Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-10
TRAGEDIES or THE sANCTUM.
Closing Scenes i'm the Life of some New
York Editors

Closing Scenes in the Life of some New
York Editors.
,yohn .S,rinton's PAPER.
There has been widespread grief among
the newspaper men of New York over the
tragical ending, a few days ago, OF the life
Of John Il. Wood, familiarity known ms
Doc Wood, the Great American COnden-
ser of the Sun" by shock and exposure
through falling into the icc-bound river AT
midnight.
The tragedy Of his death brings TO my
mind score of other tragedies of the
sanctum that have east a lurid light over
the years Of my career upon the press of
New York. ] will tell of a few of the
more notable Of them, without going far
back in my memory.
The first editor of the New York World.
which was started as an orthodox relig-
iOus paper, was Mr.. Spaulding, a grave,
taciurn man of large frame and powerful
intellect. When the 0rtdfell into iinan-
cial straits ana threw religion overheard,
about 1868, MIR. Spaulding took n place
upon the editorial stan Of the Times,
under Henry J. Raymond, whose first as
sistant then was; aud there he showed
himself to be the boldest master of politi-
cal inVCctiVC ever known on the American
press To recruit his health, he made a
voyage 10 New Orleans, but on an eXcur-
sion up the Mississippi his boat met with
IN luck, and he was east on deserted
bank of land where he almost starved to
death. The first / knew of his return 10
New York was ut very late hour of one
night, when, being on duty in the cdIto-
rial quarters of the Times, whistle up
the pipe" from the publication office, and
message that Mr.. Spaulding had NUT
tered my name, hurried me down stairs.
| found him PROSTATE on his back upon
the stone flooring, evidently struck by
paralysis, ana entirely unconscious. In
few moments he caught my voice, aud
began stammcring out Latin words, dis
jointed quotations from Virgil, Horace,
and his other faVOrite authors, occasion
ally pressing his head with his hands, and
breaking into sort Of wild laugh. IL
was after midnight 10y the City Han clock
when left his side, FASTENED over TO the
old New York Hospital, then in Broad
way, rang up he young doctor in charge,
who agreed 10 take him in, returned 10 the
Times with n StretCher, called down four
compositors, who lifted the PROSTATE man
from the floor, and accompanied them
back to the hospital, where | saw him
placed safely upon cot under Il doctor's
charge II was half an hour of the time
for going to press when | got back 10 the
editors sauctum, and il the editorial col
umns Of next DAYS Times were short or
otherwise imperfect, the reason is now for
the first time told. Though MIR. Spauld-
ing was over fifty years old, he had been
married hut "A few months before, and IN
the morning | telegraphcd to his young
wife then in one of the towns up the Hud-
son river, who appeared ut the hospital in
n very few hours. She tended him deVO-
tcdlv during the days in which he
could not be removed from the cot. and
then had him taken TO her fathers country
home, where he soon atterward bowed his
head In death. In this traglCal way ended
the life OF the first editor of the New York
World, "a man OF great soul and honest
Even moro tragical was the closing
scene, in June, 1862 OF the life of Henry
y. Raymond himself, the distinguished
founder and editor Of the New York
Times. lie had been ut the Times Office
on the afternoon Of the night in which he
was found dead. and inquired for me; but
I happened 10 be engaged elsewhere IN a
work which he had put upon me, writing
a criticism OF W oOlSey's Reform Against
Nature" then Just published. Leaving
word that he desired 20 see me rs soon as
possible. he left the Office in his usual
CHEEKY mood, took dinner ut his house IN
Ninth street, and then Went 10 political
meeting But little is known Of his sub
sCuWeut movements until after midnight
OF that day June lS), when his wife, who
was drawn down stairs by hearing a
noise, found him lying dead ut the door OF
his house. In the midst of a great career
in the press and in politics, his life ended
IN a tragedy never yet cleared up. In the
very early years Of my manhood, Mr..
RAYMOND had given me my first opportu-
nifty on the press by inviting me 70 mis-
paper. and during the ten years that pre-
ceded, included, and followed the great
war for abolition Tor from 1889 To 1862
when was his daily associate, he proved
himself to bc the most amiablc of men, rs
he was one of the most accomplished edi-
tors.
But set ont 70 tell. with the fewest
words, the tragedies of a score of New
York editors of my acquaintance, in SIM
gle column, and already 1 find 1t nearly
null
The tragedy Of the death in a madhouse
Of Horace Greeley, the founder and editor
Of the New York I'rhUgc-whO has not
been shocked by the story Of it,
The tragedy Ct the death Of the venera-
ble poet, William Cullen Bryant, editor
OF the Ectaing Post, who fell before my
ewes under a suuStroke in the Central
Park five years ago, WAS tOldin this paper
OF Dee. 50.
How suddenly and unexpectedly, in the
summer of last year, death struck my as-
SOClltc, " m. q. Bartlett, OF the san, 4
man Of great mind and great heart.
The tragedy of the death last September
OF the joyial Hugh j. Hastings, the editor
Of the Commercial AirtytiSer OF this city,
was caused through shock which he got
when his carriage came in collision with
an express wagon.
How suddenly aud grieyouSly IN Deem
Der last fell William I. Clarke, editor of
the New York Sur. the good and talented
man, who had 50 often thought il his duty
10 asSail me for the deeds that | did under
the highest sense of duty.
The managing editor OF the New York
Herald during nearly the whole of the life
of the elder Bennett was Mr.. Hudson,
who came 90 "a tragical end in the Massa.
chuSettS town Of Concord. a few years
ago. through being crushed by 4 railway
train.
Time fails me 20 tell OF the lesser lights
Chase of the HsUli, Ned Seymour and
Mills OF the IimsS. Adams of the san,
and how many others. " hat a line OF
tragedies OF the sauctum is unrolled be-
fore my eyes Tragedies which have
shocked my spirit every year since FIRST
stood, as a stripping, within the innerm0SJ
circles OF the daily press Of New York.
The tragedy Of poor Doc Wood is the
latest ON the roll.