The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-30
RAY HAMILTON'S PARTNER.
A Letter From Him Attesting he Form
er,S DeNtl,

A Letter From Him Attesting the Form
er's Death.
New YORK, May @.-The World of this
CITY published a letter from John Dudley
Sargent, partner of Robert Ray Hamilton
in the Idaho ranch, or which the grandson
of Alexander Hamilton passed the last few
weeks of his life. The letter has abundant
inherent evidence that Hamilton's former
partner is absolutely convinced of his death.
It is apparently the first letter written by
him since communication with the outside
world has been re-established after the long
winter. 1t was written to an old friend OF
his. j. II. Bentley, of Morris, Delaware
ing house on w Ninth street. New York,
during the winter of 1880, with their faml-
lies, and is as follows:
MARYMERE RANCH. March 1S9l.--Your let
ter of the 18th Of September, 1880, was
brought up to the ranch by my packer some
time in December, and l came very near
answering it in person, for l was summoned
to New York as a witness on the probating
of my late ranch partners will, Jan. IL,
but could not cross the Tetons at that sea
son. / made the attempt, however, but
failed to get over. :.
I should have tried to see you if I had
zone east. Mr.. Hamilton went into part
ueIBAlp Wlbh LIZ VA AAAS -Hs - WV "SAS
to breed harness racers, that 10 trottlng
horses, which / have handled a great
deal, and make this a select resort for
the better class of sportsmen as well.
We were to. have a large box-stall stable n
handle our horses on the kentucky plan.
Hamilton was to put in $3o,ooo, but owing
to his death there was only 1885 invested.
However, that has built and equipped the
most comfortable sportsmen's ranch in
America. We nave a house tloored throug-
out, with twelve rooms, three fireplace, nice
range in kitchen, two dozen blankets, best
Gala. spring beds, good furniture. a boat
built bv Osborne, on the Hudson, for Mary
mere, pack and saddle ponies, saddles, rigs,
two wagons, harness, fine driving eam-a
four-in-hand!
The grave is close to our house and has
the most sublime outlook of any place IN
the country. His remains will stay here, AS
he wished it SO. His accident was his own
fault. When I left for the railway he prom
ised me he would stay at homo until my re-
turn. never let him go about alone, but
he was very confident in his own power to
look out for himself anywhere, and would
not nave a guide. He wanted to be alone
unless l was with him-as God knows l
would have been had he not taken the time
when / was a hundred miles way to ford
the worst river in the country. And
there was no need of it. He might have
gone down in the boat quicker, but he was
wild to be a mountaineer and ford rivers
and hunt alone, 30 that l could see what he
could do in that line more than ordinary
tenderfeet.
l lost my best friend. and, you know. "a
friend in need is a friend indeed" Such
was Ray Hamilton to me, and I would have
risked my life a dozen times to save his.
But there was no need to run any risk if he
had been contented to hunt about home
and had lone as l told him to do. The
poor fellow was always reckless-doing a
reckless thing and never giving one any
warming. JOHN DUDLEY SARGENT.
The announcement made recently that
Eva Mann, the alleged wife or widow of
Robert Ray Hamilton, was preparing to
make her debut on the stage has revived
interest in the extraordinary domestic
drama which involved one of the most his
toric families in the United States. Eva is
to appear as Mrs. Hammerton." and the
nurse and historic baby are to have parts in
a play closely adherinR to the circumstances
of Hamilton's marriage and its subsequent
Developments.