Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-12-18
CAPT. BASSETT DYING.
venerable Guardian of the Senate
Door Cannot Survive
the Day.

Washington, D. c., Dec 14.-Capt
Isaac Bassett, the venerable Senate door
keeper, is said to be much weaker today.
The doctor says he will not live much
longer.
At $50 this afternoon it was said that
ar. Bassett would probably die within
an hour.
Capt. Bassett enjoys the distinction of
being one of the most noted figures at
the national capital. He has served
continuously in one position or another
in the United States Senate for siXty-hve
years, and from a delicate boy of IL
has literally grown gray" in the service
of his country. He was the second page
appointed in the Senate, his sponsor be-
ing Daniel Webster and the date of his
appointment 1880. After he had out
grown the office of page he was pro-
noted to that of messenger and from
that elevated to the office of assistant
doorkeeper, which position he has filled
until he has come to be as much n fixture
in the chamber as the marble clock
(which, according to capitol gossip
he was wont to turn back at
end of each March session, when Sc
special legislation was desired to be {,
pleted. His duties embraced the gene
housekeeping of the Senate. the seatil
of the members and the actual police
work of the sergeant-at-arms, when that
official is called upon to act in that ca
Dacity 1t was in that capacity that il
his younger days he had to face the only
revolver, save one. that has ever been
drawn in the Senate. 1t was in the
hands of a senator from one of the small
states, who. being very much intoxi-
Gated, was raising a row, and the SER
geant-at-arms was finally ordered to
take him into custody. when Gully
Brooks made his memorable assault on
Charles Sumner, it was Mr.. Bassett who
assisted the Massachusetts statesman to
the cloakroom, assisted to battle his
wounds and prepare him for removal to
his home.
Persons who have visited the Senate
chamber any time within the last quar-
ter of a century have noticed pleasant
faced old gentleman with white hair
and beard the former curled carefully
III roll, who sat at the left of the pre-
siding officer When a message is re-
ceiyed from the President of the United
States or from the House of Representa-
tives it was he who announced the fact
TO the Senate. Although he performed
this duty for years, he invariably made
as much fuss over it as though it was
his first attempt. His face would turn
scarlet, and, as he bowed his head to
the presiding officer, there was culver
III his voice as he uttered the stereo-
typed formula. This was. accompanied
by q hesitancy of speech. as if urcer-
tain whether or not his remarks would
fall on appreciative ears. Capt Bassett
has been the recipient of numerous
marks of esteem from the senators. On
the anniversary of his fftieth year of
service he was presented with a beauti-
full silver snuf-boX, the presentation be-
ing made by the presiding officer. In
1876, on his birthday. an oil painting of
himself was presented to him, accompa-
MED by a letter signed by Senator An
thony, ION behalf of the members of the
Senate, irrespective of party" and on
the occasion of his golden wedding he
was presented with a handsome silver
Salypr