The record-union., 1893-07-29
HEADS OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS.

Carved With a Penkntte Upon Slender
stick by Convict in Montana.
Daniel Titus, a convict in the Montana
penltentiary at Deer Lodge, has sent to
kansas City attorney cane fashioned by
himself during his idle hours, which is a
marvel OF artistic work. The stick is a
light, straight piece of beechwood A gold
head ornaments the top. but thisis dis
counted by the remarkable Woodworking.
Convict Titus, with his penknife, has
carved upon the slender stick faithful
representations Of the faces of every
American President from Washington to
Harrison. This includes every man who
has ever occupied the White House, be-
cause President Cleveland, now serving
his second term, was Harrison's prede-
cessor and successor. Directly below the
ornamental gold headpiece the convict
carved the American eagle and the motto
OF the United States, "E Pluribus
Unum." A shield with the bars and
stars and in the center an excellent like
ness of the father of his country is next:
then follow the faces OF all the Presidents.
The STICK, as described by the iStctl, was
evidently taken When green. The outer
bark was polished and cut away To the
sapwood. This was cut and carved in
thousands of delicate hair lines, ana then
Lhe wood was cut away, leaving each face
on raised surface. The work is as deli
work, and tina. convict Titus is an artist
as we'll as genius, is attested by the
faithful representations.
The calm, dignitied face of Washington;
the serious lat face Of John Adams; the
clean-shaven faces OF James Madison and
Of Thomas Jefferson, with powdered,
curling locks; the hyperion curl and the
lone side whisker Of the second Adams;
the sharp, pronounced features OF "Old
Hickory" Jackson, the determined war
rior; Martin Van Buren,, "Tippecanoe'
Harrison, once Governor of Missouri
Territory; John Tyler, James X. Pork,
Zachary Taylor, who developed into a
Mexican tire-eater; Millard Fillmore,
Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Abra-
ham Lincoln, rail-splitter and martyr
President; Andrew Johnson, the Ten
nessee tailor whose wife taught him the
alphabet; Ulysses ). Grant, who ruled
from 1868 to 1876 and retired after the his
toric battle Of the '30O'' against the rest of
the delegates; Rutherford b. Hayes, the
s to Executive; James a. Garfield, vic
tim or the assassin, Guiteau; Chester A.
Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Idol of the
people; Benjamin Harrison, recently OF
Washington, now of lndianapolis-all
look out upon the world from the slender
stick fashioned by convict in the soIi-
tude of u prison cell.
The hkenesses are strikingly good.
" A1li IL tlIiALO DdLlSuCS anu skill Ln0 con-
Wet labOred and the production of his
knife and skilliul fingers is a complete
history Of the United States from the
time the struggling colonies rendered
George ashlngtOn crown, which he
declined, to accept instead the Presidency
OF republic, down the long period of
years, with its long and glorious history
OF growth, OF prosperity, of wars with
foreign nations, OF diplomatic triumphs,
to the present time, when peace reigns on
land and sea and even the Populists are
reasonably happy.
Interest attaches to the history of the
man who carved this cane. In the Mon
tana penitentiary he is known as "Con-
vict \ o. 654." Daniel Titus is undoubtedly
an assumed name. No one knows who he
is or for what offense be was sent 10 the
penal institution at Deer Lodge. To an
attorney who asked for his history and a
statement of the case on which he was
convicted he wrote: II have had sufi-
cient notoriety. l am hopeful of soon re-
ceiving pardon and of leaving this place
for good. This cane | send you in the
hope that you may be able to dispose of it
in some way for sufficient sum to en-
able me to procure an attorney 1t rep
resents many long hours of patient, care
ful work. 1t is the only way | have Of
procuring money"
Theories as to the identity of the artistic
CONVICT are many 1naC ne Is acquainted |
in Kansas City and knows something of |
the people there is shown by his selecting |
that city as the place to dispose OF his |
wonderful cane. Protected by rough |
cover, the whole incased in long, mar |
row wooden box, the cane showing Con-
vict Titus remarkable skill with the
knife is on exhibition at Colonel George
Gaston's. Probably two years were re-
qulred to complete the work, which con
vict 654 is hopeful will bring him sum
large enough to employ an attorney in his
light tor liberty.