The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-19
CAPT. ISAAC BAssETT DEAD.
The Veteran Assistant DOOrkeeper
| Passes Away.


Passes Away.
Washington, Dec. 1S.-Capt Isaac Bas-
sett, the veteran assistant doorkeeper of
the Senate, died this afternoon at 4:l5
o'clock. The immediate cause of his death
was cancer of the stomach.
Capt. Bassett was one of the most in
teresting and picturesque characters in
Washington life. Every one probably,
late years has inquired and been told the
name of the white-haired and White
bearded assistant doorkeeper, who intro
duced to the Vice President all the dig
nitaries who visited the Senate on official
business His bow in making one of
these presentations is a spectacle, says
a recent writer, "once seen, never forgot
ten. Capt. Bassett has doubtless Kept II
in it's present form from the day in ms
boyhood when he entered upon his he
long service of the Senate"
Capt Bassett spent his whole life in
the Senate chamber. He was born IN
Washington in 1919 and was appointed a
page in 1881 at the instance OF DANIEL
Webster. In those times the Senate was
more frugal than now, as well as smaller.
II had a membership of only torty-elsht,
and one page had answered all It's mouesI
needs. The proposal to hire an additional
boy was shocking to some OF the slrict
economists, but Webster brought MS elo-
uuence to bear, and the increase OF force
was granted. 10,,u,,,,.
the long interval that elapsed ne neaIQ
and knew all the famous men and brllllant
orators who have sat in the Senate-Clay,
Calhoun, Benton, Douglas and the rest.
His abiding love, however, was for the
"The earliest political event within my
recollection" he said, in conversation
before 1 was regularly enrolled as a page,
bat | was on the floor at the time anu
remember it distinctly. reIe arao 10 Inc me
Webster Eayne debate. in 1880. the
crowds thronged every bit of space for
seeing and hearing, and hundreds Went
away who could not get near the ROOM
1t was a wonderful scene"
webster was the more eloquent or
the two contestants, was ne not!
mo Hayne was more finished orator
than Webster, but Webster outmatc Ini
more of the natural bearing of a great
man than any of the persons nave seen
like roll of thunder Once he asked me
to 90 out and order a carriage LOT MIN.
1 came back and told MIN l couI9 i, no. ,t
commanded. in tones which fairly took
me off my feet Somehow, after that
succeeded in. finding one, and II ana not
AM stra ie stories have been told about
the effect of this rebuke on young Bas-
sett. A favorite story IS tnae ene pIy
al him but the explanation of this notion
is that the Bassett family were given 70
gray hair early in life, ana the captain ANS
fyent eRassett witnessed the passing of
administrations the rise ana IAN on p snd
his conversation, replete with anecdote
and striking episodes, has the interest OF
O E1ei0 of f' Cant. Bassett's apnual duties
was to see that no matter now tar past
the actual hour set for final adjournment
The Senate sits the legal or technical linz
a. shoii NOT he transgreSsed. For this
purpose he armed himself with a long
pole and as the hands OF the CLOCK against
ereromsiv near to the hour of noon, he
SSoIred Them gently back fifteen or TWEEN
~ minutes. Sometimes he had to repeat
tRie oneration twice or thrice.
II was his proud claim that ne never
missed a single session, day or night, OF
the Senate since 1881, until two years ago,
when he broke down during the night
sessions when the repeal of the sherman
law was being considered. But ne stlll
could claim, until the meeting OF the
nTesent congress, that he had never missed
the onening of congress for sixty-four
years 1t bore upon him heavily When ne
realized that he could not be IN the SEN
ate when the Fifty-fourth congress was
called 10 order and from noon OF that
day his attendants noted that ne grew
worse. All during the summer and fall
cant Rassett hoped to be able to be at
the capitol on Dec. 3, and as that day APP
preached and he did not gam strength,
he still hoped he would be able TO be
taken over to his accustomed place, even
If he were able to remain but short
Cant. Bassett has not enjoyed a sine
cure all his life. During late years he has
been relieved from much of the active
work that fell to him formerly A. H.
Stewart his assistant on the Moor, as
S1noing many of his duties. But for
wears he was to the Senate what an ex-
Scutive officer is to a man-Of-war. EV-
ervthing was in his keeping and if any
senator had a complaint to make he made
il to the captain. The Senate has always
been fastidious body, and Capt Bassett
knew the Spanish proverb There is no
such thing as a tri1e." He was every
where familiar with every detail of the
Senate so far as ii related to the material
comfort of that body, and never merited
reproach for an oversight. All the pages
looked upon him as a father and he ruled
them by love rather than through disci-
pline.
Capt Bassett nearly all OF them being
instances Of his great fidelity to duty
During the war Capt. Bassett went into
the Senate TO find several soldiers busy
defacine the sdesk formerly occupied by
Jefferson Davis. They were hacking the
woodwork with their bayOnets. Bassett
promptly went to them and in his quiet
way remarked:
THAT desk was used by Mr. Davis. but
n is the property Of the United States.
and l am here to protect H. Please don't
touch IL again"
The captains argument WAS needed. and
the desk remains IN the Senate now, be-
ing used By Senator c0ckrell Of Missouri.
Capt Bassett was a lover Of relies.
known 20 him These desks are nearly
an ~ great age, though they are kept
in such thorough repair that hey have
the Appearance Of beng new. lie could