October 26 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Jane T. Bigelow who had requested an autograph but Sam forgot and had to be reminded. Jane was the wife of John Bigelow (1817-1911), a prominent journalist, author, and diplomat.

“…business drove the matter clear out of my otherwise empty head, where it was reposing companionless in the midst of a vast & howling solitude” [MTL 6: 574].

Clemens also wrote to William Cullen Bryant. “Honored Sir: / If it is not asking too much, will you kindly inform me if you did ever meet this person?—& if you authorized him to use your name? The names in his list are a far more efficient diary than his feeble ‘endorsements’ ” [MTP]. Note: Clemens was trying to verify the claims of George Vaughan,  who had given Bryant and others as testimonials.

A devastating fire swept through the business district of Virginia City, also destroying the office of the Enterprise. From Alfred Doten’s journal:

“…by special invitation, the entire Enterprise force, printers, editors and all came to Gold Hill News office, were furnished all facilities, and the Enterprise was published next morning, as usual—never lost an issue” [Clark 2222]. (See Oct. 27 entry)