September 20 Thursday – Sam’s letter about contacting the mystery vessel, the schooner Jonas Smith, with a large black crew not being mutineers as first reported, ran in the Hartford Courant under the headline “Tramp of the Sea” [MTLE 2: 154-7].
Bill arrived from Doré Gallery, London; Fairless & Beeforth £16 for artists proof of Dore’s “Christ Leaving the Praetorium” [MTP]. Note: Routledge & Co. had refused to pay this bill; Sam recalled that the agreement was he was to pay only if the engraving could be completed “in 2 1/2 years, or at the outside 3.” On about Oct. 3 he solicited Charles E. Perkins’ legal opinion whether to pay.
Sam telegraphed President Rutherford B. Hayes about the plight of the schooner Jonas Smith and the suffering crew [MTLE 2: 160]. Hayes directed Sam to forward a copy of the telegram with letter to John Sherman (1823-1900) Secretary of the Treasury, which he did [MTLE 2: 161-2].
Sam also wrote to Charles Perkins, his attorney and financial advisor, telling H.W. Bergen to add two dollars to his wages after Oct. 2 [MTLE 2: 163].
Sam wrote to an unidentified man on Sept. 20 and added a conclusion on Sept. 22. The man was likely either a clock dealer or repairman:
Dear Sir: The clock refuses to strike, but I am not particular about that. She runs faster than necessary, but I can regulate that. She doesn’t change the day of the week and the month until noon; but if she will stick to that, so that I can depend on her, she will not perplex me by giving her yesterdays an extra 12 hours. I always did think the yesterdays were too short any way. I inclose check. / S.L. Clemens.
Sept. 22—Clock is all right now [MTPO: “Recent Changes,” Jan. 20, 2009: NY Times Oct. 14, 1877].
Rutherford B. Hayes sent a telegram: “Despatch received Please communicate with Secy. of Treasy at Washington & the proper course will be taken” [MTPO].
Minnie L. Wakeman-Curtis wrote from East Oakland, Calif. to announce she was “arranging for publication the ‘log’ or life written by” her father, Capt. Ned Wakeman. She asked for any remembrance of the Capt. that Clemens might have [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Captain Wakeman’s daughter”