The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-12
SAN BASS BROTHERS,
Four Gray-Haired Men Meet
in Happy Reunion.
THEY HAD BEEN APART 80 YEARS
Together They Go Over the Events OF
Boyhood-one Wealthy San
Domingo Planter.

After q separation OF more than forty
years. during which they have passed
from vigorous youth into gray-haired.
hearty old age, four brothers met in this
city yesterday. They were Charles, Al
exander, T. j. and Samuel Bass, the lat
ter the widely known and re-
spected citizen OF whatcom, and
four corners OF the United States When
one looked upon them. he saw the excep-
ton IN life, for IL is not often taat four
brothers at an advanced age, and after
long years OF separation. have the pleas
ure OF sitting down together 10 talk over
the experiences they shared in boyhood
and the personal doings Of later years
since their lots have lain apart.
When the steamer City of I'nebla came
into port from San Francisco yesterday
morning she brought among her rassen-
gers three gentlemen whose appearance
as they stood together was well calcu-
lated 10 attract attention. They were
brothers. and they were coming TO visit
stiH another brother, Samuel Bass OF
Whatcon, who was here TO meet them.
The four brothers are natives CT Penn
sylvania- where they grew up together
in the mining region, their old home be-
ing at Pottsyllle. AS far back as 1852 AL
exander Bass went to Cuba, where he en-
gagged in sugar planting until Is years
a
ing interest in the neighboring island OF
San Domingo. where he has resided ever
since. He is perhaps the most influential
man on the island and from the penni-
less American youth OF years ago ne has
become a millionaire many times over.
The extent Of his operations as a sugar
planter may be easily appreciated from
the single fact that ne shipped last year
more than a, eoo,0l0 pounds OF sugar
In the year following Alexander's de-
parture, two of the other brothers. Sam
uel and Y. j.. migrated westward, and
ultimately reached California. 7. ]. Bass
has remained there ever since and has
established himself as one OF the leading
business men of San Francisco He
founded in that city the Bass-Hueter
Paint Company. OF which he is president.
Samuel Bass came northward, removing
to Whatcom in this state. The fourth
brother. Charles, remained nearer home.
and having built up an ample fortune. is
now living in Brooklyn. N. Y. There is
yet another brother. Albert. dealer in
artists materials. at Brooklyn. who was
unable 10 come West to join in :he happy
reunion.
AS the four brothers sat down 20 lunch
con yesterday the sight was enc well
worthy OF painters brush. Each of
the four is more than 50 years old. Each
weighs more than 200 pounds. Each locks
hale and hearty. despite gray hairs and
wrlnkled faces. Three of the four, Sam
uei, Alexander and Charles, had not seen
one another for forty-two years. As they
drew up around the table together for the
first time in nearly half century. one
from the Atlantic coast, another from the
Gulf of Mexico, another from California.
to join their brother in the Northwest
corner of the Union, one could easily dis
cover from their bright faces and their
hearty voices that they had kept fresh
in their hearts the spirit of boyhood, and
that their meeting was in itself ample
compensation TO them for the thousands
of miles of travel and the long years OF
busy life that had interviewed.
As might have been foretold, their con-
versation, after the first hearty greet
ings, was directed to the happiness of
boyhood Now and then an incident would
be recalled that had escaped The memory
of one of them. Then the comment
would be made, "Of course he can't re-
member that. It happened more than
forty years ago"
In this city the brothers were the guests
OF Mrs. Mary r. Logan, on Over av-
enuc. Today they will 20 to
Whatcom. where the visitors will be for
a time the guests of Samuel Bass, and
then the reunion will be over, the three
returning to their distant homes. Alex
ander and Charles Bass viii be met In
Chicago by their nephew, Daniel w.
Bass, of this city. who may accompany
them on the journey to New York.