The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-03

III
innuential This Ia, even to think OF, marvellous.
terrible power, rivalling the widest dream OF any
not without hearty sentiment, but with one 1rnl
purpose may call forth nom q board and two bar
From the New York Sunday News.l
James Gordon Bennett the greatest Journalist
inc world ever produced, died yesterday at his city
residence, 425 Fifth avenue, at twenty minutes past
i've O'Clock p. n. -t --r~ ro ,-.e.-,..
II was difficult to determine the exact nature Of
his disease. He was seized with some sort OF con-
vusions on Saturday, May rs, but these occasioned
no serious alarm. A recurrence Of the commissions
on last Monday, however, excited apprehension,
and nom that time he gradually SUNK and on
Thursday received the last sacrament Of the Church
at the hands OF Archbishop McCloskey.
He was quite conscious up to Friday evening and
at tolerably late hour seemed to recognize per-
sons and made feeble attempts to articulate; but
little later he passed Into state OF unconscious
ness In which he remained gradually sinking until
= death entered upon the scene last evening" lie
passed away quietly, without any outward indica-
ti0n Of suffering.
The remains will be preserved In Ice until the
arrival OF the members OF his family, who are now
on their way home from Europe in obedience to o
summons by telegraph.
HIS YOUTH
Mr.. Bennett was born In the year 1900, at New
Il
French Catholics. At an early age he went to Ro-
man Catholic seminary, In Aberdeen, with u view
Tho profession OF the Church, however, appears to
nave been distasteiul to the great journalist,
sna at the age Of fourteen he left th
shortly afterwards landing at Halifax In 1919.
In very light spirits and with very light purse
He tried to support himself In Halifax by teacnlng
nut finding u not very remuneratve, he went to (
Boston About the latter portion or 1919 he OBJ \
tanned situation In Boston as proof reader In tao
printing house OF Wells Lilly. In 1922 he
J.# CANE TO NEW YORK.
the press Of 70 t Srapa up with
lived by his earnings. In 1928 he obtained
situation noasaa as Translator Of spanish Ameri
1t was here he first learned the idea OF going to sea
and boarding ships Tor news, and which he 80 fully
his position In Charleston he returned to New YORK
u as2l and made an effort to open school, but
failed. He then delivered lectures In the Old Dutch
Church, IN Ann street, on political economy.
IA 1879 ne made his first attgmpt 70 has..,c .-c
~ specuistion and shortly aiterward returned to
Rortla9 sni general writing Il1s2e he besame
Pert in poitic, ana vehement op ycsed sse tsSif.
"A l0I ne became connected with tha New York
seo1nent mo Courier and the Esfutrer amaiga-
Rssso, Dut he SILL kept his copnection with the
spS became wen known by several able
H letter. from Washington to The Inquirer
were puncrous and entertaining. In 1882 he re-
turnedAsf0 New York. and after great trouble and
|annoyeIN1e 1e started his second paper aud called
IL zne Ne(eS <rT 6RQbe. He was again doomed to
lave Sad i the eect Of n Hpp With
for again tas ys na
ne rcmained editor and part proprietor OF this
|of attraction, again lured him back. He made
every EFFORT TO start paper In this city that year,
well Knowing that there was wealth and inde-
|pendence In store for him II 1t would succeed. He
met with disappointment and coldness on all sides,
and was unable to do anything until the 9th day
OF May 1886, when, with the aid Of two young
The FIRST NUMBER OF 1.-THE HERALD
as one-cent paper He had $500 only In his pocket,
and his Office small cellar In Wall street, and
his desk and counter were plank, supported on
worked hard and long. Just as he was getting
along quite smoothly he was burned out OF the old
cellar; but nothing daunted, was soon at work In
another. Ever since the eth OF May, 1885, he has
been editor and proprietor OF the HERALD.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
Over six feet ana an inch In height, broad Shout
dered norid OF compile xion, always richly dressed,
and with hair OF curling silver Mr. Bennett was
sure to attract attention he WAS passed on the
street drive during the later years OF his ife He
had the air, II not OF an old country artstocrat, at
ing gracefully. There were few-certainy none &C
customed to study physiology-who could pass him
er tne whole Atmosphere surrounding him an
nounced that he was no common man.
His eyes were OF the keenest grayish.blue, with
cast In them serving to heghten the intensely
humorous expression which seemed normal to the
whole face, and over them were two little lunches
e e EA in length BY those Of M. ssward"whch
fell down over the eyes, completely shading ana
concealing them when In thought or doubt, and
laughing half way up the forehead when some odd
or grotesque fancy was presented to the mind
His accent Enthusiastically betrayed his Scotch
origin and this more especially when he was under
any excitement, either peasurably or the reverse.
Such was the external man OF James Gordon
Bennett, the father OF our present metropolitan
journalism and one whose rare happiness 1t was to
abuse than ever fell to the lot OF any public Journal
list In any country. What were the attacks upon
. him In the early days Of the HERALD, we younger
journalists know only by what may be called journ-
alistic tradition.
AS AN EDITOR.
In the HERALD Office he was prompt. brief and
energetic as an experienced general In the midst OF
an engagement. For "nne writing'' and rounded
Ss em defa ne had Ss
they. went TO work to set the public talking o.
Of combining Isolated i facts and judging q
great political events by them. He WATCHED me
war, when he ranged himself with the federal sido
and became blindiy devoted in his service 70 .nc
IN his young pen was awsas and
tclegraphs and his apparently ioolisn propneG,es
in regard to their almost boundless results no mas
Hr. Bennett called everything to his aid to In
crease the circulation Of bis paper the aEs sxs
wanted pclificaI power except TO bring It 70 the
HrRALp's AID and he used the excItement OF
politics to enliven and stimulate the pubic sppe-
lite for news
Mr. Bennett's social and generous features were
ruliv developed. At his town residence on Filth
avenue where he died, he had surrounded h.msel
with the most luxurious furnishings; but his
country home at Fort washinton was the
one he liked far best. There, amid the stately
trees where Gagged macaws and parrots screeched
and chartered at the squirrels In the trees, where
the garden and the vine, the dollhouse and
gymnasium. made life q tranquil sea; there Mr..
Bennett, In sippered feet, with stacks Of books
about him and q complete fle OF the HERALD within
reach, found his elysium. Endless and OF absorbing
interest were the stories no then poured out TO
visitors OF public and events OF American his-
/ tory for the last half century.
With telegraph wire connecting with the
ofices he could feel the pulse OF the HERALD with
out the turmoil Of prcsses printers and reporters.
His journalistic aud domestic surroundings, after