The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-21
Chat Hbouf
People.

The last earthly remindert Of the
once eellsni Col Jim Fiske. who was
long since gathered 10 his fathers. and
Which i,m'nder has STOOD sort of a
ioatine monument In memory OF the
man who seemed destined 10 be the
American railroad All steamboat King
and a HapOleon OF hrsnct is about 10
be destroyed
Norkmen began Monday TO disman-
tie tho steamer Providence, which for
about two years has been tied up at
the dock OF tho Providence and Ston-
ington line at Fox Point
Yesterday the stores which had been
placed upon her al Newport. and
which belonged on the other big boats
OF the Consolidated feet OF sound
steamers. were removed With these
goods and equipments went the gor-
geous. solid mahogany furniture or the
main saloon. which country folk used
TO marvel at and touch almost rever-
emily.
When all the extras are removed the
Providence. which cost sl.250000 TO
place In original commission. will be
sold this week AT auction.
She Will not be fitted up 10 run
again. although her bottom is sound
and her big truss frame Is as good and
true as IL ever was.
The purchasers viii break her up for
old metal and the hull will be destroy
ed and not converted into "A coal barge.
IL is estimated that from $40. 900 TO
$4,000 can be secured for the big boat
as she lies at the wharf, and those
figures would not begin TO pay for a
quarter part OF the cost of the engine.
But then TO utilize the engine one
would have to build a new boat.
The floating palaces, Bristol and
Providence, were wonders OF marine
architecture, magniiicence, cost and
speed.
These sister ships ran between Bris-
tol and New York and were the van
guard OF the present system OF pala-
tial sound steamers
Jim Fiske came into prominence
when he and JAY Gould. who had corr
rallied the Erie road. purchased these
big ships. which had been built for
other people and not completed for
lack Of funds and courage 20 operate
them.
Col Fiske conceived the idea OF
treating these ships and crews as his
navy. To make the ensemble more
perfect he caused every Jack Tar OF
them To rig up I'm uniforms resplend-
ent with gold braid and brass but
tons, his OVID being that OF commo-
dore, and II was his won't 10 go TO
the dock In full panoply and formally
give the ships an official send-off.
Every man had TO stand al order and
salute him when he drove up TO the
main ganRwaN.
In the height OF the popularity OF
this l.ne jim Flske was consorting
with Josephine Mansfield. a theatrical
star.
out of this intimacy grew fatal
quarrel with I'D Stokes. ~ho shot and
killed the colonel.
Stokes was tried. convicted and sem
fenced 10 be hanged. Money and pc-
litical Influence secured "A new trial.
and strange lapses Of memory. and the
latter gave Stokes an acquittal.
Fiske was buried with high military
honors by the regiment OF national
guard. OF which he had been in COM
-mand. and the incident was quickly
lost sight OF I'm the hurley-buriy OF
every day New York life.
Stokes became proprietor OF the
Hoffman house. The steamer Bristol
was burned at her dock in Newport
few years ago. The Providence was
towed from Newport to Groton. then
10 Newport and finally TO this city.
She was tied up for a while at the
Lonsdale dock. but when the JOY line
opened up sharp competition with the
Providence line that anchorage had TO
be abandoned to accommodate the
New line. as II IL now called.
Then she was taken to the west
side of the Fox Point wharf. where
she was ~ be allowed TO remain until
her end through general decay
The movements or the river steam
the wharf front and TO rip out and
wear away the spilrg Moreover. she
was In the way and like too many q
man and woman who have "outlived
their usefulness" after striving day
and night for their children. she goes
TO the msiitime poorhouse-the Junk
shop
Alas Jim Fiske. Jay Gould. the
Providence and the Bristol YOU all
lived your parts and the world now
forgets you.
A South Main street restaurant keep
er wants a hoy who can 'open oys-
ters with n reference"
lie also displays a sign which reads:
Dine here, and youll dine nowhere
else"