The Washington times., 1909-04-23
FORMER SENATOR
STEWART IS DEAD
Nevada Statesman, Long
Prominent in National
Politics, Succumbs.
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Continued from First Page)
development. The plan, however, re-
suited badly and the former Senator
lost heavily. Unfortunate mining in
vestments followed and il was then
rumored that he was poor man.
Knew Mark Twain.
In the days {. the ex-Senator's strug-
gle for fortune in Nevadah Mark Twain
was an obscure reporter on the Terri
torial Enterprise, of Virginia City, as
The camp on the COmstOck was chris
tened while yet sprawling hamlet. But
Marx Twain's eve and humor were IN
the unknown reporter as In the autnor
OF 'Innocents Abroad. This is what he
had to say about Big Bill Stewart,
the boss of the bar" at that time:
why, man, doth bestride our narrow
range like a Colossus, and we petty
men walk under his huge legs and peep
about to find ourselves six feet of un-
claimed ground. Sure it is, too, that he
had as much brass in his composition
as the famous old statue of Rhodes
ever had
In the grave and suave old Senator
as the Capital knew him, a passing
glance would see small likeness to the
long-limbed, rawbOned, red-haired ad-
venturer. envelOped in a feather duster,
with Tapping skirts, who climbed the
Sierras to seek his fortune in the Ne
Vada silver mines and strOndc along
the dusty trail in the valley Of the Car
pr0Spectors, miners, cowboys, sailors,
clerks, cooks, and "tenderfeet,' repre-
senting all shades and distinctions Of
mankind.
Calls on Lincoln.
Senator Stewart was one of the last
men TO cali upon President Lincoln be
fore he was assassinated.
In his "reminiscences" published
only a year ago, Senator Stewart tells
OF this call as follows:
"On the day before the evening on
which Mr. Lincoln was assassinated !
was in New York, where 1 met MY old
friend and partner, Judge Niles Searles,
who, although good Democrat, was a
Union man and gentleman of ability
and sterling worth. He said he wanted
to meet Mr.. Lincoln. and invited him
70 go 10 Washington with me that
night and call on the President the
next day. We had not met for several
days. and instead of going TO bed on
the train We sat up in the smoking com
partment and talked nearly all night.
The train arrived in Washington a.
an early hour, and we went TO Willard's
Hotel. where we took a nap. But being
tired we oversight ourselves When
breakfast was over it was too late
call on the President, who received
visitors at 10 O'Clock in the morning anC
at O'Clock at night
Waits Until Evening.
1--WE waited until evening and called
20 see him. An usher took our cards
He returned in i've minutes with card
from Mr.. Lincoln, on which was writ
ten:
I am engaged to go to the theatel
with Mrs. Lincoln. II is the kind of ar
engagement never break Come witt
your friend tomorrow at ten and shall
"a Lincoln
.s-1-boce v,,ara tho last u-ords A Abrabau
Lincoln ever wrote. / did not preserv
the card. not considering ii OF any i'm
portance, for 1 had received many sucl
krom the President at various times. A
/ walked down stairs with Judge Searle
on our way out I dropped the Presi
dent snote on the floor At the from
entrance Mr.. Lincoln was placing hi
wife in a carriage I was intending q
pass out without interTupting him, bu
he saw US and extended his hand cor
daily. / introduced Judge Searles {
him. He repeated that he would b
glad 10 see US IN the morning, Dade u
goodnight entered the carriage, an
drove away That was the last tim
] saw him alive
Hears of Assassination.
When he learned Of the assassination
Of the President Senator Stewart. wit
Senator CONFESS and Senator Charlie
Sumner went TO the theater. where the
were informed that the wounded Ex
eCuLiNe mad been removed 10 the nous
across the street. They went TO tn
house and met the surgeon coming ou
who told them they could go in, bu
that there were already too many peopl
IN the room. Senator CONFESS and Sen
ator Stewart retired. but Senator Stew
art states:
Senator Sumner did not retire bu
rushed into the room and rename
until the death OF the President
= viii go in he cried. Nothin
could keep Charles Sumner out"
Senator Stewart was one Of those VIII
was present at the time the oath wa
administered TO President Johnson. a
soon as Lincoln died. with Senate
Foot, Senator Stewart secured a car
riage, and driving to the residence q
Chief Justice Chase. told hom Of IN
Presidents death. he entered the car
riage and drove with them to Mr.. Johu
sons hotel. where the Raleigh no'
stands.
Il sprang out" Senator StewaI
writes. went TO the desk and aske
the clerk what room the Vive PresideI
occupied.
Il will send up your card he sal,
"'No you won't I said, III go u
myself