Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-07-11
GATHERED TO THE FATHERS


prominent and enterprlslng cl1IzeHs'
ono who during the past half a CEN
turv has formed part Of the pulse Oh
our community. William a. Smoot
e RI more, the Good Shepherd hav-
ING closed his eyes in death at laee
hour last night. While his demise
) felt acutely by these to VIII hs
wa; near and lear maEy Aiexah-
drians will mingie their tears WIN
them.
Once a friend always a friend. ne
never forgot kindly act upon the
mart of any, and many instances couid
/ 10 produced to show that his friend
hin rose far % = empty words
We will mention one which affect
ed the entire city. \ dozen or more
wears ago a strike in the coal regions
Of pennsylpam.l tais:i great ALA
icty. Winter was at Our doors and
many empty coal bins were in our
city. Most dealers in this commod-
itv had slim stocks and prices were
almost doubled. People were prc-
chasin" stoves in which to bum wood
during The winter. while others were
relying upon oil stoves. William y.
.Smoot, at that time, had huge banks
of coal at his yards at the foot, OF
Princess street. Washington dealers
visited his place and offered to take
his entire STOCK ii pr.ces far above
those which had prevalle:! = few
months before. They offered to
remove the coal III harges at their
own expense. II WAS tempting
bait. Here WAS an opportunity TO
make several thousand dollars with
out any eNcrt.on upon the part OF the
deceased, but he Immediately turned
his back Uron the offer. ANA later
announced that coal IN Sufficient
quantities, could be purchased by
Aicxanir;aas. from bis yards al
prices prevailing during the simmer.
lie was am AleXa4d.ian eX amino.
&nd scofscd At the thought Of talk
ing advantage Of the people among
whom he had been born and reared.
Tie biography Of William A.
Smoot IS known 10 Al! old AleXan-
andrians. lie was born IN what was
for many years known as the
''Smoot residence, on the nolth
side of Wilkes street, between Royal
and Pitt, and always claimed that
he was Tunnc!towncr." lie
had barely entered early manhood
when the way between the states
broke out and ne became cavalry
man in the service Of the !ata
Southern Confederacy. During the
four years conflict he was danger
ously wounded, and AZ the close Of
loStilities returned TO his old home,
MS property consisting, NJ tn"
main, Of the horse upon which H.
code while soldier He embarked
III mercantile life in 4 small way,
and hv his genius and untrlng en-
Grey. hHit IN a business III AleAan-
dria Of which any one should he
Justly proud. lie proved to his f-l-
icw-ci;!Zens that enterprises could
be aS successful in Alexandria IS
anywhc:" else if the proper men held
the ribbons.
For Over half century Mr. Smoot
had followed the fortunes Of his ma
tive city. fie was with her in her
troubles a. well as when in her
silver slippers.
While active AID prominent in
business circles. he was equally 50
IN o:fer matters He had been PreSi-
dent Of the Columbia Steam FIRE
Engine Company for many years,
and Commander oF r. +. Lee Camp
Of Confederate Veterans, and no one
Will miss him more than these or
Sanizatlo..S for which he worked as
s!duopsty.
As stated above. when once q
friend he was always friend Be
ijcying in the purity Of the principles
"e the late Southern Confectionery
ne never surrendered them, although
they have long since become mem
e-.es - o:hers. Disappointed as ne
was AT the collapse of the confed-
y.eracys be never: lost his love fer
The Lost Cause, and. during the
rerna'iaes Of his life declined to take
any part whatever in politics.
When a Hebrew prophet was
Ehislied "a tbs celestial regions IN a