The morning call., 1893-08-15

man car conductor. Whenever Hunting
ton proposed to make visit to the Pacific
coast he telegraphed for "Mose" to join
him at Washington or New York.
"M0se" was tackled by the grip about
two or three years ago. He was not the
same man afterward, though he was able
to attend to his duties until last February,
since which time up to theday of his death
last Wednesday he had been an invalid
confined to his home. He died finally of a
complication Of asthma and dropsy. The
day Senator Stanford was buried he left
his home for Menlo Park to attend the
funeral, but his strength failed him and he
returned to his home, which he never
again left until his wasted body was borne
to Laurel Hill.
No Pullman coach porter was better
known between the two oceans than Moses
c. Freeman. He was the friend of all the
guild Of Pullman p0rters. He gave away
nearly all his earnings to the poor. Every
railroad man knows what this means. On
the road not day passes that does not
present some case where helpless people
need helping hand. Destitute travellers
are always found. The widow, the or
phan. the sick man going home to die. the
friendless girl. the stranded actor. even the
despised tramp kicked off the brakebeam
found in Nose" man who would give
his last dollar to make brothers or sis
ter s burden Ilgnter.
He drew no color line when anybody
needed assistance. Black or white. 1t was
all the same to "Mose." While men or
women of his own race never appealed in
vain for help to him, he never refused to
aid the destitute white people whom he
found in want. The result was that when
sickness and sorrow finally overlook the
philanthropic Pullman car porter he was
without means, and the Masons and the
al tad m
saries of life during his five months
illness. He had no children. His widow,
who tenderly nursed him all through his
sickness, is left destitute.
Notwithstanding Moses c. Freeman was
so great favorite among the railroad
magnates that they made him the porter
of the directors car and kept him to
struck bis name from the payroll the
month after he fell sick AS an Odd
Fellow and Mason and a member of the
Pullman Porters' Union. he received sick
benefits from those fraternal organi ia
lions. When Cnllis P. Huntington last
sent for "Mose" he was tolq that "Mose"
was sick and another man was sent in his
place. But Huntington never troubled
himself any more about his faithful ser
want Whether he Will do anything for
his destitute widow remains to be seen.
Little is known ID regard to Moses"
early life beyond the fact that he COM
menced his career as n cook on the high
seas. He was born in New York aud dur
ing his younger days had sailed into nearly
every port on the globe. He was a re.
narkably quiet man, never speaking to
any one unless to offer to help some fellow
mortal out of distress. His reticence was
what probably commended him to his
superiors. He never talked about railroad
business to his comrades nor 20 outsiders.
Such man, it may well be believed, was
invaluable to the great men cracking wal
nuts and drinking wine in the directors
car.
When Nose" first came to this coast he
accepted service as a cook for Clarence
Kings surveying party. He resided fol-
some years In Virginia City, where he was
we'll known.
He was the oldest porter on the line. his
span of life as engraved on his coffin. plate
being 80 years. 9 months and 19 days.