The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-26
Meeting That Was Dramatic.

Nearly fifty years ago three young men
sat in Niblos garden. in New YORK anu
exchanged photographs. One was iresh
from the histrionic triumph that had ioi-
lowed his portrayal OF Hamlet. the CHAR
acter I'm which he was destined To achieve
a reputation that should crown him KING
OF the American stage. Another MS
brother, was struggling under the handi-
cap Of good looks TO prove in the roman
tic drama called "Rosedale" that he was
something more than 1.-The handsomest
man on the stage" and the third was
young New Yorker associated with the
management of Niblo's garden.
II was a strange and singular trio that
met in 1856. The first, Edwin Booth rose
to great fame in his profession. But IN
the picture which he signed and presented
that day in 1856 TO his young friend, Sher-
rill. there Is exhibited but little OF the
confident genius OF later portraits. IL is
the counterfeit presentment, I'm common
place photography.though by Brauy, oi
Washington and New 10TH nork' daYsoT a
young man ambitious and eager; pouno ,o
win IL you will. and coming OF FAMILY
accustomed to success.
The second member of the trio was the
handsome actor who lost the race pe-
tween fame and infamy. John Wilkes
Booth had a great future before him,
drama "Rosedale" at Niblos garden.
and packed the great Broadway mouse
with enthusiastic New Workers. who
nightly acclaimed , his i,n genius, sr,bsr Of the
trio is Col. A. X. Sheriff.. OF chicago,
and the originals Of the early portraits
of Edwin and John Wilkes BOOT BOON
He tells an interesting story of his ac-
quaintsnce with the Booths. when he
was officially connected with Niblo's gar
den, and never fails to enlarge upon tilc
perfect amity that seemed 10 prevail be,
tween the two. Edwin Booth was all
for tragedy. however and John wilkes
seemed TO have selected his own proper
line, but thought the other had mistaken
his "mctier," as the French say, ana SO
whenever they met--and they often did
there was n fierce argument as TO their
respective roles and successes. IL WAS
after such an argument between inc
brothers that Col, Sheriff. suggested
triple exchange of photographs, and Tor
many a year he has preserved the auto
graph portrait OF Edwin Booth and the
picture OF the subsequent assassin OF
Abraham Lincoln.
Col Sheriff. comes of a family that
traces Its American ancestry back zzO
years and there is at least one Chicagoan
of great financial repute who IL counted
among the twigs Of his genealogical tree,
for close cousinship exists between him
and Arthur j. Cation. The latter by mar
riage and Col. A. II. Sheriff. are Directly
descended from the handsomest pirate
that ever was wrecked on Long Island"
one Samuel Sherwill, OF Plymouth, Eng
land. whose ship was wrecked at East
hampton In 1915. The shlpwrecked gais
liant was I'm time duly married TO one OF
the neighboring Puritan damsels. who had
admired his good looks, and Easthampton
soon had fourishing family OF Snerwiils
When the wreck OF the first Sherwill ;
ship occurred there was some doubt a.
TO its chartered business, and suspicion
said Sherwill was pirate. but, SAID
Miss Prim. who afterwards married him,
II don't care whether he's a pirate or noe
hes just the handsomest man i ever
saw'-and that settled II.
In the Civil war Col. Sheriff. bore n
good mans part. lie went in as sec
ond lieutenant OF the Eighteenth New
York cavalry, and "came out as lieu
tenant colonel OF the regiment After the
here since. growing up with Chicago. He
is modest man, and seldom refers to
his army service but few years ago,
when the late Col. George II, Davis was was
from Illinois. Col Sheriff. happened one
day TO hear some political adversary sneer
at the candidates war record.
"Ill bet $500 that Col Davis was never
| south of Mason and Dixor's line" said ne.
sherrll % and sOS a. the cSns % wes s'p the lobby
Davis had his headquarters, a crowd
| quickly gathered around, and the buffer
was forced TO make the wager.
Then came a meeting upstairs between
| Col Davis and Col. Sheriff. that proved
| highly dramatic. for Sheriff., wnen lice.
tenant OF the Tenth New York cavalry.
had been I'm 1864 clerk OF n military COM
mission which assembled az Thibaudeau.
| la. to trv rebel prisoners under the
\ presidency of George r. pnvis. of the
/ Third khude Island cavalry. ~ WAS The
/ first time w thirty wears that these two
| member ~ that court had met
| Great Scott " that Nou Sheriff.
! exclaimed Col Davis as his old associate
| approached him IN his Headquarters.
Sure colonel" said Sheriff.. but
| there's n man downstairs who wants "a
| bet that you were never In Louisiana"
see him and go him better every time
10 the extent of your wad and mine. "
| responded Col. Davis. II have the docu-
| ments here handy 10 prove that you and
were at Thiibaudcau, anyway. and II
that isn't South then were not North
now. Sheriff."
So the bet was made and won by Col
Sheriff. and by way OF recognizing his
old follow officer Col Davis. when direc.
tor general of the worlds fair, made Col
/ srN. hi -.