Through his uncle’s influence, he was given
a position in the State Capitol. Remington did not go as a dude-rancher
or a tourist, but found his own calling, unlike Wister. Remington was
money exhausted and returned home.
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After an unpromising job in the town of
Albany, he received patrimony at twenty-one years of age and then headed west.
Becoming a stockman in Kansas was harder than he thought and he failed at
it.
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Returning to Canton in 1884 he was again
refused the hand of Eva Caten. He then headed out for New Mexico and
Arizona to try to fulfill his resolve of turning out the pictures of the west
scene to get some money.
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In 1897, prior to the sinking of the U.S.S.
Maine, he was sent to Cuba to cover the Spanish while holding Cuban prisoners
in death camps. His job was to draw pictures of Spanish atrocities and
battles taking place in the revolution.
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“There is no war. Request to be recalled.”
Is what Remington had written to his employer.
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Hearst then responded with, “Please remain.
You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war.”
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Afterwards, Remington was sent to cover
Theodore Roosevelt’s campaign where he would rather study the rear echelons
over the front lines. He was present during the assault on Kettle and Sam
Juan Hills “Rough Riders”.
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The remains of his estate were invested
in a saloon to earn sufficient income to live on while pursuing his artistic
career. Later, he found out that the other owners of the saloon had
swindled him and left him with nothing. Once again he went back east
and was successful in winning the hand of his bride, Eva Caton. Then he went
to Kansas City where he gained a long needed stability by her presence.
In 1885 he rode west into the Arizona Territory in search of more material
when Eva returned for an extended visit. With much luck Remington encountered
the U.S. Cavalry against Geronimo’s Apaches, which was getting much attention.
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After a rugged and extremely arduous life,
he had considerable experience in the elusiveness of the Native Americans
who were on the run and the tenacity of Calvary men in pursuit. Remington’s
portfolio was bulging and he returned to New York and discovered the editor
of Outing Magazine. It was Poultney Bigelow, his fellow student at Yale. His
troubles were over. Remington’s work began appearing regularly in their journal.
By January 1886 Remington had developed a very complex attitude toward the
Native Americans. In the course of repeated returns to the West, he found
admiration for the primitive people. While his fame grew, he found his work
in sudden demand. He began receiving requests for book illustrations. He
had one published in the Century Magazine of Roosevelt’s “Ranch life” and
“Hunting Trail”.
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Remington died of appendicitis at his studio
home in New Rochelle, New York on December 26, 1909.
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His depictions of the western frontier
would ensure his immortality.
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