Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
POE,S LAST DAYS.
John sartain's "Reminiscences of .
Very Old Man.

Very Old Man.
The last time saw Poe was late in 1S49.
and then under such peculiar and almost
fearful conditions that the experience can
never fade from my memory. Early one
Monday afternoon he suddenly entered my
engraving room, looking pale and haggard.
with wild and frightened expression In
his eyes. I did not let him see that 1 no
ticed it. and. shaking him cordially by the
hand invited him to be seated, when he
began:
Mr.. Sartain. 1 have come to you for
refuge and protection; will you let me stay
with you? 1t is necessary to my safety that
l lie concealed for a time
1 assured him that he was welcome. that
in my house he would be perfectly safe. and
he could stay as long as he liked, but L
asked him what was the matter. He said
II would be difficult for me to believe what
he mad to tell. or that such things were pos
stble in this nineteenth century. made
him as comfortable as ! could, ana then
proceeded with my work which was press
ing. After he had had time to calm down
a little he told me that he had been on his
way to New York, but he had overheard
some men who sat a few seats back OF him
plotting how they should kill him and then
throw him off from the platform of the car.
he SAID they spoke so low that 1t would
nave been impossible for him to hear and
understand the meaning of their words had
1t not been that his sense of hearing was so
wonderfully acute. They could not guess
that he heard them, as he sat so quiet and
apparently Indifferent to what was going
on, but when the train arrived at Borden
town station he gave them the slip and re-
manned concealed until the cars moved on
again. He had returned to Philadelphia by
the first train back, and hurried to me for
refuge.
1 told him that 1t was my belief the whole
scare was the creation of his own fancy
for what interest could those people have in
taking his life, and a such risk to them
selves? He said, 1T was for revenge.
Revenge for what?' said |. He answered.
We'll, a woman trouble"
Now and then some fragmentary CONVEX
sation passed between US as l engraved,
and shortly L began to perceive singular
change in the current of his thoughts. From
such fear of ASA ssination his mind gradu-
ally Veered round to an idea of self-destruc-
ton, and his words clearly indicated this
tendency. After a long silence he said, sud
denly: IF this mustache of mine were re-
moved l should not be so readily recog
nized; will you lend me a razor. that may
shave it off," L told him that 1 never
shaved had no razor, but If he wanted 1t
removed l could readily do it for him with
scissors. Accordingly 1 took him to the
bath room and performed the operation sue
cessfully.
After tea, it being now dark. 1 saw him
preparing to go out; and on my asking him
where he was going, he said. ITO the
Schuylkill' / told him | would go. too: II
would be pleasant in the moonlight later;
and ne offered no objection. He complained
that his feet hurt him, being Chafed by his
shoes, which were worn down on the outer
side of the heel. So for ease and comfort
he wore my slippers, which he preferred to
my shoes as less ill fitting. When we had
reached the corner Of 9th and Chestnut
streets waited for an omnibus some min
utes, which were passed in conversation,
and among the many things he said was
that he wished I would see to 1t after his
IL n Gat tt1.ar tr.atf nzg
for him should go to his mother tmeaning
Mrs. Clemm) promised that as far as
| could control 1t that should be done. After
getting the omnibus we rode to its stopping
place, little short of Paramount opposite
| a tavern on the north side of CallOWhill
| street. at the bend II makes to the north
| west to reach the bridge over the river AT
| the spot a bright light shOne out through
| the open door of the tavern, but beyond all
| was pitchy dark. However, forward into
| the darkness we walked. l kept on his left
| side. and on approaching the foot Of the
! bridge guided him off TO the right by a
| gentle pressure, until we reached the lofty
| flight of steep wooden steps which assembled
| almost to the top of the reservoir. There
was a landing with seats, and We sat down
| to rest. All this time l had contriVed to
| hold him in conversation, except while we
| We're laboring GREATNESS up that long
| breakneck flight of stairs.
There he told his late experiences, or
what he believed to be such, and the sue
| cession of images that his imagination Gre
| ated he expressed in "a calm. deliberate,
measured utte:ance as facts. These We're
as weird and fantastic as anything to be
| met with in his published writings. OF
| course, 1t is altogether beyond me to convey
| even a fairt idea of his wild descriptions
| Il was confined in cell in Moyamensing
| prison." said he, land through my grated
| window was visible the battlemented gran
| tie tower. On the topmost stone of the
| paraoet, between the embrasures stood
| perched against the dark sky young
| female brightly radiant like silver dipped
| in light. either in herself or in her environ
| ment so that the cross-bar shadows thrown
| from nv window were distinct on the op-
| posite wall. From this position, remote as
| it was. she addressed to me series of
| nuesfione in words not loud but distinct
| and / dared not fail to hear and make apt
| response. Had 1 failed once either to hear
| or to make pertinent answer, the conse-
| ouences 70 me would have been something
| fearful. hut nv sense of hearing Is wonder
| fully acute. so that l passed safely through
| this ordeal. which was a snare to catch
| me. But another was in store. An attend
| ant asked me If I would like to take a stroll
| about the Mace I might see something in
| teresffne and / agreed In the course of
| our rounds on the ramparts we came to a
| cauldron Of boiling spirits. He asked me
| If I would not like to take a drink. 1 de-