The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-07

Always scheming to Make the Rich Dis.
gorge-Hia Interxiex With Willard.

The statement contained In New York dis
patches that the dynamiter who killed himself
in trying TO blow up Russell Sage was VIII d.
southworth caused many old residents to brush
mp their recollections of that peculiar charac-
Ter. They all agree that he was Just the kind OF
man 10 have conceived the idea Of extorting
money from a millionaire under threat OF blow.
ing him up with dynamite, AMI having con-
eeved it, 10 carry it out, even at the sacrifice OF
his own life.
Though Southworth only wore the sign on hts
back or on his battered tall hat, "Wiil D. South
worth, the odd job man." for q week or two
after he had arrived in this town in 1883 as a
diapidated tramp, the 1000 or 800 people who
then inhabited the town al applied that name
20 him, aud 1t stuck TO him as long as he re-
manned here He was engaged as the only re-
porter on the Seattle Herald, an ephemeral
newspaper venture OF W. G. C. Pitt,
Thomas II. Bates. alias Thomas K. Grandis,
Thaddeus Hantord and Guy C. Phinney. on
which A. NJ z Gordon, better known as "Dog-
fancier Cor don," was editorial writer South
worth then shed his "odd Job" sign. bought a
new tall hat aud clothes and generally spruced
up. In those days reporters were allowed great
latitude, and the "odd Job man. used his posi-.
tion TO air his hobbies. They were always Of a
wild. visionary character. such as the traup's
pagods, and as long as any idea possessed his
fertile brain 1T was urged with grea. persistence,
and was d.nned into the ears of all his acquaint-
auces. Other OF his hobbies were the denuncia-
ton of railroad companies, monopolists and
Chinese labor. and he hsrped on them contin-
TALLY. He was an invsterate bore and would
force himself on a man and pour his cranky no
tons into his ears without conjunction on all
occasions.
Even after he Was thrown of the steamerSorth
Pacific on the occasion OF Henry Vilards visit
he not TO be put Of for he sent his card 70
that gentleman while the latter was a. dinner at
the cd Arlington hotel on Commercial street
lie was tod that he must wal, till Mr.. Willard
bad finished dinner. bat sent In bic card again.
He was agsiu refused. but seat in another card
On " hica he had written;
VIII ID south worth, representing W g q
Ptit. Can take shorthand Insist on interview
Nj Willard This time sad he Aad intended 70
see the man, but now would NOT give him an
interview TIE three cards were in the posses
sioa OF : /. Crawiori, who was az tho tme
reporter on the PosT-INTELIIGsScER and who
r stes this Incident, but were DESTROYED with
she Cd Posi- iNrEsLlGENcER Office in The fire.
After It's connection with the Herald ceased
soutnworth pgsctced law for a few weeks in the
!usace court, and WAS On oae occasion fined Tor
coatsmp, Of court by 7. Il Cam. then justice
81 TIE peace.
Failing IS lawyer. he then wandered awsv
e $50 Francisco, where be doomed forth as
'ol4-Sedged Anti-ChiGess auti-rsilroad ssltato-
lie Used 20 lecture there every sunday eyeaing
$50 ihen evolved hss scheme for carrying people
oy rail across tie continent for 81 each. tie cAi-
cu.Atei that il Ca, 1900 10 run a train from
sau Francisco - New York. and that loo Ter.
sous made the trip every tea DAYS lie proposed
that as soon As l,ooo persons hAi paid 81 each :,
make the trip, = train should lie started with
thsEa- This scheme was published in the san
Francisco Aaa and was repabli.hed in tie Posi-
iNTGLLiGENckR some time IN iSs5 or lisa
Through al s0ataworth's schemes there ran
tie railing idea OF getting something out Of the
rich for tie eeasdt OF the poor, sad his prone
rssa 70 conceive impsaei.czoas schemes com.