The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-29
MRS. FREMONT
NEVER RALLIED
Widow Of the Famous Explorer
Died Saturday Night.
CONFISCATED H;R HOME
Injustice of the Government Made Her Last
Days Ones OF Discomfort
and Need.

Los Angeles. Cal, Dec 2e.--Mrs Jessie
Benton Fremont. widow OF Gen Fremont.
who died Saturday night at her home In
this city. was 7s years OF age. Mrs.
Fremont was taken III on Christmas $
morning She grew rapidly worse and
soon lapsed into Inconsistencies, from
which she never rallied
Mrs. Fremont was the daughter of
Thomas M. Benton. for 30 years United
states senator. She left three children,
Commander Fremont OF the United States
navy. now in Washington: Capt Free
mont. who is with the army IN the Philip
pines, and her daughter Miss Isabel and
grandson. Midshipman FrCm OF the
navy. now at Santa Barbara.
Mrs. Fremonts house was filled with
souvenirs or her father Senator Benton,
of Missouri. and OF Gen. Fremont. Among
her callers was President Mckinley who
spent an hour with the old lady and was
greatly interested in her "reminiscences.
Mrs. Fremont Is remembered In San
Francisco by many old settlers. whose
memories go back 10 the Civil war period
and earlier. Fremont was always a pic
who made California a state doubted his
strength of character, and the way he
deteriorated after his defeat for the presi-
dency showed that their instinct was COR
rect
BOUGHT BLACK POINT.
when Fremont was at the head of the
army department he bought the present
site of Black Point for $4,000. ana made
he SaR nny Of about es mes he
Golden Gate. and while shu of from the
harsh sea winds, has beautiful view OF
the harbor There Mrs, Fremont as
pensed generous hospitality
When Fremont was called suddenly TO
Washington In 6S. Mrs. Fremont rented
her home to a friend. In few months
1t was seized by the government under
orders from Secretary Stanton. and for
titled. as 1t was then feared France
might attempt to capture San Francisco
mont tried to recover $4,000 for his home,
but without success.
Soon after Fremont's death the attempt
to get justice from the government was
mont could have had the money. which
the government owed her. her last days
would have been ,J more eonsenhsed' & h she she
had been Incapable OF caring for herseir
for three years, this was not SUFFICIENT.
All visitors OF prominence to No Los An An
mont AT her pretty home, where she lived
with her daughter. There she received
callers with the dignity OF queen, and
hundreds will doubtless recall her 1ne
face with brilliant eyes THAI age and sor-
row could not dim.
HER wOMAN'S WIT
One of the stories that she loved to re-
late was that by which she saved her
husband from recall to Washington be-
fore he had fairly started on that West
err exploring expedition that made him
famous, and that gave the world the first
idea OF the immensely of the Western en-
pire. Fremont was at Kaw Landing, now
Kansas city, perfecting details OF ms
equipment when letters came from
Washington TO his st. Louis home, order.
ing him 10 stop his expedition, and report
at the capital to explain why he was car
rying a small howitzer Into peaceful
country.
Mrs. Fremont who had been author
ized to open all her husbands mail, sup
pressed this letter. but sent a courier TO
her husband urging him to start az once.
her womans wit and courage Fremont
would never have explored the West, ana
California might still be Mexican terri
Mrs. Fremont befriended many families
and people when she lived In San fran
cisco. Starr King. an eloquent preacher,
who did more than any other man TO keep
splendid California sanitary commission
fund was frequent visitor To her house.
There too came Bret Harte every sun
day, and submitted his literary work Tor
her criticism. and IL was due To her that
the author of the "Outcasts of Poker
Flat" received government appointment
in the mint that saved him from hack
work.
joaquin Miller was great admirer OF
Fremont and warm friend OF the
woman who is jast dead. one or Miller =
treasures Is a painting OF Fremont. which
hangs on the wall of the house that ne
has built on the heights back or Oakland
from which Fremont first saw the Golden
Gate and San Francisco bay.