Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-15
~, Lay
CONSUL PRENTIS.
His Long Career r. The Consular Ser
vice. re-


Thomas T. Prents, the American consul
at Martinique, is among the dead of the
doomed island, and with him died. so far
as can be learned, his wife. two beautiful
daughters and a soma all grown and all at
home The only otheE chill, son. is resi-
dent of Boston, and nected with the Old
Dominion steamship ,ltus.,
1t Is just thirty-one years last December
since Mr.. Prentis entered the consular SER
vice of the United Statesl He was vet
eral of the war of. the rebellion, with a
fine service recortf nj asN srniont regiment
A lifelong friend -saI& of him that he
Was good to look al. 3abfing a big fellow
of over six feet in heisht and of the fair
He was appointed. e5hsui at Seychelles
Islands, December 70, 1871, and remained
at this post till 1880, when he was appoint
ed to the better eansulship, at Mauritius.
fourteen years with perfect satisfaction to
the government..it is said, making contin-
uous service Of twentythree years.
While consul at Mauritius he married
English family of the island, and said to
have been very beautiful, highly cultured
and with rare gifts OF mind as well as
person. About 1893 he entertained at the
consulate In Mauritus a Mr.. Campbell, who
stopped at the island on his way from the
United States to take charge of consulate
on one of the nearby islands. He was per-
fectly charmed with the Island Of MaurI-
thus. Its climate and the people and fingered
with the family of Mr.. Prentfs for some
time. In the register of the Department of
State appears this remark. after the date
of appointment at Nautilus, retired, June
1894
At this point comes H. story Of base in
gratitude. This Mr.: Campbell who was a
close personal friend Of President Cleye-
land. 1t is said coveted the berth Of Mr..
Prentis. Just as Mr.. Cleveland was going
out of office, knowing that he could protect
his friend no longer, and having in mind
his desire to locate at Maurtius, he made
special request of President Mckinley
that he appoint Mr.. Campbell to that con-
suate, which President Mckinley proceed
ed to do, letting Mr.. Prentis out 1t is
said that the President knew nothing about
the record of the old soldier till long after
ward. and that he made the appointment
as matter of courtesy, along with sew
eral others. For FIVE or six years Mr. Prem
tbs and his family resided in Boston, where
Senator Lodge made his acquaintance, and
USED MS influence to have Mr.. Prentis
again sent abroad as his consular service
had been Of the highest class. He was an
pointed consul at Rouen, France, January
II, 1900. and to the better consulate at
Batavia, on the Island Of Java. May 7. 1900
On reaching this point where he was sc-
companied by his wife and three children.
he found cablegram from the State De-
partment containing the information that
this consulate had been filled by the APP
pointment of some one prior to the Prentis
appointment. and that there had been a
Misunderstanding about 1T. The cablegram
asked MIR. PrentiS what he would do about
1t. Mr. Prentis courteously responded that
he would return to the United States at
once and not embarass the President. So
back to the United States he came, bringing
his family. On reaching Washington he
was shown number of consular positions
paying about $1,000 year each, and told
to select the one that he liked best. Mr..
Prentis chose Martinique. to which post he
was appointed October 10. 1900 1t is said
that the Prentis home on the island was as
beautiful as art and Cultured taste could
make 1t. OF this happy, family of six but
one, the son in BostohI1 Survives the dread
fui catastrophe that has :ioYertaken Marti-
niQue. .-....s.,