New-York tribune., 1901-04-14

Farbauit octave, PIP XIII, 3a Longmans,
Green e. Co.
Il is name little known to most people to-
day; but it life well worth recording-a
Hte typical of the best traits of the public
spirited American 1t the life Of a high
minded business man. who amaSsed wealth in
early years and who gave thereafter eager and
dsinterested service to the State. During the
Civil War Mr.. Brunot Of the most self
sacrificing and indefatigable workers for the
Union cause After the he was President
Giants first appointee president of the newly
created Board OF Indian Commissioners. He
made fearless and outspoken champion of a
race then almost without friends, whose griev-
were little known and little considered.
And all through his life he was an ardent
worker for the Episcopal Church. His bog-
rapher says truly that the record is more than
the record Of a good man; in the Civil War and
& the solution of the Indian question his life
touched the life Of the nation, and in far
forth his life is a fragment of the nations story
NJ Slattery has done his work with discretion
without magnifying the Importance Of his sub
jet. and with success in showing the character
and influence Of the man.
Felix Brunot laid the foundation Of his fortune
as q mere boy. His father was a rich man. but
he started on career of wealth Independently
and not without certain adventurous daring.
He was a civil engineer for the construction of
locks and dams in the MonOngaheIa River near
his fathers home; at Rock Island then in the
Far West, he became a flour miller time
v hen the Irish famine made profits for shrewd
business ability in this industry a certainty, and
then with the foundation of a fortune already
LAID, at the age of twenty, he returned to Pitts
burg, to become partner in great steel works
there. But, as his biographer remarks, from
that time forth no one ever felt that he
Of
directed 10 philanthropy. His experiences
in the Civil War the most noteworthy
OF his philanthropic efforts, and display the
mans singular high mindedness. Having gone
out at the head Of party Of nurses and physi-
clans to the battlefield OF Shiloh he saw much
arduous service, amp was captured in the sum
Of 1s62 notwithstanding his protest and
the pledge Of the Confederate General Winder
be Was taken 10 Libby Prison. There he was
treated as physician, though kept in confine-
mont The story Of his parole shows the mans
sense Of honor. The Confederate authorities
offered him thirty days in which to secure his
eXe hange for Lawrence Washington. Reaching
the capital after great difficulty he was told
by Secretary Stanton that Washington could not
be exchanged, because he was pirate. and that,
his own arrest being Illegal, his parole not
binding Refusing to listen to this reasoning,
Nj Brunot started on his way back to Rich
mond; but fortunately saved the necessity
Of surrendering himself by the consent of the
exchange commissioners and General Thomas
whom he met the way at City Point to make
the bargain he had Vainly appealed for to the
Secretary Of War. He thus released for
further Unremtting work for the wounded, in
the field and in the great commissions.
Mr- Brunot accepted the Indian Commission
ership from President Grant with the fixed pur-
pose Of doing something effective and permanent
in the performance of great task. The Ameri-
en- conscience had not begun to be aroused as
TO the wrongs of the Indians, and there was
much to be done practically and Immediately
IN solving the problem. Mr. Brunots position
stated in his first report: We cannot offer
reC lamentations as the result of theOrizing,
bat must reach our conclusions through per
soIal observation and knowledge" So we find
him making frequent Journeys to the Indian
reservations coming into direct personal
tact with Indians, agents and settlers, and find
ing through knowledge what course to pursue
i throws q sidelight his character that in
his notebook is the record that all expenses in
CURED on account of Mrs Brunot well of
Mrs. William E. Dodge, who accompanied the
commissioners, were paid by their husbands
and not charged a part of the expense Of
the commission. He had repeated conferences
with the tribes and notes many striking and
picturesque things. The great meeting with