Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-06-19
HARRY NuR1on's DEATH.
The Closisg Pages n the Life Ell
Journaiiss-An ~Iatsrssttug He
mentO.

The Closing Pages IN the Life efs
Jour.aliss-An Iatsrssttng Ii.
The Lesdville (Colorado) Chronicle Of
June 7th contains . two column obituary
notice Of Harry ]. Norton, the we'll.
known journalist, who died in Lssdvills
on the 9Th instant. We mako the fol-
lowing extracts:
Az Q journalist Mr.. Norton was noted
for keen perception and appreciation Of
the value Of news. A ready and vigor-
Gus writer. with hns descriptive powers.
his work was always well done, and his
writing possessed the prime quality Of
being sminsntly readable. A . man,
whole soulsd. generous and sympathetic.
Q friend 10 all and asking but frisndship
In return, he made friends wherever his
wandering lot was cast. and there arc
few cities or mining camps In the West
In which Q tear will not be shed when
the tidines are received that Harry Nor.
ton 10 dead.
Among the effects Of the dad jour
nalist was found this fragment Of .
letter. written while In Denver on biz
way to Leadvills:
Drsvra, COL. Nov. @. 1879.
To my relatives and friends, Who may
feel interested In learning Of the death
OF n Who has loved them dearly
through life. and who when death comes.
will pass away with q blessing on his
lips for all: hardly know what motive
at this time impels me to write these
linas, save IL 10 that most natural ONE
the uncertainty Of life d all times, and
the further fact that I am now about
entering upon . Life In Colorado. whore
I am comparatively among strangers.
The possibility OF my dying among .
strange people and under such ciroum.
stances that my friends would be ignor-
ant OF my death. and those strangsrs
ignorant Of my identity. has always
brought q feeling Of terror In my heart,
second only to the cold touch Of the 10y
fingers OF death itself. II Il, therefore,
to relieve these feelings In . measure
that I have determined to write this
letter.
Ny name 10 Harry J. Norton. At this
date / am t~hirty.nine years OF age. Ny
mother and father are still alive. and .
letter would reach them II directed ''Nn.
Laura @. Norton. care OF j. F. Norton.
Eden Valley. Erie county. New York"
My oldest sister, who always watched
over my life With that tender care and
solicituds which is second only iii sec.
ond at ally to tho love Of . doting, faith
fol and Christian mother, 10 Mrs. d. 8.
Bonsstsels. postofioe boz l22, Rochester.
New York. Ny wife and daughtsr-ths
two strongest and tendsrest ties that
bind me TO earth-ars now living In
Bridgeport, Mono county. California.
A letter to them should be addressed
Mrs. 81. ]. Norton, care Of Mr.. William
Leonard" ! have three brothers, two
living In Erie county, New York, and
one In Rochester. New York. Ny SEQ.
ond sister, Mrs. II. ]. Green, lives IN
New York City.
Should my death ever occur during
Inconsistencies, or before ! should DO
able to give any directions, my request
10 that I b buried In the cemetery near.
est which I die, and that some kind
friend will mark my last resting place
30 that my relatives may recognize II.
II / have my particular choice. although
I have no right TO ask 1t, I would prefer
10 be buried under the auspices Of the
Masonic fraternity. though, OF course,
not with Masonic honors. I have never
either applied or belonged to the order,
but the male members OF my family,
from an aged grandfather to brothsrs,
have been and are members Of that
fraternity. and ! truly and sincerely
reverence the Masonic order 90 one noble
in its precepts, generous In it, charities.
and faithful and lasting in IL friend
ships.
Everything OF no value found among
my effscts-auch as letters. photographs.
etc.-I desire to have burned without
examination. Other things may DO dis.
posed o! a. my friends may SEQ ft.
Were I called upon to write my own
obituary. I scarcely know what I could
say In commentator Of such q life - II
has been my destiny to lead. Soberly
and reHectively reviewing II, I can see
very little good that ! have accom-
plished. About all the fortune ! leave
IL the love and respect Of my relatives,
and my many old aoq~uaintanoes In Mon.
tana, California, Nevada and the Black
Hills - among whose mountains and
valleys I have formed many very warm
friendships. God bless and prosper
Thorn oil. II In my death they have .
cause for one sorrowful tear-ons re-
gretful sigh
His last work vas done on the night
OF Thursday the 9Th ult., whom hs com.
planned OF feeling very unwsll, and after
writing up Q portion Of bis notes was
compelled to leave his work unfinished
and 90 home. On the following day
decided symptoms OF pneumonia up.
pearsd. The best medical aid VA sum.
monsd, and . skillial nurse placed In
charge, but although everything possible
was done for his assistance. he fingered
in the grasp OF the insidious disease
until yesterday morning. and than passed
peacefully away. A great portion Of the
time he was dslirious and talked inoes-
sanity. rsoountins the varied experiences
OF his svsrtful life. At times hs would
imagine himself at his dssk. and failing
to find his pencil, would write column
after column Of copy" with his finger
ON the sounterpans. His last moments
were peaceful. and consciousness ~.
turned for about fifteen minutes before
death. He met his end with oslmnsas
and resignation, and died % loyalty -
hs had lived.
The funeral took place this afternoon
under the auspices Of the Pacific Coast
Association. and was largely attended BY
the friends and associates Of deceased.
At Evergreen cemetery, when the body
OF their friend had been laid In the grave
Mr.. Ned Sullivan sang the songs Of the