The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-22
BY VANDAL HANDS.
An Original Joshua Reynolds
Portrait Ruined.
HAD JUST BEEN SOLDFOR $1,000
The Miscreant Who Looted BaIke's
Store Destroyed Costly Treasure
OF Art and Heirloom.

Among the valuable paintings and fine art
destroyed by yandals Saturday night st IEe
balke-COle Art COmpanys ROOMS on Columbia
street was $j,0J1 iife-size portrait % Lord
Haley Farayer Norton, Of Keystone castle,
England. The portrait was from the brush OF
the celebrated artist, SIr Joshua Reynolds. exc
cuted ia l745. the picture vas the property Of
slrs. l. K. Norton, OF this city, and came into
her possession by her marriage 70 Mr.. Norton
Aside from being valuable as IN heirloom, the
portrait was one OF the only three in the United
States painted by that famous artist. Lord
Norton vas Mrs Nortons husbands great great
grandfather.
4 sister Of Mrs. N0rton's husband, who is 9
resident Of Washington City. has loag endeay-
ored 10 obtain possession Of the portrait OF her
ancestor, and result OF much cores pond
ence on the subject month ago Mrs. Norton
agreed to part with il for $ 00J cash. The deal
was made and the money was 10 have been paid
Immediately upon the receipt Of the painting.
Fer some time past the painting has been in
the possession OF DR.. H. A. Rawsoa. who j. Mrs.
hoTton's son-in-law. Owing 10 its age, the Por-
trait vas sUbjec. TO damage easily, and in some
unaccolntao.e manner it became marred
slightly in Two places. Not wishing to
part with it until the damage was
repaired Mrs Norton endeavored u have the
scratches removed. Accordingly, 81 Mrs.
A0rton's instance, Dr. R&ws0n called in M
Bake With regard 10 having the delicate work
d0ne. Mr. Bake said lie could make the paint
iDg almost good new and last Friday he
took the portrait from Or. E4Wson's residence
70 his ART rooms. The next night. saturday, he
worde1 on the painting until nearly Il o'clock
and then went home.
The following morning, when he arrived st
his store. he found the place the scene
OF utmost confusion. Vandals, Who were
evidently familiar with the premises, secured
entrance 10 the store by breaking ii a " lndow
opening from the alley, and then began their
work OF despoliation. a valuable remarque
etching, among the Lilies" the property OF
Or. J. Eugene Jordan, was damaged, and two
water culoFs, valued ct $40 each, Nr. BaIke's
personal property. were stolen. The ancient
portrait OF Lord Norton was lying ON work
bench in the rear part of the store, covered over
with canvas. The canvas was removed. and the
painting, brittle with age, was ruined The
vandas tore away the upper corner OF the like
ness, dshgurIng the head, left arm, shoulder
ana portion Of the bust
With a chisel the mlscreants then pried oreu
drawer Ia the desk. and from tin box took
ont what money was there, $75.Go- degour OF
the store was then made, ami evidently with
diamond ring the glass in the frames OF u dozen
or more pictures were cut and scratched.
Mr.. Bake potin1d the detectives OF the dam
age doue him Sunday morning He says lie IS
confident the WORK was Ierpet-ated by some of
his enemies who knew his premises well He
says he i almost certain he knows who the par
ties ale, but from policy ne rsfrains from
mentioning any Dames
He thinks that the ancient portrait can be re-
paired 80 Is to be preseG;able, but it will cost a
good deal. He has friend who is uoted
artist IL New YORK. aud be will write 10 him
concerning the matter
DR.. Eawson, however, is no: so sure that the
painting can lie Laeniei. He thinks 1t As dam
aged past all recovery. Mrs. Norton ani her
daughter. Mrs RawsCn, are Spending the win
ter at Los Angeles, and DIR. Kawson wrote 10
them yesterday telling them OF the unfortunate
ruin OF the heirloom