there was no one
to ride for the United States. At the
last minute Capt. King entered the con-
test, and the race was notable one.
Distinguished people from all over the
country were present. The flower and
beauty of the south turned out and the
grand stand at the Sockey club ON
that particular day was a scene of be-
wildering beauty and chivalry. The
race was a magnificent one, and to the
surprise and delight of every one King
won it by two lengths.
After the huzzahs of congratulation
had subsidized the victor was presented
with gold whip, which he took across
the track and laid in the lap of a young
lady who had accompanied Gen. and
Mrs Emory She has the whip yet, and
it is suspended from ribbon over the
parlor mantel in Capt. Kings cozy home.
They were married few months after
the stirring incident After going
through the reconstruction period in the
south our hero asked to be relieved from
staff duty TO join his troop, X, Fifth
cavalry. In the Apache campaign in
Arizona, in 1874, King saw brilliant SER
vice. The troop of which he was in
command became conspicuous. Gen.
Sherman publicly stated that he consid-
t-ed their services ''unequaled by those