Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-09
OBITUARY.
DEArH OF COL. FORNEY.


brought tidirgs of the critical illness Of
Col. John W. Forney, the well-known
journalist and politician of Philadelphia.
The morning papers confirmed the accounts
Of his precarious condition, and at about 10
a. m. to-day a dispatch reached Lancaster
that he had died at am. The
events Fastening his decease,
thus narrated in the Philadelphia Record
Of to-day, will be read with painful in
terest by his wide circle of friends in this
city and county:
81 feel as though l had twenty years of
life before me yet" said Colonel John w.
FOrney to a reportOrial friend few weeks
ago. But man proposes and God disposes.
Yesterday the veteran journalist, whose
name is known over two continents, lay at
his residence on Washington Square at the
point Of death. When this sorrOwful fact
became known thrOug b the evening papers
it produced profound sensation, for al
though Colonel Forney had been confined
to his room for week the fact was only
known to the family and few intimate
The week before last,
while on visit to Washington, he caught
a severe cold, and was advised by his
friends to return home at once. But urgent
business compelled his presence in New
York, and when he reached this city it
was apparent that he was not in his usual
good health. lie kept bravely at work,
however, in the editorial chair of Progress
until Wednesday of last week, when his
strength deserted him and lie was c0kh-
pletely prOstrated. At first it was thought
that he was suffering from overwork and
that short respite from his arduOus
journalistic labors would be followed by
restoration to health. Accordingly steps
were taken to cancel a large number Of
lecturing engagements which he had made
for different parts of the country during
the winter and spring. Edwin Forrest"
"Thomas Jefferson" and ANDREW
Jackson being the topics upon which
he had arranged to speak. Symp-
toms Of that terrible malady, Bright's
disease Of the kidneys, began, how
ever, to manifest themselves, and despite
all the efforts Of his physician. DR.. Frank
Getchell, he gradually sank. Up to We'd
nesday he retained consciousness and Pc
rused the daily papers, but on the evening
of that day he fell into cOmatose state.
At noon yesterday DR.. Getchell informed
the sorrowiDg family that in his opinion
the patient had peachod stage at which
recovery was out of the question. Up to
an early hour this morning there was no
perceptible change in his condition, and
he had not regained possession Of his
faculties. There were large numbers of
anxious callers at the residence yesterday
afternoon and evening. Mr.. George w.
Childs and ex-Speaker Randall were sent
for in the morning. When Mr.. Childs
called the patient could not recognize
him. Mr. Randall arrived at night
and took his place by the bedside of his
friend.
The end seoms to have COM. quite as
early as mad been anticipated. -
AS is we'll known to nearly all the read.
ers of the public prints, John w. Forney
was born in Lancaster in 1917, and the
circumstances Of his parents gavo him no
advantages at the start Of life's battle,
save those which natural genius, a com
mon English education, youthful ambition,
geniality of disposition and ardent indus
try endowed him with. As early as at
the age OF 13, he was boy in store,
and soon afterwards became al appren-
tice in the Journal printing Office, edited
with ability and distinction By Hugh Max
well. When but 20 years Of age lie pur:
chased the INTELLICENCER, James H.
Bryson being associated with him
in its publication for part Of the
year 1887, at the end of which Forney
bought him out anl ran tho paper him
self until Sept. 1889, when he consolidated
with it the Journal and enlarged the joint
publication, making it a leading state
paper and OF the Democratic party. Fol
brief period during his connection with
it he was prothorotary Of the common
pleas court, by appointment, and devoted
himself to his editorial duties in this city
until 1915, when he removed to Phi!adel
phia to more efficiently discharge the
duties Of deputy surveyor of tho port, to
which President Polk had appointed him.
HIS natural bent toward aggressive jour
nalism, however, led him to purchase q
one-haIf interest in the city and state
Democratic organ Of that day, the Penn
sylranian, with which he was associated
from 1916 to 1853. Elected clerk of tho
Federal House of Representatives i'll 1851
he held the place for several years, and 70,
his satisfactory and impartial discharge
Of its duties, during the memorable
struggle of 1866 Sc for speaker, result
ing in Banks election he was ten
dered the compliment of 4 unanimous vote
Of thanks and comnendation. He
became an editor Of the Washington
Union, but when h;s friend, Mr.. Buchanan
was nominated for the presidency, in ordel
to devote himself with undivided zeal tC
the cause of his election, he left the paper
was made chairman of the Democratic
state central committee Of Pennsylvania,
threw his soul into that canvass and his
labors in the press, on the stump and ir
tho party councils were exhaustive, untir,
ing and comprehensive. They carried
Pennsylvania fer cher favorite SOM
and that settled it. He was nomi-
mated for United States senator
by the Democrats, then in supposed con.
troll of the Legislature, but the corrur-
ticn of Simon Cameron aud the treaclery
of Loebo, Wasgonscller aud Manear de-
feated him aud cheated him out CT tie
Office just as he seemed to have reached
the crowning point of his career and to
have had the golden prize, iu his hand
His memorable quarrel with Mr Buchan
an soon followed, the circumstances Ol
which are too fresh to need review
here and the causes of which have
long been III dispute between the
friendS Of thc PARTIES to l.. He started