The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-14

ment.
John T. West, known the world over
as the proprietor Of one of the most
paIatial hostelrtes in the Northwest, and
for thirty years resident of Minnesota,
died very suddenly, and without warn
ing, in the Office of his hotel, the West,
Minneapolis. at 1920 last evening.
Col West, as he had been familiarly
known by all for quarter of a century. i
had been in the best of spirits, and in
company with Lac Stafford, his daily
companion. he had spent most of the
day. They had spent the early part of
the evening witnessing the performance
Of 'The Prisoner Of Zenda," at the Met
ropolitan opera house. At the close OF
the second act. Col West bade Mr. STAFF
ford good night and started for the hotel
He walked into the Hennepin avenue
entrance to the rotunda with his usual
elastic swing, just twelve minutes after
10 o'clock, and walked directly to the
Office, bowing right and left to a score
OF acQuaintances about the lobby In
the Office he removed his hat, coat and
gloves, tucking the latter into a pocket
hung them up, and leaning his cane
against the wall, walked out of the office
to the rear of the desk, behind which
stood Clerk jackson. The colonel spoke
casually to Jackson and then lit a cigar,
which he took from his pocket, when he
sank suddenly to the floor, with the cigar
still between his teeth and the paper in
his hands.
The family physician. DIR. Staples, who
lives in the hotel was not in at the time
and DR.. Richardson was summoned, ar
irving in few minutes, but the latter
pronounced the case hopeless on his ar
! rival Death had already ensued 1t is
attributed to apoplexy.
Miss Clara West, one Of the coloneI.s
daughters, was summoned quickly, but
he never spoke to any one after sinking
to the floor. He leaves another daughter.
Mrs. Edward La Tice.
John T. West was between f1fty-four
and ffty-fve years of age and was one
of the oldest hotel men in the North
west, probably the Oldest, with the ex-
ception of Col Allen, of the Merchants,
st. Paul. In early life conductor on the
Baltimore & Ohio, Mr.. West shortly af-
ter the war, determined to abandon rail-
rodulnS ana seek his fortune In the then
fast developing Western country. He
bought out the saloon and restaurant
which Jacob Barge had then been run
ming at Third avenue south and WASH
1ngton, and where, curiously enough Mr.
Barge has recently returned after many
ups and downs. This was in the heart of
the then thriving town, and a few years
later Col. West leased the Nicolet house
from the Gilsons, it's then owners. At
that time it was a gold mine. The North
west was being rapidly filled with home
seekers, and the Nicollet house in Min
neapolis with the Merchants in ST. Paul
were crowded constantly. Col. West was
convinced that better hotel accommoda-
tions should be afforded the travelling
public. He had wealthy uncle in Gin
cfnnati, c. c. West, who had amassed
| a fortune, and of this fortune the elder
West was willing to put a million dol
lars into what was then without ques-
ton the finest hotel west of Chicago, and
one which few rival in elegance in the
same territory even yet. The founda-
tions were laid in the early SOS and in
1884, just before the city of Minneapolis
entertained its greatest gathering the
Grand Army encampment the new hotel
was opened. Col. West was for several
years It's active manager, but in later
years, and since the death of his uncle
the active management of the detail of
the hotel has devolved on others Col
West devoting his time to a considerable
extent to his two young daughters, whom
he educated abroad, and with whom he
has practically circumnavigated the
globe In the last few Vears