The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-07-29
Ned Bu.tline.

Edward 4. l.. JudsOn, (Ned hunt
line) died of heart disease at his home
at Stamford, Delaware Go. New Jer-
ser, July 10th, in the sixty
fourth year Of his age. Willis Gaylord
Clarke wrote an affcctionate obituary
of Ned Buntline when Nashville mob
hanged him until they supposed he was
dead. That was twenty years or more
ago, vet the noted scout lived until
Friday Ned Buntline career was re-
markable. His father was Philadel-
phia lawyer who insisted on putting
Ned through course of Latin and
Blackstone ut al early age. Tho boy
Icbelled, and one day after 4 severe
| flogging ran away to sea IS cabin-b boy
to ship that sailed round The Horn.
The embryo celebrity was then but
eleven years old. The next year he en-
tered the Government service as an APP
prentice on board man-of war. a
year later, when thirteen years old.
President Van Buren, sent him COM
mission rs midshipman for meritorious
Conduct in rescuing the crew Of boat
run down by Fulton ferry-boat on
East River.
Young Judson was assigned to the
Levaut. Other midshipmen refused to
mess with him, because he had been
common sailor before the mast. and
while on the way to join the Gulf Squad
ron he challenged thirteen of them to
fight. Some withdrew their refusal
and associated with him. but he fought
seven of them, one after another, in
Florida, New Orleans, and Havana.
escaping without = scratch himself,
but marking some of his antagonists
for life. From that time on his repu-
tatiou rs one of the best shots in the
United States was established.
Ned Outline probably carried more
wounds in his body than any other liv-
ing American. He had in his right
knee bullet received in Virginia and
had twelve other wounds inflicted by
sword, shell and gun, seven of which
were got in battle. He was not edu-
Gated for the army and navy. The title
Of colonel came to him as Chief of
Scouts in the rebellion Of 1SGl-j.
His first story, The Captains Pig
was published in the Knickerbockcr
Magazine under the psenlonym of Ned
Buntline. in 1888. when in his fifteenth
year. This sketch brought noteriety to
the young writer and fighter. who SUISSE
quently received as high as $4,000 4
year for the produce of his brain and
pen. For many years his income as
story-writer brought him III so, 900 an
| nually. He once earned S12,5OO in
six weeks. and at another time, under
-
siAty-two hours. scarcely sleeping or
| eating during that time. He usually
received $1,000 for story running
through twelve weeks in the Ledger
and other story papers for which he
wrote. He did not know exactly how
| many stories he had written, but csti-
mated them at between three and four
hundred, each long enough for book.
Ned Buntline was not the wild man
| of the woods he was generally sup
posed to be. He was temperance
man in theory and practice, using
neither tobacco nor profanity. He
was good talker and much esteemed
as neighbor and citizen. Until Blaine
was nominated for the Presidency Ned
Buntline had been Republican, but he
spoke and voted for Cleveland in 1884.
Being once asked why he did net ap-
ply for pension he said:
II don't want to be Government
paupcr. l suppose | am entitled to
four pensions, and pension under
proper conditions is honorable enough,
but have seen SO many loafers and
shirks get pensions for disabilities in.
CURED before they went to war that j,
just disgusts me with the notion.