The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-23
Popular and Prominent
 Citizen is Dead. DISTINGUISHED IN
 ALL WALKS OF LIFE He Was a State Senator and
 Peerless Orator. Funeral of Gallant Confederate soldier VIII Take Place at the
 Court street Methodist N Church Tomorrow.

This sorrowful message passed from lip to lip yesterday afternoon sending an electric thrill of distress to the hearts of Montgomery citizens among whom Captain Screws had passed al- most all of the 62 years of his life. Montgomery had no more popular citi- gen. Alabama had no more patriotic and loyal son.
 The people of Montgomery had hon. ored Captain Screws, as few of its citizens had been honored. The people of the whole State knew him and they. toe, delighted to do him honor. at his late residence, 10 North McDon- ough Street, the great heart that beat responsive to tens of thousands of warm friends, that knew nothing but love for it's fellows, ceased it's pulsa-
 Twenty minutes later the message of sorrow was repeated in hushed voices down town. Captain Ben Screws is dead" It was a shock, terrible shock, to some of his devoted friends who did not know that the distin- guished citizen was i'll.
 In his illness, as in his normal con, dition, Captain Screws was thoughtful and considerate of his wide circle of friends. He had been i'll two weeks, papers to fefrain from publishing the fact. He would not give his friends concern as to his condition.
 It was not known until Tuesday that night he grew alarmingly i'll and yes terday morning his physicians an- nounced that the end was near.
 Captain Screws himself realized that he was about to pass from earth and, although unconscious several hours be- fore dissolution, he went to join his Maker with the sweet consciousness that he had fulfilled every trust re- in hfra and had the nIand@ its of all those among whom he lived.
 An Interesting Career.
 The career of Captain Screws was full of interest as 1t was full of hon ors. He was born at Glennville, in that portion of Barbour which Is now Rus sell County, April Il, 1S43. His father was Benjamin Screws of Glennyille and his aged mother, who survives him, was Mourning Jones Drake. His paternal grandfather was John Screws of Nash County, N. C., and his ma a gallant soldier. who was killed by the Indians in Texas soon after the battle of San Jacinto.
 Captain Screws was educated in the common schools of Barbour County. Due to the vicissitudes of war, his education was not completed. He in- herited brilliant mental equipment which he improved by studious habits; the most widely informed men in Ala bama and his brilliancy of mind was a matter of current comment
 Gallant War Record.
 But it was of his gallant record as a Confederate soldier that his com rades delighted Co speak. He enlisted in the Confederate Army January 20; 1861, and served continuously until April 26, 1865. He was first lieutenant and captain of Company K, 29th Ala bama infantry and served as ad1u- service. He was affectionately called "the boy captain of the Confederacy," having been one of the youngest ofh- cers of that rank in the army. Al battiefields, Captain Screws was wounded but once and that he received during the fighting around Atlanta. It was a desperate wound, rom the effects of which he never fully recov-
 At the close of the war Captain Screws located in Montgomery and de- voted himself to journalism and the with The Advertiser and his writings were ever keen, incisive and graphic.
 Success in Public Life.
 Always a Democrat, fearless ana straightforward in his convictions, Cap tain Screws achieved unusual success in public life. As a legislator he was loyal to the interest of his people. As a speaker in that interest he was peer less Time and again he was honored by the people of Montgomery County and he never failed to measure to their expectations.
 Before the reconstruction period Cap tain Screws was selected by Governor Patton, in 1865. as his Private Secre- tary. In this, his first official position, he displayed the tact and wisdom which marked his course through life.
 When the Constitutional Convention of 1875 was organized Captain Screws was elected Secretary of that great body. It was his pride that he had part in the framing of the organic law which redeemed Alabama from the mis- rule of the Republican Party.
 Before this time and while engaged