New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-13
HENRY BERGH DEAD.
az HAD BEEN ILL A LONG TIME.

Henry Bergh died yesterday. no nau o'9n 90.
a long time and to his family MS aea'u
vas not unexpected. For many "eos' o
had been lingering on the Drink oi ".
crave. His end was calm and peaccfui. Inc oee'
friend of the brute creation passed QuIc'y s""y "
the early morning at his home NO. s]o rn'n,"'o
He le YES an enduring monument in the Work oi
A.. s,c,etv for the Prevention Of Cruelty TO AMI
mails. 10 which he consecrated MS Ire
Henry Bcrgh lawyer, lecturer, dramatist, poeh
.h;nn,ilder traveller diplomatist and founder
of the American Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty TO Animals. born in this city In 1890
His father Christian Bergh, was wealthy man,
native of New-Yc.l, and the leading shlpoullder
Of his time His mother came OF an ola Con
necticut family of the name OF Ners 0hriS-
,iap BarQb was q giant in stature standing SIX
feet four inches in his stockings ana oelhg oro"u
in hroportion. Lie owned that sharp point Oh
land in the Seventh Ward at the foot of Scam
mclst.. known as Corlears Hook Here he es-
tarljshcd an extensive shipyard from which, IN
1871. the old United States frigate President
was launched. Soon afterward the Greek man
of-war IIellas slid off the same stays lie also
built the James X. Polk, the Stephen whitney
and othc. more or less famous vessels lie went
10 the shore of Lake Erie, under an agreement
with the Government, and built the tieet "lth
which Commodore Perry won his victories Au-
Joining his shipyard at Corear's Hook was q iarse
brass foundry owned by his son-ln-iaw. NIX
Brown His two sons Edwin and the sup!ecC
NJ this sketch became his partners, continuing
the business for some time after his death.
large merchant marine was launched from 'iicit
yard Edwin Ber.h died
Henry retired from business in 1e42, and with
annie means at his command gave himself up to
travel spending several years abroad In the
course of his wanderings he rendered on more
than one occasion important service TO the "oV-
eminent Having been educated at Columbia
College for the bar, he thought for time OF seo-
Ting down TO easy practice, but eVentuaiiy
gave up the idea. In SCI President lhncoh
appointed him Secretary of the American Lega-
ton in Russia and soon afterward promoted MN
10 tho Consuship at ST. Petersburg, which office
he held until 1864, when illheath forced him TO
retire While in St Petersburg he expressed
wish TO see the fortress Of Cronstadt, and this
coming 10 the Cars ears the Majesty OF Russia
rendered TO him the use of the Imperial yacht In
which to make the desired visit
FOUNDING HIS SOCIETY.
Returning lcisurely homeward, Mr. Bergh tar
ried in England, and while there made the nc
ouaintance of the Earl of Harrowby, president OF
the ROYAL Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
70 Animals The intense interest he manifested
In the work of the organization attracted com
mpnt and cordlai sympathy. iierc 10 NY AAN
work he mentally exclaimed, and before the
steamer on which he took passage reached Sandy
Hook he had created in his mind an American
Society modelled after the English one. One
wear after his return to New-York he induced
The Legislature to enact the necessary laws anc
his Society was founded. The people almost
with one accord put him down as Visionary puo
they quickly learned that he had might as well
right with him.
The Society was instituted in 1865. In 1865
IT. was given by the statute the powers OF pros
ecution and even arrest. Mr. Ber.h. its founder,
remained It's president and guiding spirit untli
his death and its invaluable services TO the dumb
of creation are largely due to his resolution tne
moral elevation of his character, his tact, I'M
dinching courage and unconquerable perse-
verance lie received no salary for his work
II was purely a labor of love, and when the PEG,
ple came to know this they appreciated it, and
they honored and respected the man who coaIa
so devote his life. The success which attended
his efforts was due, he said. to the compassion
ate instincts Of mans nature manifested toward
the helpless and the unotending, be II man or
beast" He claimed little credit for his work
70 the writer he once said "My object is to
open mems eyes, TO make men think OF the help
iessness Of these poor, creatures no person can
continue to treat horse cruelty when he Is
forced TO consider the utterly defcnceless CON
aition and the patient, long-suherng nature Of
the noble animal
Mr. Bcrgh was one Of the oldest looking men
In New-York Though his Dress from the top of
his fashionable silk hat TO the soles Of his com
Portable shoes was always faultless, yet there
was something about his makeup that struck
you as being peculiar and mpelled you to look
At him second and third time His scarf
min was horse head with cameo setting; his
Gloves were tan colorcd, and he always wore
cane iIls face was long thin vlsage, with
large. irregular features baggy eyes, and heavy
lines in the checks and around the mouth ,h Toy 1t
of man gifted with noble purpose and strong
resolution; The face, too OF dyspGIpnG llls
Countenance,7 yet with all the pathos in the sad
lines Of his face there none who could tell a
funnier story or raise a laugh more successfully
than Henry Bcrgh.
Besides being a geologist Mr. Bergh was poet
and dramatist. IT. is queer that person OF SO
tender a heart as to cause the arrest of bucks
ter for piercing the fins of turtle and tying
them together should be himself pronounced
guilty Of dramatic murder Yet such was the
case This solemn phlahthrOpist who didn't
smile once in fortnight wrote play called
Ioye's Alternative" Ii produced at the
Union League Theatre in Baltimore in 1881, and
the mildest description of 1t which posterty pos
sesses il that ii an excellent thin. TO yawn
over. We told that the play presented
number of scenes full of black obscurity and
tepuichral mystery, through which the elon-
gated form Of an uncommOnly desperate villain
and seyl other persons Of equRRI f99 ar5inS
Rchceu a writer of plays which subjected
him TO similar ridicule.
MIR. BERGH As 4 POET
OF Mr. Bergh's poems MarriodOn" was the most
ambitious il being satire the affection Of
the American woman for foreign titles Of nobl-
1ty After being published in London and
picked TO pieces by the critics il was issued in
book form in this city in 862. Eight years ago
Mr. Bergh persuaded to read this macaronic
rhyme 20 audience composed OF marriageabe
young men and gathered in Utah Hall.
II opens thus buIty:
Hannibal Col; married,
And his wife. tho she tarried,
She frequently said, with shake Oi her head,
mrch longer time than a sensible daa ghter
With porti0ne,s beauty Ga fmsy shppOrter)-
in this age OF brass bank notes. brick and mortar,
And only her virtues TO bach it-had ought TO.
His wife made
That she would not allow
daughter of hers 10 take after her mother
En De In