The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-07
A FRIEND OF E. "A. POE DEAD.
Mr.. William H. Benson, a Companion Of
the Great Poet, Passes Away.
DgFgNDED HIM AGAINST ALL ATTACKS
vigorously Denied the Charge ih"' inc
Poet pied from the Effects of a Deo"uoh'
Great Admirer of His Poetry-she''"
Of Mr.. Benson's Long Career

SOS cast Clay street, yesterday "lo'
g ,,ci.c,, one OF the last Of three iiienuS
and etaunch admirers Of Edgar Ali1''
,,,o wcro intimately associated with 'he
gre,test Of American poets during part
of his residence in this city passeu Ds'
yond the river into the great beyond
The other two are Mr. William D.
Glenn. the old gentleman who runs a taii-
or estabnshmont at no. lZl north Eishth
,,,.et .xd Dr. creed Thomas, who re-
sides with hls nephew Dr' H. wynn
Davis. 30. llU cast Grace street
There IS a strong story Of friendship
tindiv admiration and reverence for &C.
,,uls that might be woven about the as
sociauon OF the three men II time ana
spare permitted The great poet was
iust Two years older than Mr.. Benson ana
three years older than Dr. Greed Thomas
who viii have little family reunion at
his nephew residence tomorrow in non
or Of the old genuemans eighty-hith
birthday. Tine author OF tho Raven.
however was some ten years older thah
Mr. Glenn. who later I'm life when both
men had reached middle age had INC
pleasure OF an interesting experience
and subsequent personal friendship with
Poe.
LOYAL TO THE POET.
DIR Greed Thomas went to school with
700 for two years from about 1922 TO
1924. / am not sure as TO tho dates, but #
was not long before or after that period.
Burke's was then the leading boys school
ln Richmond. The late Judge Crump
was a. pupil al the same school year or
two later. So far as IS known there IS
now only one surviving pupil who at
tended that famous boys school then. lie
ls Mr.. McClung Wickham. OF Tuckahoe.
Mr.. Glenn was not 40 school with the
celebrated poet. but belonged 10 the same
temperance organization sometime before
Poes death, and had the pleasure OF adj
ministering the oath 10 the poet and wit
Messing the signature 10 his pledge. lie
believed firmly IN his friends ability 10
keep his pledge and would not admit that
the reports 10 tho effect that the great
poet had died as the result Of a drunken
spree were true. Mr.. Glenn stood firm
an his loyalty TO Poe No ono was a
greater admiror Of the author than was
he. except perhaps Mr.. Benson. who had
formed a fast friendship with the poet
and set 70 work 20 try and disprove the
published reports about his death. Many
Of these reports attacked the character
and moral life OF Poe with sweeping
contradict what he believed 10 be unjust
attacks upon the poets life.
lie was one OF tho most enthusiastic
admirers that Poe ever had. Mr.. Benson
loved poetry. lie had a literary turn
of mind. and keen appreciation for the
merits Of the poets productions. He
wns noyor'slow 10 recognize the beauties
of his poems. and was a close student Of
hIs prose works as we'll.
Day after day Mr.. Benson would call
upon his friend and talked with him by
the hour.
DEFENDED HIS FRIEND.
Mr. Bonsons admiration and devotion
90 Poe amounted ain est 20 a weakness.
Ile felt the 1eenest antagonism towards
the poets enemies. and wrote a. large
number Of personal letters 10 prominent
people denying tho charges made against
ioe's private life. Not content with this
le secured from Dr. John j. Moran, the
physician To- the poet during his last III
ness. and at the time o. his death. g.
statement in writing 10 the effect that
poo did not die as the result OF a drunk
Oh spree, but from nervous pr0strltion
brought on by overWork and anxiety.
1h.s was circulated quite generally in
defence OF the illustrious poet against
impuianons cast upon his memory by un-
friendly Dlographers, and especially by
Eov. DR. Grsvau. editor of Iarpor's
Monthly. No oge was moro loyal TO the
memory of Poe than was Mr.. Benson
llo read from The poets works with ieli-
rious reguarity. praised his poems. re-
NelCd in his weird stories and approved
of an lis keen ard ingenious crltiQues.
Even the poets most ecathing satirical
attacks were finished or "to the Queens
tasts' in the eyes of ar Benson.
s. TOUCHING PICTURE.
Tc lolr the old gentleman talk about
his friend WAS Woil worth the time Mr.
benson Dad most trustworthy memory
anc 60 passionate devotion for what may
le termed subjective poetry. Two years
aeo when ! wac talking 10 him. ! mon-
toned Poe. THE pale face wrnklcd with
aec hrehtcnei up with mental pictures
90 the years COMO hy. % smiie PLAYED over
thc Thin. N1n lips, and with am Cnort
and in "a low. s0it voice that rose anC
fsn with the appreciation of each line
re repeated with "a deiiocration that was
solemn and imr mrressivc;
These were days when my heart wa.
volcanic.
Ns the scoriac rivers that roll
AS tho lavas that rcstlcsely roll
Vho.r frlnhurous currents down Y0anek
lu ihe ultimate climcs OF the pole
That mom as they roll down Noun
Ya1nek.
i'm ttc realms OF tho boreal pole"
"rhere now he added trembling witt
enthusiasm. If that isn't poetry
don't know 80 when I hear 10. Just heai
that metre, isn't IL suggestive OF the
thought? You know 81: lis from 'Ula
June. on what a real pOot he was.
ard then The frail figure arose with dim
Guilty from his half-reclining position. an'
resting his hands ON mv shoulders sale
faintly. "Nou don't believe old Griswold
do you? 40. ! know you didn't Th'
great poet was my friend. Thank Cod TO
TO- and DIS name and genius viii live
down the ISLANDERS hoancl upon his mcm
ory."
The old gentleman turned away FOR
moment as I bil him good day. a elanc
GO the STOPPING figure as ! closed th
door told me what he feit lie was brush
lng O tear from his cheek.
SKETCH or HIS LIFE.
Mr. Benson was eienty-scven years o
o-. nc was born in Somerset county
MARYLAND. on February g. ISL. When
,.ostb be went 10 Wosimoreland county
fo reside. and came 10 Richmond 4
fva in 1885 IIc was member Of th
lodge of Masons 20 which George Wash
i,pton belonged IN Alexandria For man
,oars Mr. Benson was engaged I'm th
,.iorir. business. but retired from bust
,es- about ten years ago on account O
r-on health. During the war he was
member Of the home guards. At tina
,ioc h. was TOO Old for active service 4
~. ,orrled Miss Martha Redmar