The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-21
Death of Col. Claiborne

NatcheZ Democrat, 18th.
Our community were considerable
startled yesterday morning by the an.
nouncement of the death of that distiDs.
uished gentleman, ripe scholar and hi.
ian writer, Col. j. +. H. Claiborne
While the event was not unexpected +
fell with shock upon all. He had been
i'll for long time, but had so success,
fully withstOod the attack of the grim
monster that his numerous friends had
been led to hope that he might be spared
TO them for years to come. death
has, however, triumphed, and his soul
has winged its way to the eternal shore;
ellis spirit is gone to seek the boum
Where lull'd TO slutnber grief iorgets Ia
mourn"
Col, Claiborne was born on the Oath Of
April, 1907, and has passed beyond the
period of life usually allotted to man.
Precocious in talent, at the very dawn Of
manhood, heattracted attention by the
brilliancy of his genius and the suayity
of his manners. Elected to the Legisa.
ture of his State before he was of age,
he rapidly rose to distinction in the DO.
iitical world, and was soon after sent a.
representative to Congress, where he
served until superseded in the celebrated
contested election case of Mississippi.
Warned by declining health he retired
from active political life and devoted
himself to journalism and literature. He
has written what would make volumes
on the passing topics Of the day of his
long and eventful years, but they are in
the columns of the newspapers of bis
era. OF recent years he has devoted
himself entirely to literary persuits, and
had prepared history of his native State,
one volume of which has been published
The others had been prepared for the
hands of the publishers, and would soon
have made their appearance, but in the
destruction of Dunbarton, his residence
by fire the manuscript was destroyed,
and is author was not spared to re-wrile
the pages upon which he had devoted 50
long a period. The great object of his
life was to make history of his native
State, written as labor of love by one
Of her sons, and to have it printed and
published in a Mississippi publishing
house The lamentable obstruction Of
his house aud with it the labor Of years
prevented the fruition of his cherished
hopes.
Men of genius never die. They live in
their works, and their name goes down
to posterity as benefactOrs of their race
Few of the contemporaries of Col, Claib-
Orne have survived him, and to those the
news of the death of their genial, gentle
and talented friend will bring pang OF
deepest sorrow. TO those with whom
his name has long been a synonym for
brilliant ability and earnest patriotism,
including the whole people of his native
State, his demise will be like the setting
forever of one of the brightest stars in
the literary armament.
As writer he was always elegant aud
and touched nothing that he
did not adorn. In long life of literary
labor he has written nothing (Which dy-
ing he could wish to blot. In social
life, although of a retiring nature, he was
one of the most entertaining OF comPan-
ions, his very retentiYe memory enabling
him to recall nearly every interesting in
cident connected with the public men
with whom he came in contact.
After life of serenity and usefulness
iull of years and full of honors, he has
passed away with the filial reverence Of
he present generation clinging to his
IGNORED name. The venerable compan-
on of his welded life, his devoted child
en- and hosts of friends will mourn his
oss and drop tear upon his bier. The
ews of his death will be echoed through
ut the land and responsive sigh Of
eep regret will be heard from every
uarter of his native land.