, 1873-03-06
OBITUARY..

LILO announcement in another column OF tho
death of Harrio Gardner Griffith will nwakon
sadness in many hearts among those knew him
as IN nctlvo, brilliant, and at ono time most
promising young journalist His connection
with tho daily preaa Of this city Is quito recent
and the recollection Of his labors and himself is
still fresh in the minds Of his many friends.
Harrio Griffith was q Wolshman, born in Wales,
and educated at college in Bristol, England,
where chemistry, geology, mining, and kindred
acioncos wero special studios, and whero in other
branches, as vol as in these, he received as
thorough IN education Us can DO acquired In
England without d university course. Even ut
school he displayed unusual ability, which
secured for him larger ahayo OF
achoo1-prizes than usually falls to tho lot OF
oven tho clover boys. lie came to this conti-
mont with his parents, the eldest son Of O family
Of Sons, and settled In Canada, whore, aH ho do
lighted to relate, ho was solo clerk, bookkoepor,
and confidential adviser in country dry-gooas
store. He was not long in Canada, for, Ia 1864,
ho followed lia parents to Chicago, and, though
only 10 years Of ago, rnw and inexperienced In
anything but scientific studios, ho obtained a
situation as reporter on The TRIBUNE. It needed
only short time to demonstrate In him tho pos-
session Of extraordinary powers Of mind and
facility OF expression. His unuaual acquire
nlonta in an uncommon range Of topics, and
tho large scope Of Lis intelligence, qualified him
admirably for the position Of reporter, and 1t WAS
not long before lo WAS rcputcd to DO the bcst
"long-hand" reporter in tho West. He had
abundant wit, skill in language, Ia fondness for
faithful research, and often gavo to what in
other hands would havo been drcary presont-
ment Of facts, brilliancy and value that attract
cd attention and won praise.
Ono Of tho most memorable Of his repoltorial
achievements was his report Of tho court-mar-
tial investigation ut Cincinnati into tho Camp
Douglas Conspiracy, which our readers OF that
day will remember. To those who are not fani1-
iar with That period Of our national history NO
may state that it was Of such accuracy, and pro-
sontod with such graphic descriptive power that
1t won for Mr.. Griffith ready recognition Of lis
unsual power.
During the excitement incident to tho boring
Of tho artesian well on tho Wcst Side, In tho
hope Of finding oil in tho petroleum rock OF
which tho Second Presbyterian Church was
built, Mr. Grilflth's technical knowledge stood
him III good stoad. From m examination OF the
TO clz, HarTio concluded that no oil would bo
fonnd. Ho stated publicly that in his opinion
plonty Of water would DO reached, but no oil.
This opinion, coming from very young ma.,,
was not needed, but the oyont proved him
right in in hi.lpf LIS prediction; After ! establish M
paper in 1860, and wont over to tho Republican in
tue capacity OF reporter, aud TINT paper being
thon lii tho sprinGtimo Of oxistenco Har1io srts-
tained tho impression no had alroady made. Hc
ovory branch OF journalism, lie frequently
wrote editorials, handlod tho scissors. and.
finally, was promoted to the position Of city odl-
tor, where ho remained for eomo time. During
dramatic noticca woro looked for expeotantly,
for they wore calculated to display pro-eniuently
the bril1iancy of his style Of writing, and many
Of them nro still preserved by his associates aa
specimens of Ilarrie's genius.
On leaving tho Republican he became laW-re-
porter GU tho Times, Of this city. In tile fal Of
1871, Mr.. Griffith went to Boston, aud accepted
situation on tho journal of that city, where,
as In every. other place, ho was = gonoral favor
Ito, as we'll III MI admired editor. IliB aocial
qualities wore as bright rs his intellectual atll-
ties, and 1t was no wonder TINT the versatile au1
generous young man WIS eagerly sought for na a
companion. Hence his ruin. He lett tue Doa-
ton Jouraal just before tho Chicago fro, but
wan subsequently recalled.
Whom the confused, ominous, md iucohorent
dispatches Of tho great fire In Chicago wero be-
Ing poured in upon tho Boston pross, tho etiltors
wore ut their wits' outla to know how to arrange
tho noWg. HalTle urlllth was hunted up, Antl
found III not very promising condition. But
the pressure Of tho event brought out hiR full
powers. Like great minds generally, hin 1850 to
the occasion: Hta full acquaintance with Chica-
SO, his wonderful memory, and his vivid power
as writer, stood tho Boston Jou'3sa! In 6ucl1
good stead TINT ita columns woro made mayyol-
onaly notable in tho complete arrangement and
sklllful explanation Of tho faosan featureaof tho
Groat Chicago Fire. The publishers recognized
hla services in most genoroua mannor, alld
hoped again for long loaso Of usofulnosH III the
tA!ontod Young man-a hope which was destined
not to DO fulfilled.
At this timo 1larrie, who was gradually losing
through dissipation the laurelB That liH geniuH
bud won for lin, mads noble effort to reform.
Ho 1olno1 . church in Doaton, anl, on his ro-
turn to Chicago, vas accredited to tho Michigan
Avenue Daptiat Church; Ills reform WAS roal
and oarnost. Nobody doubted his sincerity, for
II VIII too Obvious that thero was no hypocrisy.
uo know tho impetus down tho Bteop1oollno, and
put on tho brakes with unllnohine energy.