Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1896 — BASSETT PASSES AWAY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BASSETT PASSES AWAY.

Venerable A**iat*at Doorkeeper of the National Senate la Dead. Capt Isaac Bassett, the venerable assistant doorkeeper of the Senate, died in Washington Wednesday afternoon. Capt. Isaac Bassett, the “father of the Senate, ’ spent his entire career as a Senate employe. He enjoyed the distinction of )>eing the second page appointed in the chamber and the last officer of that body elected by ballot, all subsequent offices being filled by appointment Capt. Bassett was born in Washington seventy-six years ago. His father was Simeon Bnssett, who came from Milford, Conn., and his mother was of Irish birth He was a protege of Daniel 'Webster, who secured the appointment of the boy,

then 11 years old, as a page. During the subsequent sixty-four years of service he became messenger and finally assistant doorkeeper, or assistant sergeant-at-arms, the latter two offices being identical. His duties practically embraced overseeing the housekeeping of the Senate, the seating of the members, and, in cases of emergency, the actual work of the sergeant-at-arms. Early in his career as assistant doorkeeper he calmly faced a drawn revolver held by the elder Saulsbury, Senator from Delaware, who ha J been ordered arrested for disturbing the Senate. Senator Saulsbury, however, was coaxed out by colleagues and avoid-

ed being taken into custody. He usually introduced those who bore messages from the President or the House of Representatives, and participated in otlier like formalities. It was also his custom to sign all caucus calls for the party in power.

CAPTAIN BASSETT.