The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-30
VERY STRANGE ROMANCE
REVEALED BY THE DEATH OF
HORACE C. DISsTON, A VEAL
THY PHILADELPHIA
ESTATE FOR RACHEL AsCH"
The World, Especially That Part of
Maryland Where Their Summers
Were Spent, Supposed Her
''Mrs. DisstOn."
charlestown CMd) Correspondence of

Charlestown CMd) Correspondence of
New York Herald.
CHARLESTOWN, Md, saturday-Very
great interest is taken here in the an
nouncement that Horace c.. Disston, the
wealthy saw manufacturer, of Phila-
delphia. who died recently, has left Sic, COO
g. year, three residences and other ex-
tensive and valuable properties to the
person he desigrates as my beloved
FRIEND" Rachel Asch
That Disston did just as he should have
done is the general opinion among those
who knew him best. He was well liked
throughout this county, and had been
for years, in fact, ever since he pur-
chased the beautiful property of the Sen
eca Point club, on the shore of the North
east river, and converted the club house
into the fine mansion where he lived
every summer with the woman who has
now been given, under his will, the bulk
of his estate.
Perhaps the most startling feature of
the announcement is that Disston, III his
will, which was written in 1897, called
his beloved friend Rachel Asch. She
he
A. Disston, and it was, of course sup
posed by all the townspeopIe that she
was his wife. Now that it appears that
she was only his friend and housel1eer-
er, it is quite remarkable that not a
single word of Islander is uttered against
her. Mrs. Disston," as everybody in
this part of Maryland likes to call her,
has endeared herself to the whole COM
munity by so many acts of benevolence
and kindness that no one could be found
to throw a stone. For years she has been
a beloved friend to every poor person
in CharIestoWn
When the only church here needed a
roof it was Mrs. Dtsston who furnished
the shingles. When the crops failed and
nobody could find work, it was Mrs. Diss-
ton who gave job on the Seneca Point
farm to every poor man Who applied, and
1t was Horace DiSston who paid the bills.
No one in need was ever turned away
from the big house in the park that is the
show place of this part of the river shore.
For these reasons indicated the women
OF CharleStoWn are ready to rejoice with
Mrs. Disston in her elevation from the
humble position of housekeeper to the pro-
prietorShip of a vast estate. There is
something in the way, however, for Mrs.
DiSSton-or Rachel Asch, she must
now be termed-WilI not even stop to
think of the city houses, the country
home, the tracts of land, the money, car
riages, horses and Yaluables she has in.
herited. She spends her days in mourn,
ing the death of Disston. He died on
June 80, and his beloved friend Rachel
Asch is still grief stricken and inconsola-
pie. She mourns so mucn over ner loss
that her relatives have been sent for ana
are now greatly worried The woman
seems 1nconsolable, and is certainly as
widow "iiV
Strange, indeed, is the life story If
Horace Disston. This last act of his in
leaVlng most of his large fortune to
the rest "-si' az
Every man who has ever knelt over
saWouck knows Of the Disstons. The
original Disston began making saws in
a snaH way. He made good saws and
the business grew, until now the whole
town of Tacony, in the suburbs of Pl1fIa1
oelphla, gets money for groceries and
clothng directly or indirectly from the
Dlsston firm. The plant covers acres.
and many chfmneys rise high in the air
and pour forth clouds of smoke Millions
nave been invested in this saw manu-
| factory and taken out of it in profits.
IL mas always been the way of the Diss-
men. Although Horace Disston was born
on Jan. 10, 1854, with the tabled spoon in
his mouth, as soon as he got out of an
Episcopal school he was in his seven
! tenth year, apprenticed in the sawmak-
ing trade in his fathers works In a few
years he could make saw as well as
any man. He rose rapidly then and be-
came vice president of Henry Disston g.
Sons, and president OF Henry Disston &
Sons Iron and Steel works. He inherited
much property, earned a great deal more
and was rated as worth at one time the
best part of 100000
When he came to marry, Horace Diss-
ton chose one of the boiles of PhiladeI-
phia, member of a very aristocratic
FAMILY. Within comparatively short
time after the marriage they began to
disagree Disston had a mania for be-
neVoience, and perhaps this did not suit
his wife. He gave free boat rides and
| excursions on the Delaware to thousands
of poor people. He contributed to every
church and charity that asked him for
money. 1t is related that one year he
gave in charity more than 100000 He
was esteemed, admired and loved by
every one-except his WIFE
One day he made a horrible discovery
He had been as liberal with his wife as
ne had been with others-and when he
learned that she did not care for him If
seemed to change the whole course of his
life. He sued for divorce, and before the
divorce was granted the lawyers asked
him what he would do in a financial Way
for the wife
Let her take all she wants." was the
characteristic response
And so, although Disston himself began
the proceedings, and was granted a di-
vorce in 1885, he treated his wife precise
~ as she. would have been treated under
the law had she obtained the divorce
f Sne Kept the house they lived in, the
furniture and what money she asked for.
RMS first wife married soon after the
divorce. and is now Mrs William 7
White, her husband being of great prom
inence In Philadelphia medical faculties
ene was in Europe with her husband
when Disston died
after the divorce Horace Disston was a
changed man. He went headIong into
dlssipa ton Everybody said he was his
own S.s ~! worst enemy, and this was certain
1t was some years after this crisis In
Olsston's life that Rachel Asch went into
ms nome as housekeeper For a lono
Ilne she Kept house for him in Nortb
Of IN street, Philadelphia. in one
OF the very houses now given to her nm
der his will. She was of German naranf-
age, ana her mother and brothers or5
sisters still live at No 1910 Mount VIZ a.Iu
Lon LsLTeet, PhtIadelphia, in very quiet
neignDorhood. 1t used to create conoo
thing of a sensation in this street wbe,,
hachet Asch drove there in a landau or
victoria, with liveried driver in front
TO visit the members of the family Sb1
often ,itll on, d1d this; Sometimes Disston was
with her on these drives vas
Then, as now, she was quiet. Of e,ro,1a
tastes, dfgnified and refined of beari1gyNo
an admirable housekeeper.
len or twelve years ago Dtsston
pought the Seneca Point club house and
farm. He then purchased the Hughes
QHjOininO t.,