The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-03-11
DEATH OF MILTON c. sPEER.
4 Brilliant Young journalist Joins
the Silent Majority.

4 Brilliant Young Journalist Join
the Silent Majority.
1t becomes our painful duty to re
i. cord the death of Mi. Milton G
Speer, which occurred at the Sisters
Hospital in this city, Sunday morn
ing the 9Th instant.
In giving this sketch Of his. briei
Career, we pay but . slight tribute to
q man whose genius, bright intellect
and gifted pen would have carved q
name upon the scroll of fame beside
those loved, honored and distinguished
In the world Of letters, had moi
Death marked him 10 soon for its
own.
Milton G. Spter was born in Butler
county. Pennsylvania, March End,
1853. In 1855 his family moved to
Scott county. Iowa. He received an
academical education at Davenport,
in that state. At 10 years of age he
taught school but tie occupation not
being congenial t. his nature, he &C.
cepted q position in the counting
room of the Davenport Gazette.
While here he chose his profession
and soon after entered in the field OF
journalism as reporter for the Rock
Island (Ill.) Union. After serving
two years upon that journal he as
sumed the city -e%ditorship of the
Dubuque Telegraph, where he dis
tinRuished himself Ly his humorous
writings, and his terse, vigorous
style OF recording local happenings.
As q mark of their appreciation of
his worth a. q writer the citizens of
the city presented him with q beauti-
fully engraved gold-headed cane.
Soon after he was elected captain of
q military company, formed under
the laws of Iowa, and although, at
the time, unacquainted with mill
tary tactics, by close study he
mastered them, and at thegrand meet
ing of the military of the State his
company carried off the first prize as
the best disciplined body of men up
on the ground.
Leaving Dubuque in the fall of
1880, he spent the following winter
al local editor of the GAINESVILLE wis
consiD) Daily Recorder, and in the
Spring 10 ned the r%eportorial staff Of
the Chicago Daily NeWs. He had
been upon that paper but one week
when he was promoted to the city
editorship. While upon the News
he put a speech into the mouth Of
General Grant, which was copied
throughout the country and, for the
time, gained for the General q repu-
tatiOn as al orator. In Decem Ger
1881, he was on the editorial staff of
the st. Louis GL0be-D Democrat, but
soon after assumed the MANAGING
editorship of the Evening Chronicle
of that city. He held this position
until the following spring when i'm
paired health caused him to .resign,
and upon The advice of physicians he
went to Colorado, hoping
that the dry, bracing atmos-
phere ct that State would
benefit his lungs which had become
affected. Regaining his health he
went to San Francisco where he
joined the Chronicle staff, his reputa-
ton as a writer having preceded him.
He was given the best position upon
the rep0rtorial staff of that paper
that of political reporter. The eli
mate not agreeing with him he start
ed in the spring for Australia, in
tending to write his way around the
world. He visited every town in New
Zealand. became acquainted with
the habits and customs Of the Maories.
which he portrayed in letters to the !
read and copied. He travelled through
Australia and finally settled in sgd
ney where he became q paid contrib
utOr to the Sydney Bulletin, an illus
trated literary, dramatic and humor-
Gus jour nal. While here his lung
trouble returned and hoping that
the pure air of Montana would
quickly heal them he came to Butte
to pass q few weeks with his brother,
the Hon. w. O. Speer. But the
insiduous disease - con sum ptiOn-
had obtained too deep q hold upon
him and all that medical skill, and a
brothers. care, and the Sisters dev0-
ton could do were of no avail against
the ravsges of that fell destroyer.
Although conscious that his life
was slowly but surely ebblng away,
and that he was resting upon his
death bed he was cheerful to the
last. No word Of complaint, no
.murmurings at his fate escaped his
lips. He had a hearty recognition, q
smile and a good Word for all who
visited him. Even when the shadow
of death was lowering over him his
native humor would find expression
in quaint sayings or jocu-
lar remarks to. those around
him. To Sister Hilaria, who
attended him during the first few
days of his illness, and to Sister
Serena, who sc tender]y nursed him
through many weeks, and until his
death he was devotedly attached.
often spoke of these kind sisters
in the highest praise. It was to the
latter he addressed the following
touching lines, under the caption,
IA Hospital Scene" and which were
in the MINER at the
'sweet Sister, ere the moon shall dawn
1 feel my spirit shall be free.
And I have wished that death might come
Like gentle plumbers over me,
IT'S thus 1 know that I shall die,
My lie fade like a dream away;
For 1 have not a doubt or dread,
No foolish fears by night or day.
But s .ster, when you see me smile
A welcome to my Angel guide.
Just kiss me gently on the brow
That mother may seem by my side"
He died as he wished to die. Death
came to him "like q gentle slum-
oer," and lie breathed his life
peacefully and p~ainlessly away.
Among the writings of Mi. Speer
we're many gems of poetry and prose
reflect the courage. the devo-
ion to duty, the depth of feeling,
he refinement, the unquenchable
aumor and lofty aspirations of his
cut like q Bohemian he
brew them to the world without q
eltish thought and left their preser- I
to those who Lived the writer