Evening star., 1902-01-08
DEATH OF COLONEL HOYT
VETERAN OF TWO WARS VICTIM OF
AN ACCIDENT.
Rendered Distinguished Service
citation and G. A. R.-His Career.

AS the result of injuries received in a fall
the night of December 23, Col. Samuel
Newell Hoyt, for nearly a third of a CEN
tury a well-known resident of Washington,
died at a late hour last night Col. Hoyt
was nearly eighty-two years old and was
native of Vermont. His wife survives,
him. The funeral will be private, with in
terment at Arlington under the auspices of
Lafayette Post, G. A. r., of which Col.
Hoyt was member.
verteran of two wars, a participant in
numerous Indian campaigns, California
forty-niner, a Mason of the thirty-third
degree one of the founders of the Grand
Army of the Republic and of the Mexican
War Veterans Association, the first three
score years of his life were replete with
activity He was the intimate friend of
Kit Carson, Gen. Sam Houston, "Bin'
Williams and other familiar figures Of the
west of half century ago. He was one of
them. and it was a pleasure to hear him re-
late the stories of actual experiences in
those perilouS times.
II his early boyhood Col Hoyt removed
to Pike county. H., with his parents. He
lived there on a farm until the outbreak
of the Mexican war, when he enlisted as a
private in the 1st Illinois Volunteer 1nfan-
try. His regiment was in Gen. Taylor's dr.
vision, and he participated in the battles
Ready were engaged .s. 4.r.---.-. q
Rescues kidnapped Prisoner.
Col. Hoyt attained considerable distinction
at the close of the Mexican war by the res
cue by the regiment under his command
of a granddaughter of Gen. Ar1nijo brave
and influential Mexican officer. who had
been kidnapped and was held a prisoner
among the Navajo Indians. The troops
nj nd
several times, but they finally succeeded in
their mission. The struggle was terminated
by the death of Hi-kat-i-nez. the Navajo
war chief who was killed by bullet from
Col. Hoyts Colt revolver. weapon which
is in possession of the family today.
1t was following this incident that Col.
Hoyt Joined the gold-seekers in California.
His wealth at one time was estimated at
81. 900. He was of an adventurous
ture and he knew the west in those days
better perhaps than did any other person.
In the fifties Col. Hoyt settled ranch
in Touloume county, Cal. He adopted
boy. educated him and started him out as
a physician. This young man-Frank Hoyt-
died a few months ago. He was at the
time superintendent of the Iowa Hospital
for the Insane and one of the leading alien
lists of the country. e.
Col Hoyt was generous to his friends and
to his country. At the outbreak of the
civil war he sold his ranch and raised a
coast, equipped them, gave them horses and
offered the services of himself and his men
to the government. He was assigned to
regiment that was coming across the noun
tans and which assisted in putting down
an uprising of the Bear Indians, who had
threatened the white settlers near Salt Lake
City.
Served With Distinction.
The march east was then taken up, and
for the next three years Col. Hoyt served
with distinction in the Union army. He
was wounded and furloughed on account of
injuries. In 1864 he was detailed to raise
regiment in illinois, and was commissioned
colonel when he had completed the work.
He served with this regiment until the close
of the war.
During the latter part of February, 1865,
Col. Hoyt had a most remarkable expert
ence, which, viewed in the light Of later
events, sounds almost prophetic. He had
President Lincoln. He went to the White
House, where he was a familiar figure,
having known the President in his bOyhood
in Illinois. A guard was stationed at the
Presidents door, but Col Hoyt passed him
and went into the executives private office.
Mr.. Lincoln was asleep but just as his
visitor was about to retire was aroused by
the slight noise. In the semi-darkness Of
the room, for the curtains were drawn, he
was towering figure. In a voice Of thun-
der he exclaimed:
who are your
Col. Hoyt, in some trepidation stated his
name.
"Ah," said Lincoln, with evident relief,
II was almost frightened. 1 have had the
nightmare and dreamed that l was being
assassinated.''
A few weeks later the President was
killed by Booth.
Became a Resident of Washington.
At the close of the war Col. Hoyt went
west for a time. He had much success in
prospecting and was soon accounted fair
ly wealthy man. He returned to Washing
ton several times. once to receive the thir-
ty-third degree in Masonry, which was be-
slowed by Gen. Albert Pike in 1873. He
finally decided to settle here, and had made
his home in Washington since the early
seventies.
While a visit to the west at the time
of the Ute uprising he had a powwow with
Ouray, the famous Ute chief, in the in
terest of quieting the existing conditions.
He guided party Of settlers later into
Arizona. The declining years Of Col. Hoyt
were passed quietly in Washington.