Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1899-09-21
jim BEST.


Baltimore Md, Sept. Il, '99.
| DEAR JoE:-I send herewith
extract from the Baltimore Sun
of this morning, concerning jim
| Best's death. 1t is inaccurate a
to his age. He was So not 63 a
stated by the Sun, nor was b.
Caught out in the BLIZZARD a
stated, but while purveying fol
the comfort of some 1--we stocl
during the blizzard, Le realized
d; ~ ais return to the house, where
he lived Green county, N. c.:
ih.t his oreathing was irregular
| a2d paint i; this, in February, O:
his year, was the first NANTES
symptom of the heart trouble
from which he suddenly died a
the Howard House, in this city
or the night of the 18th instant
The statement that he was caught
out in the blizzard conveys the i'm.
| preston to mind critically in,
terpr, ting an idiom of folk-speect
that he was helplessly the victim
# the lashings of the blizzard,
shut off from a rescuing hand
which is not true.
I have been requested by his
friends to write a sketch of him
for the ARGUS, but I am so en-
gagged that l have not the time for
u letter to the press, and, further
more, l really do not feel that il
would be hardly right to address
myself to the prepare ton of a let
| .ar, which arranged precisely for
publication, would be 100 STACEY in
lis aspects to express my feelings.
However, If you find anything in
this letter which would be of in.
ierest to his friends, you have my
permission to transcribe for your
columns
Thirty three years of CONNER
cial service in this city made Jim
Best one Of the most familiarly
known men in Baltimore, and,
hence, when the news of his death
passed along the streets of the bus
mess quarters of the city, hum
dreds of men, quitting their bus~
iaoss, went hurriedly to the How
a.d House, where he had died, to
make inquiry concerning his de-
Mise and to stand over his corpse
with testimonials oe love on their
lips for good old Jim. At the Car
rollton Hotel, Mr.. Shannon, the
manager, standing behind the Of
fee counter would say to passing
guests: "Jim Best is dead," and
the news went from the ground
lobpies to the sixth door-"Jim
Best is dad" I had not left rny
room in the Carrollton. There was
a knock a. my door. "What is
it?' l said. The low voice of an
old colored servant answered,
"Mr. Morris, Mr.. Jim Best is
dead. ;" Hastily attiring myself, l
soon descended into the lobby.
The Office boys approached and
said, "Mr. Jim Best is dead"
Passing into the city's great thor
onghfare, Baltimore street, l
raingled with people whose pill
grimage, like my own, was to the
Howard House. Arriving at that
hostelry, L found the lobby and aisles
packed with people breathing low
inquiries and tender testimonials.
Two we'll known commercial men
who had started subscription list
for floral tributes were protesting
to people proffering money that
they could receive no more; that
the sum already subscribed and
paid was in excess of what was
needed to purchase tae most ex-
pensive memorial designs in flow
ers.
Sam Lee, an old negro, who
for more than 80 years had .por-
tered hotels where Jim had
boarded, heard the news and hur-
ried to the Howard House. Jim's
corpse looked SO life-like, Sam
said, 'sGem'men, Mister Jim's
jess ersleep." When assured that
Jim was dead, the old negro went
away weeping.
This old North Carolinian, Jim
Best, was singular character in
many phases of his being; while
closely identified with metropoli-
tan life, his fondness for rural and
village life never forsook his heart
nor his habits. He was never fea-
t0reless rs countryman, nor had
be much respect for Southern
men, who, coming to the city TO
liEe. put eff the primitive ways of
country life and assumed the more
fashionable aspects Of city fellows.
Though never married, his
frndnpss for children was uholu1