Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-26
IAYNE REID.
Death of the Great Juvenile Story.Tcl
Ter.

lcrs
Captain Wayne Reid, the well known nov
clis,, died after ashort sickness, at his London
residence, on Monday. lie was native of
the north of Ireland, and was born in 1918.
His father was Presbyterian clergyman,
aud he fondly hoped that his son might fol-
low in his footsteps With that end in view
he gave him theological education and des-
tined him for the church. One day in 1888
he threw away his books and started for
Mexico. On his arrival In New Orleans he
made direct for the hauuts of the red man,
and hunted and traded among tho ln-
dams of the Red River country
and those Of Missouri This wild
kind of life delighted the Young lrishmsn.
lie became almost an Indian himself. lie
developed immense strength and could run
| like Il deer and was crack shot with the
rifle. Witnessing and participating in many
stirring affrays on the prairics and the forest
| in the Great West, he spent what lie often
said were the happest and most joyous years
of his life. Five years were thus passed,
during which he travelled through nearly al
| the Northern, Southern and Western States.
Returning TO civilized life he settled down in
Philadelphia and began to write for Ameri-
eau periodicals. Drawing from his great
storehousc of treasured "reminiscences, he
| wrote IN ST interesting articles for the press
of New York and Philadelphia.
| The Mexican war broke out, and Reid OBJ
tanned commission in the United States
amy as second lieutenant IN Burnctts rcg-
m mt of New York volunteers. lie was
present at the sc.c and capture of Vera
Cruz, and distinguished himself in several
battles. AT Churubusco he led The last
charge Of infantry, ard also the forlorn hope
at the stOrming of Chnpullcpcc. In this at
/ iaYk hsn, Oh lao. hna 10
men, and was reported killed lie recover
cd, aud had the satisfaction of being praised
in more than one despatch for his CALAMITY.
The war over, he resigned his commission.
| The next undertaking of note that he was
connected with was the organizing of rcg-
ment in New York city in 1910. Ills object
was 10 assist the heroic kossu'h, who was
then fighting hard for the independence of
Hungary. Full of this idea, he went to
Paris and heard the unwelcome tldings
that the efforts of the llungarians had
been crushed mainly ty the aid Of Rus
sian armed Intervention, and that Kos.
suth hal been forced to seek refuge in
| Turkey. Reid then went to London, took
up his quarters there and began to write
stories OF adventure and romance in which
he narrated many of the episodes of his own
life on the prairics and among the MeXicans
and Indians. SO fascinating were the tales
| that issued from his faCile pen and so enter
tanning to the youthful mind especially, that
his books were soon IN great demand among
the London publishers They attained an
immense reputation and circulation COM
mensura,e with their charm. Very notice
able indeed is the deep and wide knowledge
of natural history displayed throughout all
his writings. 1t is hard to distinguish, also
on which he was the best authoriiy-natural
history, geology or botany. As n writer OF
boys books he was unsurpassed, and he has
delighted the hearts of the juvenile popula-
tion on both sides of the Atlantic, aud ii is
not an unsafe prediction to say that his
works will continue TO be as popular fifty
years hence as they are to-day.
He visited the United States ON many oc-
caslons after he became famous as an author
An interchangeable writer he was the author of
more than fifty works of fiction and several
of zoology. He was also versatile contrib
utor to newspapers and magazines. lie
leaves young wife and child. OF late years
he resided on small sheep farm in IIert-
fordshire. He went often TO London aud
was well known figure in Fleet street,
walking with the aid of crutches and dress
ing in remarkable style. He was the au-
Home, or Family Robinson" in 1851; "'Thc
Boy Hunters" in 1882 The Young Voy.
ageurs,' in 1858; "rhe Forest Exiles," in
1854; "The Bush Boys or, Adventures IN
South Africa" and 1.-The White Chief" u
novel, in 1855; "Thc Young Yagers" and
"Quadroon," novel in 1856; The Plant
hunters: or, the Himalayan Mountains" in
1857; "Osccolo, novel in 1859 "rhe Tiger
Hunters" and "Bruin or The Grand Bear
HUNT 1860; IRAN away to Sea-" "Cliif
Climbers or, the Lone Home" ocean
| Waits" and "While Gauntlet, Romance"
in 1864; The IIeadless Horscmau," in
1865; "Atloat in the Forest in 1866 THE
Giraffe Hunters, The Castaways a Story
of Adventure in Bornco," "The Mountain
Marriage in 1876 and "Gwenn Wynn" in
| 1877.