Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-09
CONDITION CRITICAL
William T. Mathews Likely
to Die OF Injuries.
RESULT OF ACCIDENT
NOTED FOR HIS PRODUCTIONS AS
PORTRAIT PAINTER.
Many Presidents of the United States
Subjects of His Arts
tic Brush.
RESULT OF ACCIDENT

the world as portrait painter, is in a
critical condition at the Emergency Hospi-
tai as the result of having been run over
by a wagon driven by William Minor at
the corner of 10th and E streets northwest
Christmas day. Mr. Mathews had nearly
reached his SEVENTEEN year. and up to the
time of the accident, which resulted in a
compound fracture of the right leg and a
decided shock to the nervous system. had
been in excellent health and able to pursue
his work with vigor.
Thirty-two years ago Mr.. Mathews was
among the group of the artists then called
Cincinnati artists. many of whom have
since become famous in the east. In 1888
he was taken into the state of Ohio when
boy of eleven years Of age, his father
settling in Stark county. Upon arriving al
maturity he went to New York and set up
his easel in Broadway, where he remained
permanently for twenty-five years, having
only during the last few years left that
city to execute important work.
His Early Work With Brush.
Among his early portraits of distinguish
ed men were those of John Van Buren,,
Daniel Webster, for the Mercantile library
of San Francisco; William Cullen Bryant.
in 1858, from sittings, and another In 1876
also from life. Mr.. Mathews also painted
full length portraits of Abraham Lincoln
and Charles Sumner Gov. Robert K. Scott
and still later, Gov. William Allen of Ohio
and of Gov Richard NJ. Bishop for the
same state.
Probably artist originating in Ohio
has painted SO many generations of people
and eschewed all use of photography, ex-
cept in cases of necessity. His full lengths
of Lincoln and Sumner are among the
most excellent representatives of those dis
tinguished men extant in the country.
Tributes to His Skill.
July "a, $780, Mr.. O'Nein of Pennsylvania
introduced In the House of Representatives
bill providing for the purchase of the
painting of President Lincoln by Mr..
Mathews. The report of the committee
having the matter under consideration
states that it regarded the full-length por-
trait of Mr.. Lincoln as one of the best
paintings of the time, and one which should
be purchased by the government, and ask
ing that Congress appropriate $1,000 for the
purchase of this painting from Mr..
Mathews. December IS, 1901. Mr.. Tayler OF
Ohio introduced a bill asking that 1900 be
appropriated from the funds of the govern
ment for the purchase Of the painting OF
President Mckinley.
Mr. Mckinley, when he was in the House.
drafted bill which was introduced in the
House of Representatives April 3D. 1891.
asking the appropriation of sufficient funds
for the purchase of the life-size painting
by Mr.. Mathews of Abraham Lincoln.
Ex-Speaker Henderson, during his life
time. on occasion stated that '"fhe
American people should never forget the
services which Mr.. William T. Mathews
has rendered them in preserving the feat
ures of President Mckinley in SO faithful
and artistic manner -.
|. Picture on Exhibition. .,,-d
l Thel Mathews spprtrait of President Nc
KffIey Is on exhibition at the Corcoran
Gallery of Art. Mr.. Mathews believes it to
be the largest oil portrait of the late Presi-
dent that wasHpainted from life. When he
was governor Mr.. Mckinley was unusually
adverse to sitting for his portrait, but
firally consented to do so. Mr.. Mathews
believes Mr.. Mckinley was induced to give
him sfttings by the fact that the Corcoran
gallery had just then commissioned him TO
paint the portrait of ex-President Harrl-
son.
The first sittings for the Mathews picture
of Mckinley were given at the old Chitten-
den Hotel, in Columbus, Ohio just before 1
it was burned and the concluding ones
were given. at the Neil House, in that city.
Mr.. Mathews says Mr.. Mckinley was I'M
! willing to- grant further sittings, so Mr..
Fauley painted his picture from photo
graphs and chance views.
= Mr. Mathews is a Stark county (Ohio)
man. but has lived most of his life in New
York. He has been lifelong friend of the
McKinleys, and when Major Mckinley was
in Congress he painted small portraits OF
both Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley
His Distinguished Friends.
Mr. Mathews had many pleasant friend
ships in his career, and. his "reminiscences
are bright with incidents of his acquain
tanceship with great Americans. One of
the most beautiful is that surrounding Will
liam Cullen Bryant.
HE is known best, I believe, as the au-
thor of srhanatopsis,' said Mr. Mathews.
HE must have been conscious that his was
'one of the few of the immortal names that
were not born to die but he was always as
modest little child.
For years I knew him. Our acquain-
tanceshp began in a somewhat peculiar
way and one that l always recall with
pleasure. Mr.. Bryant had written num-
Der of criticisms of my pictures. Louis
Kossuth the great Hungarian patriot, was
coming to this country, and 1t was my de-
sire to paint a portrait of him. / wrote a
letter, introducing myself. and wanted some
one to indorse it. William Cullen Bryant
was the first person l thought of. So j
went down to his office little after IL
O'Clock, at which time Mr.. Bryant walked
down Broadway from his home nearly two
miles away.
Compliment From Mr.. Bryant.
"Mr Bryant's den was a small, plain
ROOM next to the man offices of the paper.
and in it were a desk and a couple Of yell
low-covered chairs. When went in he was
writing, but in a moment he raised his
magnificent head and pleasantly asked:
Well what can do for your
II gave him the letter and he read 1t over.
Then he looked at me. If you can paint
as well as you write have no objection to
indorsing you he said. Then he wrote
few lines on the paper and returned 1t to
me-
Attorney Jesse e. Potbury has been in
structed by the relatives Of Mr.. Mathews
at Canton to take charge of Mr. Mathews
interests. Mr.. Potbury has teIegraphed
them to come on at once, the recovery
of Mr.. Mathews is not probable.
William Minor the colored driver. is in
Jail. having been committed on q charge OF
assault and being unable to furnish the
amount of ball bond fixed by Judge Kimbail.
Mr.. Matthews brothers, Charles H. and
Edwin Matthews, live in New Philadelphia
Ohio During his last stay in this city he
made his home with DR.. George H. Shoult-
ers at 919 18th street northwest.
Lumbermen Elated Over Outlook.