The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 6, 1896, Page 25

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1896 Trip to Labrador With a Famous Ornithologist There is probably not another man in the world to-aay who can look back to pgrsonsl association with the famous or- nithologist and ornithological painter, John James Audubon, with the vividness that characterizes the recollections of . Joseph A. Coolidge, who for more than twoscore years has been a prominent giti- zen of San Francisco, and who is hale and hearty now at the advanced age of 81 years. Audubon’s lifework is more ap- preciated to-day than it was fifty years 8g0, when he was at the summit of his celebrity, and his studies of birds and ani- mals in the original editions are valued as among the rarest treasures. Audubon was born on his father’s plantation, near New Orleans, May 4, 1780, and breathed his last at 'his home on the Hud- son January 27, 185l. As a child, lying among the lowers of the sunny southland, sheltered by the orange trees and watchidg the movements ot the mocking-bird, *‘the king of song.”” dear to {1|m in after life, the career of the natural- ist was opened out to him unconsciously. His father gave hima lhor?ugh education, but the old man, who was' a commodore in the French navy, designed John to be a follower of Napoleon in the Grand Army. The boy, too, longed to be a soldier at one time during his youth, but his nest-hunting propensities led him away from that notion. While being edn- cated in France, he made frequent excur- sions into the rural regions, supplied with haversack and provisions, and usually re- turned loaded with objects of natural his- | tory, birds' nests, birds’ eggs, specimens of moss, curious stones, and other objects attractive to the eye. Warfare, he found, was not his bent, and he came to America again, after finishing his schooling, to superintend his father’s lands. In 1833, when Mr. Coolidge, then a lad of 18, first met the great ornithologist, Audubon’s locks were gray, ana he looked quite venerable, although his age was only three years over the half-century mark. At that time he was distinguished the world over. He was the possessor of letters from the British Government which would place at his service in the | interest of his studies any man-of-war belonging to the crown and not under orders and anchored on a coast along which he wasdesirous of ernising. Young Coolidge accompanied him on the trip to Labrador during the summer of that year. “My father had charge of a revenue- cutter, and had taken Audubon around to various islands on the Maine coast in quest of rare birds,” said Mr. Cooliage, yesterday, in a reminiscent mood. ‘“‘Audubon dined at our house in East- vort, Maine, and there he informed us that he bad chartered a schooner for a cruise on the Labrador coast and was nearly ready to start. His party con- sisted of two young physicians from Bos- ton—Drs. Ingalls and Shattuck—Thomas Lincoln of Bangor and John Audubon Jr. Audubon asked me if Iknew how to sail a boat and I readily replied in the affirm- ative. As readily did I consent to go with him when he invited me, and when my parents expressed their willingness tnat 1 should go. Well, he gave me charge of a sailboat and we were shortly cutting the waves on our voyage from East- port. “And now let me tell you an incident. Audubon was what you may term a free drinker, and, furthermore, he was a great snuff taker. He took on the schooner only a barrel of rum to be used in pre- serving birds. What other liquors there were the old man collected, and as we were passing the Eastport Lighthouse he took a last drink and said to us, ‘Boys, no more drink for me.” With that he threw the lignorsinto the waves. Then he fished out his snuffbox, and after takinga pinch, exclaimed, ‘No more snuff,” and flung the box and its contents after the liquors into the tide. “First we skirted the Magdalene islands, and then struck the coast of Labrador. | The people of the Magdalenes were all French. Ishould tell you right here that Audubon was a great talker. Now, every man he met there he stopped and entered into conversation with him. He was as affable as he could be; he had an attrac- tive personality; you had only to meet bim to love him, and when you had con- | versed with him a moment you looked | upon him as an old friend rather than asa | stranger. Well, I accompanied him on one of his journeys througha French settlement, and he stopped to talk so many times that I grew quite weary at our lack of progress on foot. Finally I could not refrain from asking him, ‘Dad (for we calied him by that fatherly name), why is it that you have to stop and talk to every person you see? “‘My boy,’ replied the naturalst, smiling and patting me on the back, ‘in all my years, I have never yet met aperson from whom I could not get at least a little | information of value.’ | “Reaching Nathasguan, a Hudson Bay | station on the coast of Labrador, on the 3d | of July we sent to buy some salmon in order that we might celebrate the Fourth with a fresb-fish dinner. So strict were the rules of the Hudson Bay Company that we were unable to purchase fish or any kind of provisions atall. The people positively refused to sell us anything. But we did not yield so easily to fate, and when night ‘came down we secretly low- ered our nets and drew up four splendid N AMES JAUDUBOM salmop. At the station in question we met a British surveying schooner, and the party on board was our only company there. Well, Audubon had us take two of our salmon to the surveyors, and so de- lighted were they with the kind consider- ation, as well as the present, that they sent us in return a quarter of fresh mut- ton, so that we feasted on both flesh and fish that Independence day. *We went on cruisine, going into bays and inlets, and now and then taking trips inland, examining the country as care- fully as onr himited time would permit. B (IS P, Our object was to get birds and to learn as much as possible about their habits; ksmdyinz them as far as we could before | killlng them. Strange birds we would | shoot when chance offered; bring them | aboard the schoomer in the night, and | there have them skinned, stuffed and | hung ap. | _“‘Oneof the islands on the west coast of Labrador discovered to us a most peculiar | | sitnation, politically speaxing. It was | occupied at that time by a Frenchman | and his family, and he was in reality mon- 'arch of all he surveyed. His island had Interesting Reminiscences Told by J. A. Coolidge not been included in the terms of the treaty ceding Canada to Great Britain, and he paid ng tax to any nation, and was, as it were, the king of his island. This par- ticular Frenchman had been to Quebec for provisivns, and had there learned of Audubon’s contemplated voyage to the Labrador coast. The naturalist visited the owner of the island, and was aston- ished to hear the man greet him by name. “Audubon was always busily engaged at night measuring and drawing birds. He would work oftentimes until com- pletely worn out. One night he turned to me from his labor and said, ‘I do not know what I would not give for a glass of good brandy!” “I think I can get you a littte,’ I re- sponded. ¢ ‘What!” exclaimed he in surprise. ‘You know where there is brandy? ““When I left home my mother packed my chest with care. She left nothing out that she deemed useful or necessary. She did not even neglect to put in a bottle of brandy, which might serve as a medicine in the northern wilderness. 1 brought it out and Audubon sipped of it. * ‘Don’t touch this, any one of you!' he commanded. ‘It is for me only,’ and gradually he emptied the bottle. ““When 1 went aboard the schooner at Eastport I had taken along with me a box of snuff to present to the old gentleman, with whom I wanted to be on pleasdnt terms. When he threw that snuffbox of his overboard I did not feel like present- ing the gift. Here in the solitude, how- ever, it was different. “ ‘Now, how would you like a pinch of enuff?’ I laughed. “As mortals seldom obtain all they wish,’ replied he, ‘they should study to be contented with what they can get.’ « *But I can find you some snuff.’ + If you can you will be quite an angel.’ And when I bronght the snuff to nim he was as happy as a child on Christmas morning with a wealth of gifts in its lap. “At St. Georges Bay we found a French settlement, the people ot which were all educated and of most refined appearance. They had been there many years. They tendered our party a grand ball. The dresses worn on that occasion were all of a pattern ha!f a century out of date. Itseemed like a bit of the France that existed before the Revolution trans- planted on American shores, and the old fashions had never changed. We spent a week enjoyably there. Thence we returned by way of Pictou, Nova Scotia, where the museum of Professor McCul- longh was thrown open to us and every courtesy shown us. The overland stage brought us to Halifax. Here Audubon made a call upon the Bishop. He had good reason to beheve that his Excellency was at bome, but he was told upon send- ing in his name that the Bishop wasaway. Audubon was a very sensitive man. The next day he received word that the Bishop would call upon him on the following evening. Before that time arrived, how- ever, Audubon had packed up his traps and leit with his party. He chose to be ‘out’ when the Bishop came. ‘““‘Audubon was a good shot. In killing birds the instructions were to use as few shot as possible, in order that the skin of the birds might not be damaged any more than was absolutely necessary. One day our pilot went ashore with him, and saw him shoot at a bird at seemingly easy dis- tance and miss it. The pilotlaughed loud. “¢If1'd throw up my hat,’ he declared, ‘you couldn’t hit it.’ ‘‘Audubon put another load in his gun. ‘Throw it up and I'll try,’ said he. “The pilot had but one hat, and it would be a long time before he could get one to replace it. He threw it into the air, and Audubon blazed away and blew it all to pieces. “+f always thought I was adarned fool,’ sadly murmured the pilot as he tied knots in the corners of a handkerchief, =0 as to make a headcovering. “In his drawings, Audubon was par- ticular in the extreme. All his drawings are life-sized, and his desire to be per- fectly accurate was such that he would measure the features to get the actual size, and take particular note of the over lapping features. “When I visited New York in 1849, on my way to California, I intended to pay my respects to the aged naturalist, but I was informed by his son that the old man’s mind was failing; that he would hardly recall me, and that it would not be a pleasure for me to meet him in that melancholy decline. Thus I chose to re- member him as of old, and I came West, and to this day I can see him—a magnifi- cent, gray-haired man, childlike in his simplioiry, kind-hearted, noble-souled, lover of nature and lover of vouth, father and brother, friend of humanity, and one whose religion was the golden rule.”” BROTHER OF LORD CHARLES RUSSELL He Is a Distinguished Writer, Editor, Poet and Catholic Priest While the cultured portion of the Eng- lish-speaking world has been discussing the message of peace brought over from England, and presented in one of the most remarkable speeches of the time by Lord Charles Russell of Killowen, Lord Chief Justice of England, nota word has been said of his aistinguished brother, the Rev. Matthew Russell, 8.J., of Dublin. In the dazzling brilliancy of the man who has set all pations thinking through his address on international arbitration and interna- tional law, in the wisdom, knowledge and kindly greetings in this great effort, it is The REV. MATTHEW RUSSELL, SJ., of Dublin, Ireland, Brother of the Lord Chief no wonder that other eminent members of his family should pass nnnoticed. And yet the Rev. Mitthew Russell in his own sphere bas uiready left the im- press of his thought and labors upon edu- cated Irishmen at home and abroad, and thus without solicitation secured the last- ing respect of those who appreciate any work tending toward the literary advance- ment of Ireland. In this direction alone the zealous priest has been for many years an indefatigable student, writer, odhqr, critic; and even from spare moments in his busy career has found time and oppor- tunity for attuning his soul to poesy. Though Father Russell has contributed abundantly to current literature, yei hie inclination to woo the muse has been fruitful of muny simple but sweet and dignified verses. It is mainly, howeyer, through his excellent literary taste, com- bined with enthusiasm and energy, per- haps also with executive ability and a | desire to uplift his people, that his influ- | ence is most directly discernible. These qualities have all had their effect |in raising the Irish Monthly, which is | edited by Father Russell, to a high stand- | ard among the best periodical literature of Great Britain and Ireland—a standara which is recognized in the literary circles | of London. Farther away from home, | where different ideals may obtain in re- gard to current literature, the Irish | Montbly receives its full share of admira- tion. It is a significant sign that even here in San Francisco this magszine tinds | constant subscribers among educated men from the “green little island.” | Unlike the influence of the new school {of Irish writers in London there is a | wholesomeness in the direction given by | Father Russell’s taste which leads to the | higher ideals. It is refreshing to find a } literature nowadays that does not seek a { market price nor strive to be odd and alto- | gether unlike what one hasreac ; and such | indeed is found in the Irish Monthly. | The effect of thisbeacon light on the read- ing public may easily be imagined; it { may be felt in 1intellectual circles in Dub- | lin or wherever the magaziae is read, and | itis throungh this that the name of Father Matthew Russell will long be remembered. Father Russell was born in Navry, Ire- land, in 1834, He studied in Maynooth College for the priesthood,where his uncle, the late Very Rev. Charles W. Russell, Justice of England. D.D., was president. His studiés were fimshed in France and England. Early in life his love for literature showed itself, and when a priest with arduous duties, demanding continuous labor day alter day, be etill gave up leisure hours to writ~ ing. Without hope for material reward he has worked for many years, giving all his best efforts to the intellectual advance- ment of his people. He has written three volumes of poems: “Erin: verses—Irish and Catholic,”” “Emmanuel: a Book of Eucharistic Verses,”” and *“Madonna: Verses of Our Lady and the Saints.”” His prose works are largely found in serial form in the magazine which he has edited and still edits with extraordinary success. “Emmanuel” has passed its The Man Who Took Sam Bass and Tamed the Lone Star State. Remarkable Career of Colonel Ware, the Famous Ranger The man who tamed Texas is at the Grand Hotel. He has been more poten- | tial than all the Governors, probably, : that ever occupied the executive office in | the Lone Star State, and some of them | have been very nervy, as all who 2~e in- | formed regarding the outlaws that once | held sway in the Staked Plains and the | Brazos, Pecos and Red rivers will aa- mit. He was alded ma- terially at times by the Texas Rangers, but he was for a long time & ranger him- self, so that he knew how _to aid them, and thus bring order out of chaos that so long reigned on the Texas borders. This man is a quiet speaking genileman, who never would be taken for a man who had braved the worst cutthroats who ever infested a State. He is Colonel A. C.Ware, now United States Marshal for the West- ern District of Texas: for a long time a Sheriff, and before that for many years one of the bravest of - the rangers. He is a gentleman of medium height, heavily built, with ruddy cheeks, miid blue eyes and dark hair and mustache. He appears now to be under 50 yearsof He went to Texas from Virginia when a youth, and it was there that he attained such skill in the use of the shotgun and revolver as to make him the wonder of the country. The thing that has made him famous over the world was the killing of the au- dacious outlaw, Sam Bass. Every one re- members something of the career ot this wicked criminal. He had killed more men than would fill many a graveyard. He con- tinued his career for years, until the ex- ecutors of the law despaired of getting rid of him. Yet Ware's good revolver in due time did it. Mr. Ware also caus- ed many outiaws al- most equally notori- ous to bite the dust. When he shoots he does notdo it by pull- ing the trigger. He sweeps the top of his gun with his left hand, while be holds the weapon with his right. In thia way he seventh edition, a fact which denotes its ! great popularity. Father Russell is known | to the Irish race and lovers of good, pure, | wholesome literature all over the world. | shoots much faster than can be doune in the ordinary way, and his 2im is unerring. The ex-Sheriff and ranger, now Marshal, does not like to speak of himself, and Border Sheriff. “This newspaper prominence I never cared for,” said he deferentially, yester- day. “Anybody who has ever had any- thing like a close fight can get that, but I have never sought it. I have already been given so much prominence in my own State that I now seek to avoid it as much as possible. \ A ‘\ \\\v:;-\g & COLONEL A. C. WARE, Ranger, Sheriff and Marshal, Now a Visitor in This City. “] can only say that from the Gulf to the Red River and from the Trinity to the Sabine the country is as quiet asany State in the Union. It is wonderful what a change has occurred. When I look at iz I can scarcely believe the change that has been made, “No, if you ask me for anything but my own exploits I will tell you, but I dislik: to talk about myself.” But Marshal Ware's friends are not so reticent as he is. Oneof them, who was for many years a Texas ranger, who called on him at the Grand, recounted some re- markable reminiscences in Mr. Ware’> strange life. “He was Deputy Sheriff of Trinity Couunty, with head- quarters at Colorado City, when he killed Sam Bass,” said he. “The rounding up of the criminal and sev- eral of his band was done at Red Rock. It was done in 1882, Bass was the most notorious of the noto- rious in Texas 1 his day. “Bass was worse than the fearful out- law for whom Jules burg was named, and worse than Slade, who, after many frightful homicides, was finally banged at Virginia City, Mont. “Bass was guilty of everything from pet- ty larceny to murder in the first degree a | hundred fold. He and three desperadoes of his band came into Colorado City in the evening. They had the audacity to come in after adrink, They went to a saloon there, and Ware tack- led them single-hand- ed and managed to lodge bullets in each of the three. “Two of them were dropped from their horses, and were dragged away with their feet in the stir- rups. Bass, who was wounded, endeavored to make a bold fight. There was a rain of bullets. “The outlaw, after he was shot, man- aged to get on his horse and galloped away. But the rang- .ers followed and found where he had fallen off from loss of blood and crawled under a tree. He lived for about twen- ty-four hours after- ward, and he gave full credit to Ware for having shot him, though befors the shooting ended in the town a number of others had joined in the fusillade. It was the greatest battle of the kind ever won in Texas.” “Mr. Ware was twenty years a ranger in Texas,” said United States District Attorney R. N. Culbertson of Texas, who came with Marshal Ware to this City. “He was first a ranger and then captain of a compsny of rangers. Then he was Deputy Sheriff and finally Sheriff of Mitchell County,a position he held for twelve years, Mitcheil County was then possibly the worst in all Texas. +‘Along the Texas Pacific Railroad in the wild country had gathered hordes of the notorious men who had fled from justice in different parts of the United States. ‘Ware not only killed Sam Bass, but he got. rany other criminals who had committed all the crimes in the decalogue. “Bince retiring as Sheriff he has been United States Marshal, holding the office for the past three years. He is a Vir- ginian by birth, and is as brave a man as ever faced a gun. His services have been of great value to the State. I do not know that he would like for me to say any- thing about him, but since THE CALL bas asked me I can truly say that probably no man lives who is so able to cope with the worst of criminals. He has shown it by his long career in which he has braved dangers enough to kill a regiment of men. ““When he shoots,” was added, “he does it by drawing down on his mark, and the second he gets the sight, as the gun falls, he snaps the hammer with his other hand, and whatever he shoots at is hit. He sweeps his hand over the hammer LATEST MUSICAL PRODIGY OF RENO Twelve-Year-Old Girl From Nevada Who Plays the Horn At a musical entertainment given a few evenings ago at Union-square Hall one of the novelties on the vrogramme wasa solo on the horn performed by little Lizetta Haskins of Reno. Though bput 7 years of age she carried her audience by storm and proved herself a master of this difficult instrument. This wonderful child is a daughter of Nevada, which State has given to Nev., Who Plays Solos on the Horn. with lightning-like rapidity, continuing | his firing, and in this way shoots far faster than could be done by simply pull- ing the trigger. “Most men can't see how he shoots straight, but Ware knows how. He is the coolest man that ever faced an enemy, and isas modest as a child. He never talks about the many fearful chances he has run. As I said, I don’t suppose he'll thank me, either, for saying anything. % “Bass killed many innocent men, who never in any way molested him. He did it out of pure devilishness. He alsokilled many officers, and altogether led such a life that he was the terror of Texas. Oftentimes he would ride into a place and hoid up the whole town. It was not till ‘Ware appeared on the scene, after years of crime, that Bass bit the dust, and hisband was entirely broken up. Mr. Ware is a public benefactor.” the world of art one singer of interna. tional fame in Emma Nevada, who is ikely to find a successor of even wider accomplishments in little Lizette tlos- kins. She is a daughter of Gabe Hoskins, a well-known musician of Reno, and has lived ever since her birth in a musical at- mosphere. Before she could speak she warbled and picked out melodies upon a pianoforte. Her ear for music is perfect and a false note she abhors, Even at her present early age she reads at sight music of any kind and executes the most difficult compositions with but little effort. The aim of her teacher is to discourage too rapid progress for fear of overtaxing her pbysical and mental strength, but her willfulness and strong will render abortive all efforts of restraint, and daily, for bours at a time, she persists in practice. The child is motherless, and possesses in full the musical instincts,