New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03
AN ARTISTS HARD LINES.
yArrARI,E PAINTINGS OF ]. COLIN
FORBES BURNED.
| HOW 4 PORTRAIT OF HIS MOTHER ONCE SAVED
Ills LrFE-soME OF TIE WORK WHICH

HE HAS DONE.
One OF the sufferers by the fire which parity &c
stroyed the Castle Hotel last Sunday night was
the artist j. Colin Forbes. The fire starred IN
his APARTMENTS on the sixth floor and 1t was fought
by his wife alone and unaided until she was COM
pel,ed TO give up the task in order to save her
three little children. Mr.. Forbes al Ithaca at
the time engaged painting Of President Schui-
man. Of Cornell University.
Between fire and water. Mr. Forbes has had
rather a hard time. and though many Of his works
occupy prominent places. n has lost as many by
fire. and In no instance did ne nave Inc soiace
that insurance brings.
He was a passenger the Inflated steamer HI
bernia of the Anchor Line when she was WTecKen
in midocean in 1865 while her way to Glasgow.
He lost everything in the way of personal enec'S
and pictures that ne had with him. BEFORE Tan
ing 10 the boats he cut from its frame picture
OF his mother. by himself and rolled it up and put
1t In inner pocket. BY n strange turn OF 'iiaiis
this picture was the means OF SAVING not only ms
Ife but the lives of all those who took refuge IN
the lifeboat with him.
I'VE tossed about in the water" he SAID, in speak
ing Of the adventure FOR a day. The waves orohe
over the little craft continually. and there was 'e
most intense suffering. We had neither 1ood noi
water and suffered the additional agony OF seei,'s
a ship pass and leave us TO our iaie' Aios' vi ~
other boats had been swamped ana we WERE ''
ing the best use we could of some oil when We
there were no matches with which 10 hgh' s's""
Matches, like all else, were drenched anu "''
less. .. 49,,
at this time ii was" he continued '"a' NY
mothers picture came in play. In shding II "i.o
NV nocket II became folded about my Inatch-saie
and acted as n shield for 1t against moisture.
succeeded in lighting lantern. and the snip
which by a strange coincidence. was naheu ,he
star Of Hope saw the signal and picked us up,
The portrait exhibited al tne te,h r,uch
hibtion in Philadelphia, where II attracted mueh
attention Later OF It was exhibited In CltaWa'
and while negotiations we're pending io oo is pur
chase nv the Dominion Government III le.s the a..
gallery where IL was exhibition. ATOMS WIN
more Of Mr. Forbes's paintings, was destroyeu Wy
fire. a., ..o,.oroa fror, this loss
when his studio the Grand Opera Rouse IN W
taWa was burned out and most OF MS Palnti.ns'
destroved Fire No 3 occurred a few years later
This was in Pratts Hotel. Muskoka ontario,
Canada and here again some or the pes, oI ",s
works were consumed. The Caste iiotet l'I %
The fourth one through which Mr.: Forbes has
nassed ana re hopes II will be the last Among
The pictures destroyed at this last IRE was Pol.
trait of his father which he considered ms pest
work and which for years he has called MS snow
piece. ~. r,o.hov are tho
nortraits of Gladstone, which he painted Tor the
National Liberal Club in London; sir John Mac
Donald and the Earl OF Duner!n; painted lor IN, s
Canadian Government eX-Presldent Auail1t, Ioi
Cornell University; ex-President Harrison forvnm-
self: Governor Mckinley for the West End Ciuo'
and Ezra Cornell for the Beg KSgen's oil the nj
The portrait of ex-President Harrison Is neon
pete and was among the few belongings OF MT
FORBES saved from the Castle Hotel hre