The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-24
POWDER
Absolutely Pure

/
| Powder Co.. New York.
making. and when he was called upon to
pay it he was helpless.
| 1 was told that Verror Seaman, who
had been a Chinese trader in San Fran
cisco, but who is now in business in this
city, knew Of all that had been done for
the old sailor, ard / sought him out yes
terday.
Il remember the incident as well as If
| il had happened last week." said he.
The sailor was Captnin Ned Wake
man. He commanded steamships Of the
Pacific Mail, Vanderbilt and Garrison
| lines. Every one IT, California knew him,
as he was a royal good fellow-but no
more roya. than Sam Clemens He could
| OF be. In his happy-go-lucky way he
gave away his earnings With an open
hand. His originality ard open-hearted-
ness were household topics between San
Francisco and Panama. lie had COM
| Portable home al Oakland.
"Wakeman was in command Of the
steamship John II. Stephens at the time
of the Macmillan troubles in Mexico,
and was then put under bonds at La PaZ
Lower California, for havinb munitions
Of war in his cargo. The ship was really
liable to confisca.ion, but Captain Ned
succeeded In getting away by giving a
bond for 81, 900 instead Of for $25O.000, the
value Of the ship. He had known moth
ing Of the character of the cargo and
had the sailors idea of making the best
Ill ,; ~xl,s
place.
The owners Of the ship. instead Of re-
warding him. held him for the bond.
Wskeman thought but little Of 5000 in
these days, and he mortgaged his house
and settled it.
Time rolled on and the owners Of the
ship failed in New York. when, in 1871
or 1872, I received a letter from Mrs.
Wakeman. She wrote that her husband
was bedridden, that the assignee OF the
!irm was about to foreclose the mort
,.-ge on their house. and that II relief
cid not come soon the helpless oul man,
with his wife and his children, would
be homeless and penniless. She asked
me IL would see some of the wealthy
men whose fortunes her husband help
ed to make and induce them to assume
The mortgage.
II saw them and I was very gloomy
when I left the house of the last one
called upon, as a result Of the reception
had received. 1 was not in financial
condition to carry the whole load alone.
and I was thoroughly t1isheartened as 1
crossed broadway at Twenty-third street
To-, <oI
l turned and saw Sam Clemens.
whats the matter. old man.?
never saw you look mad BEFORE" he
said.
II asked him to come to my hotel as
I wanted to tell him story.
"'All right he replied I thought I
vas in hurry, but 1 believe you are in
trouble and I'll let other matters wait
II took him to the 81 James and ask
ed him IL he knew the old captain.
know him" he exclaimed. Why, OF
course. Everybody on, in Frisco knows
him
~ told him my futile efforts in the
captains behalf and gave him the let
Ter TO head. He read 1t deliberately,
looked up suddenly and said:
well, how much can you chip in?
We've got TO fix 1t. I'll go a thousand.
You can do the same
I did what he asked. Sam Clemens
had an irresistible way of persuading
Elen when anyone was in trouble.
I'VE then discussed the question Of
raising the balance, and decided that he
should write one OF his convincing let
tiers TO be published in the Alta. He
wrote a beautiful letter. and in mis- mi
mita bic way told the story.
1--WE mailed the letter. Mark saying,
God bless the oldm an; let's go and liq-
Uidate the mortgage We went.
The letter was published in due time
Generous and big-hearted Ralston read
il al his desk in the Bank Of California.
He sent for few OF his friends, and
vi hin half an hour a telegram was sent
10 Captain Ned's wife in her threatened
home: 1; read:
"Call at Bank OF California. Mort
gage cancelled
The fund that had been etarted by
Mark Twain was large enough TO both
pay the mortgage and provide sum
sufficient TO both keep the home in run
ming o,5er. make the closing days OF the
cid captains life happy and educate his
children