Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-25
DEATH OF CAPTAIN MAYNE
REID.
A PrOIIRe Writer Of Romantic
Career


n AANiN uAniitln AIONA hIl-
nounces the death of Captain Mayne Reid
the well known novelist, after q short ILL
ness, at his London residence. He was q
native Of the north Of Ireland. He was
born in 1918, and was descended from one
Of the pioneers Of the ulster Planta-
tons" His father was Presbyterian
Clergyman, and he fondly hoped that his
son might follow in his footsteps. With
that end in view he gave him a theOlog-
ieal education and destined him for the
church Ii would have been far easier
for the father TO have tanned tiger than
TO have tanned young Reid's inclination
for adventure The boys brain was full
OF romance. lie thirsted for travel and
deeds of daring The prairie was more TO
bis taste than the pulpit. One day in
1898 he threw away his books and started
for Mexico. On his arrival in New Or
leans he made direct for the haunts OF the
red man, and hunted and traded among
the Indians Of the Red river country and
those Of Missouri. This wild kind Of life
delighted the young Irishman. He be-
came almost an Indian himself He de-
yeloped immense strength, could run like
a deer aud was crack shot with the
rifle witnessing and participating in
many stirring aiirays on the prairies and
the forests in the great West, he spent
what he often said were the happiest and
most joyous years Of his life. He hunted
the buffalo and the bear, and learned
from his dark associates their method Of
finding their way unerringly through
trackless, gloomy woods and boundless
plains. No wonder that he acquired an
&c &,
ing the primitive customs Of the Indians
and gained an extensive knowledge Of the
scenery and characteristics Of the country,
Five years were thus passed, during which
he travelled through nearly all the North
ern, Southern and Western States. Re
turning TO civilized life, he settled in
Philadelphia and began to write for Amer
lean periodicals. Drawing from his great
storehouse Of treasured "reminiscences, he
wrote most interesting articles for the
press Of this city and Philadelphia.
The Mexican war broke out and Reid
obtained commission in the United
States Army rs second lieutenant IN Bur
nett's regiment Of New York Volunteers.
He was present at the siege and capture of
Vera Cruz, and distinguished himself in
several battles. AT Chnrubusco he led the
last charge Of infantry, and also the for
lorn hope at the storming Of Chapultepec.
In this attack he was. shot down at the
head OF his men, and WAS reported
killed. He recovered and had the salts
faction Of being praised in more than one
dispatch for his gallantry The war over
he resigned his commission. Tho next
undertaking Of note that he was connect
ed with was the organizing Of a regiment
in this city in 1919 His object was 10 as
sist the heroic Kossuth, who was then
fighting hard for tho independence of
Hungary. Full Of this idea he went 20
Paris and heardthe uuwelcome tidingsthat
the efforts Of the Hungarians had been
crushed mainly by the aid of Russian
armed interveryention, and that Kossuth
had been forced to seek refuge in Turkey,
Reid went to London, took up his quarter
there and began TO write stories Of adyen-
ture and romance, in which he narrated
many of tho episodes Of his own life on
the prairies and among the Moxicans and
Indians. SO facinating were the tales that
issued from his laeile pen and so entertain
ing 70 the youthful mind especially, that
his books were soon in great demand
among the London publishers. They at
tainei an immense reputation and
q circulation commensurate with
their charm. Very noticeable in
deed is the deep and vide
knowledge Of natural history displayed
throughout all his writings 1t is hard to
distinguish, also, on which he was the best
authority--natural history, geology or
botany. AS writer Of boys books he
was unsurpassed, and he has delighted the
hearts Of the juvenile population on both
sides 0fthe Atlantic, and II is not an unsafe
prediction TO say that his works will con-
tinue to be rs popular fifty years hence as
they are to-day,
He visited the United States on many
occasions after he became famous as an
author, at one time lecturing in this city
in defense Of Lord Byron, Of whom he
was an enthusiastic admirer and at an
other giving in letter to the Herald some
suggestions as TO the management OF horse
cars, especially directed TO their drivers.
An indefatigable writer he was the author
Of more than fly works Of fiction and
several Of zoology. He was also versa
tile contributor to newspapers and maga-
zines. He leaves young wife and child.
Of late years he resided on small sheep
farm in Hertfordshire. He went often TO
London, and was q well known figure in
Fleet street, walking with the aid of
erutches and dressing in remarkable
style. He was the author, among other
works, Of "The Rifle Rangers" published
in l849, 'The Scalp Hunters" in
1850, in both of which tho author detailed
his experience Of prairie life and waclike
adventure; Desert Home; or Family
Robinson" in 1851 "The Boy Hunters" "
in 1852; "The Young Voyageurs," in
1855 THE Forest Exiles," in 1854; "The
Bush Boys; or, Adventures in South
Africa, and "The White Chief, novel,
in 1855; "The Young Yagers" and
"Quadroon," a novel, in 1856; "The Plant
Hunters; or, the Himalayan Mountains"
in 1857; "0ceola," novel, in 1859; "The
Wood Rangers, novel; "The Hunters
Feast, q novel; "Qnadrupeds-W What
Tiger Hunters and "Bruin; or The
Grand Bear Hunt" in 1860; "Ran Away
TO Sea- War Trail; or, Hunt Of the Wild
Horse. and "Wild Huntress," in 1861 (;
1.-THE Maroon" novel, in 1862; "Cro-
quet, in 1868; "Clif Climbers; or, the
Lone Home, Ocean Waits" and White
0auntlette, a Romance" in 1864; "The
Headless Horseman, in 1865; "A1oat in
the Forest, in 1906 "The Giraffe Hunt
ers, ""The Guerilla Chiefs, ""Quadrupeds"
and "The Child Wife. I in 1928; ''The
Castaways; Story Of Adventure in Bor-
nee" "The Fatal Cord, ""White Squaw'i
and "The Yellow Chief" in 1870; 1.-THE
Finger of Fate" in 1872 '"Tho Death
Shot" in 1873 "rho Mountain Mar
riage,7 in 1876, and "Gwenn Wynn, in