The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-18
LEON ARD wAsHBURNE's DEATH.
More About the sad Ending Of rhe Life Of the
Bright Young Journalist

More About the sad Ending OF the Lie OF tne
Bright Young Journalist
The Chicago Inter. Ocean containing the
details of the sad ending of the life of the
bright young journalist, Leonard Wash
burne, formerly of this city and of this
paper, arrived yesterday. Four columns
OF space is devoted to the wreck in which
he lost his life, and fully two columns 10
Mr.. Washburne himself.
1t seems he was going from Terre Haute.
Ind, his former home, to Chicago, when
he met his fellow workers on the Inter
Ocean, who were out to write up descrip-
tion of the sensations experienced during
ride on the engine of fast train. When
he found them he. too. was invited TO ride
in the cab and be did so. Shortly after
taking his place on the freman's seat the
train whistled for the Crete station. and.
there being no signals out 70 stop. the
train went dashing past the station at the
rate of forty miles an hour into an open
switch and into the round house also. The
engine, after arriving at the round house,
struck the wall and turned over in the ash
pit and the wall came tumbling down on
it, completely burying it. while the cars
first one picked out of the wreck and
it was found that his death
was instantaneous, as his skull was
mashed bolt having entered il. The
bodies were taken TO Chicago where they
were all buried.
1t was found at the ceroners inquest that
the responsibility was attached 10 the crew
of freight train that passed Crete over
two hours before. one of whom LETT the
switch open after the train having passed.
Many fine eulogies were passed on Mr..
Washburn by the paper all OF which show
that he was q remarkably bright young
newspaper man. A former Kansas boy
who is now in Chicago relates the follow
ing story which describes Mr.. Washburn.s
peculiarities admirbly. In an interview
with an Inter Ocean reporter he says:
"A bout five years ago l was working on
a newspaper in Winfield, Kan. One day
there was "A big reunion of knights OF
Pythias of the state held at Winfield, and
the representative of the Wichita EAGLE
was Victor Murdoch, who met me on the
street and said that he wanted 10 introduce
me to a friend of his from Wichita, whom
he would point out to me in few
minutes.
''Just then the big parade of the knights
came down the street and at the head OF
the band leading the procession was poor
Washburne, welding the drum majors
baton.
''Never will / forget the first time 1 saw
him. His straight, 1.-THE figure looked
handsome always, but it had royal ap-
pearance in the uniform of that band.
Every movement of his was graceful, and
in after years he was always fond of relat-
ing his experiences as drum-maJor OF that
Wichita band.
"Wen. Murdock introduced me to him
and shortly after l moved to Wichita.
where nv intimate friend was Leonard
Washburne Together we read and
wrote, and our mutual friend was
Victor Murdock. We discussed the
latest books, took long night walks.
and talked over plans for the future.
We organized what we called the
Suicide club. which had an imaginary
number of thirteen members, although
there were only three OF us in this peculiar
concern. Washburne was president and
Murdock was first, second, third, fourth,
aud fifth vice president / had all the
other Offices The club became quite
famous in a manner, and our mysterious
midnight meetings, at which we only read
books and chatted, were talked over at
many a gathering of Wichita people.
"At this time Washburne was keeping
He was beautiful penman and his ledgers
were admired by everybody. He was
quick at figures, correct IN everything,
and his services were ia demand by every
bank in the city.
'.Soon after this time Washburne
made the acquaintance OF Mr.. Charles
S. Gleed, weltknown Kansas
gentleman, now one of the regents
OF the State University and assistant
general counsel of the Santa Fe railroad.
Through Mr. Gleed's influence W ash
burne and Murdock and myself got passes
quite frequently over the Sante Fe, and
on one occasion trip through Mexico
was very much enjoyed by the poor boy
now lying dead
burne was rendered the position of libra
rian of the Santa Fe system. His thor
ough knowledge of everything pertaining
to books gave him peculiar qualhcatlons
fpr the position, which he took and held
with credit to himself until he concluded
to move TO Chicago, where he was ambi-
tious to become a newspaper man.
I'm the five years acquaintance that
had with Leonard Washburne l found
him to be Il good fellow. He was gen
tleman. His appearance was that OF
gentleman. His manners were gentle
manly He was, in short, man Of cul-
ture refinement and elegance. In all my
life l have never heard him tell
story that was even suggestive. and yet he
was at home with any crowd that his po-
sition compelled him to join. He was a
friend to all who were really in distress,
and the cynical streak in his nature did
not prevent him from always thinking
well of everybody until other things were
proven.
''It took most people some time to know
Leonard Wa-hburne He did not readily
take TO strangers, but when once he al
lowed any man to know him that person
was his friend for life. His life was in
deed gentle, and in his death he will be
sincerely mourned by many people who
knew in him one OF natures kindest-heart-
ed souls, above the grosser things of this
earth, yet capable of realizing and under