The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-08-22
BLAME Is Laid
ON THE BROTHER
Many People Say Thornton J. Hams
Is Responsible for the Shoot
ing Of Annis

his sun CtlluIell. Has dDDdi tllNIN
Determined that their mother shall not
n any way get possession OF them
without the process of law. The
youngsters are being watched con-
Etantly. and are not allowed out of
light Of the maids who have them in
charge.
Several Of the officers and their
wives in the garrison, who know some
hing about the domestic affairs OF
lapt Hams. are inclined to blame T.
Jenkins Hams for talking too much
To his brother about the latter's wife.
They do not think the shooting would
nave occurred if it had not been for
his.
He is Another Case Of DR.. JekyIl and
Mr.. Hyde
Baltimore. Aug. 22-T. Jenkins
Hams has a "Jekyll- Hyde" personali-
IT, according TO men and women here
who knew him during several years of
bis residence in this city.
Hams came to Baltimore under a
loud because of the fact that he had
hot and killed his chum. Ned Hanni-
ran. at old Point Comfort. While
Virginia judge and jury had declared
him not guilty of wilful murder. many
ioors were closed to him. This atti-
ude Of hostility still fingers and is
vident in much of the comment. Men
friends Of the author who were least
Effected by prejudice and knew him
pest unite in the opinion that there
must be a demon hid deep in his
haracter. which occasionally masters
him and compels some lawless deed
before it sinks away To give place to
man of many defects. but withal
uiet, inoffensive, interesting and nor
pal.
Hostile and Suspicious
There is one flaw upon which all
gree. With Hams suspiciousness
mounts To a disease. He held men
I arms length. and in the whole pc
iod of his Baltimore residence never
Omitted any one of real intimacy.
lie was stocky, dull of eye and of un-
Prepossessing appearance, emphasized
" carelessness in dress and Bohemian
astes.
These traits. plus an unfriendly.
hallenging, suspicious glance, kept
wen those who were attracted to him
[ a distance. He was quiet. even
noody. but in conversation, when a
heme touching the sea and ships was
Preached he would flash into life, talk
apidly and entertainingly, evidencing
What he actually possessed-a thor
ugh, accurate. scientific knowledge of
he whole range OF matters nautical.
He knew all the ships that piled to
nd from Baltimore He frequented
he shipping section and was himself
float on every possible opportunity.
wning small steam and sail craft and
damaging them himself on venture
ONE trips
His interest in the sea came natu-
ally. His grandfather was Admiral
'hornton Jenkins, and as a stripping
iains was sea- mad. He served an
pprenticeship afloat. and now holds
license as deep sea navigator from
10Th the American and British gov
rnments.
Dubbed 1.-THE Poe of the Sea"
When Hams came to Baltimore. at
racted TO this city by the fact that
is father was here experimenting
Extensive defense works on the Pa
apsco. his literary reputation was not
ct made. He ha Unpublished Captain
ct made. He had published "aptain
The Windjammers" came out that he
ecured a public hearing This was
1899. and much of the work was
one i'm this city He was dubbed in
Baltimore The Poe of the Sea" be-
ause of an atmosphere of horror
Ehich characterized all his stories.
Many Of the stories take the readers
b sailing ships 20 the Horn. and this
circumstance, even the title. The
Nindjammers," was suggested by the
Intensive coal-carrying trade between
baltimore and the Pacific coast in
uge five masted sChooners known as
wind TANNERS" No phase of the
hippihg activity Of the port appealed
Hams so strongly as this.
At one time he contemplated taking
he trip with his girl wife. This plan
ias abandoned Mrs. Hams. naturally
nough, having a decided horror of
oyage which her husband had paint
q in colors and scenes we'll calculated
make the blood creep.
Baltimore might have softened TO
he author after the success of The
Eindjammers." but Hams, after hav-
hg become more and more hermit
Ike and uforose. apparently feeling
he social hostility, left the city when
he book was becoming known. With
is wife in a light craft he made the
Inside trip to Florida as a compromise
Or the windjamming expedition
round the Horn. In the meantime
ZEN. Hams had been transferred from
he work at Baltimore, and since then
he family has been only a memory
ere.
owing to the effect on his character
Z the Hannigan tragedy no fair esti-
nate OF T. Jenkins Hams can be based
non his STAY in this CITY