The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-11-05
Personal.

Comrade George II. Pettis. Providence,
r. l., sends us a story connected with the
recent suicide of Lewis p. Ward, priIl-
ter, in San Francisco. Ward was one of
the men who seemed pursued by merci-
less fate, and he was constantly missing
the greatest chances for fame and wealth.
He began as n printer in Virginia City
during the boom days, where he was n
friend and chum of Mark Twain. He had
been cadet in the Naval Academy at An
napolis, where he was a class-mate of Adj
miral George Dewey, and had bloody
fight with him in little seance behind
the main barracks. In Nevada he be-
came confidential friend of Senator
Hearst. and at one time owned a big
block of stock in the Comstock. At one
time he stood in to clear 100000, but
the operations ended by his losing every
cent he had. He went into the army dur
ing the war. but his i'll luck pursued him.
and he made no special reputation. AT
the age of 30. feeling that it was no use
to try longer, he committed suicide. Com
rade Pettis, who set type with him in the
same alley for couple Of years, recalled
him i'm connection with what he thinks
was the first fight of the war. In the
Spring of 1861. the sloop-of-war Wyoming
came into the Bay of San Francisco, and
w aTU- tdhlUg IeltlS Will hHH- went
aboard TO see some of his old classmates.
The grog was brought out, and. naturally,
AS it took effect there sprung up bitter
discussion of the political situation. More
than half of the officers were from the
South. and announced their determination
to go with their States. Among the most
iutemperate in his language was the Third
Assistant Engineer. n young man from
South Carolina, and the result was that
he and Pettis exchanged blows across the
table, but were soon separated, and the
visitors sent ashore while the Engineer
was put under arrest.
James Presley Fleming, one of the best
known Democratic politicians in Western
Pennsylvania, and prominent comrade
In the Grand Army, died Oct. %, at the
home of his nephew. in Pittsburg, aged &C.
He was friend of Samuel j. Randall
md other leading Democratic politicians.
and when the Prince of Wales. the present
King of England. visited this country,
he entertained him at his home in New
Orleans.
A. G. C. Quay. son Of the Senator from
Pennsylvania, has been appointed Deputy
Naval Officer OF the Port of Philadelphia
William ]. Bryan is involved in n law
suit. Philo S. Bennett, OF New Haven
Conn. was q warm admirer OF Mr.. Bryan
and contributed much money to him. az
gregating in all $500 In his will he left
a bequest to him of $4,000, which the
widow contests. Mr.. Bryan has said that
he will not receive a cent OF the money
unless the widow and children are will
ling. If the money is given to him he will
distribute it among educational and phi
lanthropical institutions. All the same he
ls making n vigorous defense of the suit
Frederick Finch. 37th Ohio, died at
Woodville, O., March IS. 1903. He was
Q member OF the Woodville Lutheran
Church. Before he died he expressed his
desire 10 be buried by his Post, and select
ed his pallbearers from his comrades.
Ex-Governor Peter Turney died at his
home in Winchester, Tenn, Oct. 10. at
the age of n. He was one of the ambi-
tious young demagogs who drove Ten
nessee out of the Union against the strong
wishes of the majority of the people. and
helped to inhict measureless cruelties upon
those who remained loyal to the flag. His
father was Hopkins l.. Turney, United
States Senator from Tennessee for six
years. Young Turney was educated in
law and began to practice in Franklin
County. He was an out-and-out Seces-
sionist from the first, and was defeated
on this issue when he ran for Congress-
At the opening of the war he became Col
one Of The LIST Tenn, and showed great
courage On several occasions. He was
severely woun- u at the battle Of Perry,