Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-19
nsath Of oharre. ID. Kirk.

Charles d. Kirk, well-known journal
lst Of Louisville, was suddenly attacked
with hemorrhage of the lungs about Z
o'clock Thursday night last, while on his
way home, and fell dead in the street be-
fore assistance could be rendered him. We
find in the Louisville Commercial the fol
lowing tribute to his memory:
The local page of our paper to-day is in
mourning for the best local editor ever
known to Louisville. Charles d. Kirk is
dead For eighteen years he has been
known and admired in Louisville as the
best writer of local news, and the best in
formed and sprightly correspondent about
local affairs, either in the city or State,
ever connected with journalism in this
city. He was born in Mason county, and
long before he had attained his manhood,
was connected with the local press of Mays
vile, Ky. His talent, even at his imma-
ture age, attracted the attention of Mr..
Waller, editor of the Western Recorder, a
religious newspaper, published in this city;
and that gentleman made him an offer
which induced him to become an as
sistant with him . in the editorship OF
that paper. This field was not, how
ever, entirely suited to his genius. and he
soon associated himself with the daily press,
and became local editor of the morning
Courier. Young as he was, he soon made
a reputation in this branch of journalism
which has been equaled by few and ex-
celled by none. After but a brief career In
this capacity, be was sent to Frankfort as
a letter-writer, and there he earned his
earliest fame The soubriquet of ''Se-De-
Kay" became household word, and there
was not newspaper in Kentucky which
did not receive and gladly accept his letters,
and even indorse his political views. For
a time, he was a power in the State. His
correspondence for the Courier was accept
ed as the fairest and best exponent of the
politics of the State. Whether he ever
recognized the power he welded or not, his
friends never knew. He never seemed
himself to know. His duty performed, he
never seemed to care for its results.
The war came, still he was faithful to his
profession. He chose his side, and with
the same artistic sense which had ever been
his governing idea, he followed the for
tunes of his preferred side IN the war
with undertaking fidelity to his instincts of
reportorial journalism. He was the first
war-correspondent of them all. He was
imprisoned as a Rebel, but never ill-treated
by his captors. Shortly after his return
he established an afternoon paper,
well known as the E0eRiRg Sun. This
paper was started with no no other capital
than his individual energy, capacity and
intellect. Its success, under his manage
ment, was almost miracle. 1t pretended
to no high position; it asked nothing OF
the public; it merely displayed his ability,
and it was at once taken up by the people
and became success. As it rose in pow
er and usefulness, perhaps for the first
time the people come to fully appreciate
the value of the man who now began to
stand alone, as the editor of paper which
was entirely his own. At the very
apex of his fame and usefulness, the angel
Of death came and ended his career which
promised SO glorious a future.