The morning call., 1894-11-25

who at his death left his family almost in
want; that it was given into the keeping
of the Board OF Supervisors in 1860 by r.
j. Stevens, who was DESTROYS of placing
it in a safe and conspicuous position until
such time as L may be able to dispose of it
for her benefit" and that the loan was ac-
cepted. Afterward the picture was
cleaned. framed, hung in the Supervis ors'
chambers, and no one has ever since
claimed it,
THE CALLS story was reprinted in the
New York World. properly credited. under
date of October %, and now comes letter
from Seattle adding another odd chapter
to the story:
1915 RENTON AVENUE,
SEATTLE WASH. Nov. 16, 1894.
Editor San Francisco Cali:
but at any rate the picture hung on the wall
OF the old City Hall for eleven years and no
body came to claim it. There Is no record in
the municipal reports of its having been for
mally presented to the city and il must still be
said TO be the property of Il. j. Stevens, or his
heirs"
l quote from a reprint OF THE CALL in the
New York World of October %, last and
have reference TO the portrait of Nv asbington
and his horse" of which The CALL gave such
an interesting treatise some weeks since.
AS to the picture In question, l have dis
tinct recollection OF the same, but as to how it
came into the possession OF my husband j can
not state. Neither can find after careful re-
search among his effects any data that would
throw any light on the matter.
At the time the loan OF the picture wass prof.
fered and accepted by the Board Of Supervisors
we were making preparations for visit to the
East. and 1t is probable, for this reason. that
the picture passed into the temporary posses
sion OF your city for safe keeping, as we'll as
for adornmeni, and for this reason as well the
matter escaped my attention, aud for others OF
far more serious nature. since it has been thor
0ughly forgotten by me.
However, am now taking steps, through the
valuable Information Cleaned from THE CALL,
to recover that which under all the circum-
stances l may rightfully believe to be my own.
and in which belief l am certainly aided and
abet ed by THE CALLS history of the picture.
To that end / hav. written such influential
sources as the Hon. John s. Hiltell. former
personal friend OF my husbands; Edward b.
Jerome. Deputy Collector Of the Port (my
cousin) and THE CALL.
CAROLINE BAKER STEVENS widow OF r. j.
Stevens)
The picture is an immense one, the fig
ure being life size. AS has been stated, it
is not of great value as work OF art, being
open to much criticism in all but the head
| of Washington. That, however, is strongly
painted. Washington sat to Gilbert Stuart
more than once, and the Artists portraits
were highly spoken of. His daughter haa
the gift OF following her fathers work so
closely that critics could not distinguish
between them. The figure, however. is
clumsy and the other details faulty.
The picture as given into the care OF the
Supervisors by Mr.. Stevens was without a
| frame, and in that shape was hung In the
| chambers of the Supervisors in the old
| City ii Ill in 1860, and so hung there, aceu-
| mulating the dust OF the years, until the
great earthquake of 1868 shook it down.
Clerk John S Russell tells the story:
| 81 had but shortly arrived at the office
| that morning. and had just gotten out ms
books, which were spread over nv desk.
| The desk extended along the wall and at
me end. and at right angles to it, stood
| the big safe from which l had taken the