Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/322

294 he was providentially enabled to attend the normal academy of music at Geneseo, N. Y., and in the following winter began to teach music and to compose songs, which soon attained local popularity. During 1865 he was drafted into the army, and reported for duty at Carlisle barracks; but, as the war was over, he was soon discharged. During the twelve years beginning with 1864 he wrote the songs that have made him famous. In 1865 he formed a business partnership with a Chicago firm, and held musical conventions and gave concerts throughout the northwestern states. His fame as a " singing evangelist " did not spread beyond the localities whither his engagements led him until a chance meeting with D. L. Moody, the famous revivalist leader, brought about a warm friendship between the two, and resulted in his self-consecration to missionary labors that carried his songs all over the world. But it was not until 1874 that he deliberately devoted himself to evangelistic work, though he had always been religiously inclined, and had united with the Baptist church at Elk Run, Pa., when thirteen years old. A fine personal presence, a native gift of effective speech, and a wonderful voice, gave him an irresistible power over miscellaneous audiences. His singing, though not scientific, according to classical standards, appealed strongly to the hearts of the multitudes. According to an expert, the "chest range" of his voice was from D flat below to A flat above, and this without straining or confusing the vowel sounds. The motive of his most famous song was supplied by a message signalled by flag during the civil war from Kenesaw mountain, Georgia, to Aitoona Pass, twenty miles distant, over the heads of the enemy. It ran thus: "Hold the fort; I am coming.—W. T. Sherman." These words and the inspiring air that Mr. Bliss composed to accompany them are sung wherever English is spoken. Others of his compositions have commanded a popularity hardly second to that of "Hold the Fort." Among them are "Down Life's Dark Vale we Wander," "Hallelujah! 'tis done!" "Jesus Loves Me," and "Pull for the Shore, Sailor!" As a conductor of popular meetings for the purpose of stimulating religious zeal, Mr. Bliss was remarkably successful ; his services were in demand throughout the United States and Canada, and his influence as a revivalist was extraordinary. He lost his life in a railway disaster near Ashtabula, Ohio, where a bridge gave way under the train. When last seen alive Mr. Bliss was striving to rescue his wife from the burning wreck. His "Memoirs," by D. W. Whittle, with contributions by D. L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey, were published in 1877. The published collections of his songs are "The Charm" (1871); "The Song Tree" (1872) ; "The Joy" (1873); and "Gospel Songs" (1874).

BLISS, Porter Cornelius, journalist, b. in Erie co., N. Y., 28 Dec, 1838; d. in New York city, 2 Feb., 1885. He was a son of the Rev. Asher Bliss, for many years missionary to the Indians on the reservations in western New York. He studied at Hamilton and Yale, and in 1860 travelled through Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia to investigate the condition of the remnants of Indian tribes, and in 1861 became private secretary to James Watson Webb, appointed minister to Brazil. In 1862 Mr. Bliss was commissioned by the Argentine government to explore the Gran Chaco, where he spent eight months in learning the Indian dialects and investigating the antiquities. The results were published by the government. He edited for a short time, at Buenos Ayres, the "River Plate Magazine," and then went to Paraguay, where he became private secretary of the U. S. minister, Charles A. Washburn, in 1866. President Lopez commissioned him to write a history of Paraguay; but while he was engaged in this work the war between that country and Brazil began, he fell under suspicion, and was thrown into prison, where he was tortured to compel him to confess that he had been a Brazilian spy. At the end of three months (December, 1868) he was released on the demand of the U. S. government, supported by the presence of an American squadron. He went to Washington, was a translator in the war department, edited the "Chronicle" for a year and a half, and was then (July, 1870) appointed secretary of legation in Mexico, which office he held for four years. During that time he made archæological explorations, and wrote much on the condition of Mexico and its opportunities for American enterprise. By his sole personal exertions he saved from execution three American officers in the army of Diaz, who had been captured and condemned by a court-martial. In the summer of 1874 Mr. Bliss came to New York, and for the next three years he was at work on "Johnson's Cyclopaedia." After that he edited a weekly called "The Library Table." wrote a history of the Russo-Turkish war of 1877, and in 1879 went to South America as a correspondent of the New York "Herald." He was for two years president of the philological society, and was an enthusiastic student of oriental antiquities.

BLISS, William Wallace Smith, soldier, b. in Whitehall, N. Y., in August, 1815; d. in East Pascagoula, Miss., 5 Aug., 1853. He was a son of Capt. John Bliss (West Point, 1811), and was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1833. After serving in the Cherokee war of 1833-'4, he was assistant professor of mathematics at West Point from 1834 till 1840, and then became assistant adjutant-general at the headquarters of the western military departments, 1842 till 1845. During the Mexican war he was chief of staff to Gen. Taylor, and took an active part in the engagements of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, and Buena Vista. In appreciation of his conduct as a soldier, the state of New York presented him with a gold medal, and for gallant services he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel. From 4 March, 1849, till 9 July, 1850, he was private secretary to President Taylor, whose youngest daughter he married. Subsequent to the death of Taylor he was adjutant-general of the western division, with headquarters at New Orleans, La., from 19 Nov., 1850, till his death.

BLITZ, Antonio, prestidigitateur, b. in Deal, Kent, England, 21 June, 1810; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 28 Jan., 1877. At the age of thirteen years he began his career in Hamburg, Germany. After travelling for two years in northern Europe, he returned to England, appearing first in Dover in December, 1825. He then visited Ireland and Scotland. In 1834 he came to the United States, and, after performing in New York, travelled throughout the country. Later he visited Canada and the West Indies. On his return from the south he settled in Philadelphia, Pa., where he resided until his death. His experiences have been related in &ldquo;Fifty Years in the Magic Circle&rdquo; (Hartford, 1871), written by himself.

BLOCK, or BLOK, Adriaen, navigator. Within three years after the discovery of Hudson river (1610) Block visited Manhattan (now New York) bay, making a successful voyage and bringing back to Amsterdam a cargo of rich furs and two sons of native sachems. In 1614, encouraged by an ordinance of the states-general favoring explo-