New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-01
PRENTICE MULFORD DEAD
HIS CORPSE FOUND FLOATING IN A CANOE.

LOVE FOR SOLITUDE ONE OF HIS cHARAorEAs
ISucs-A WRITER FOR MANY
PUBLICATIONS.
Prentice Mulford, well known in New-York end
California as a newspaper man and philosophical
writer, was foSnd dead in canoe in the lower
part of Sheepshead Bay on Saturday afternoon.
For several days the canoe, which was covered BY
a white canvas awning, had been noticed drifting
about aimlessly, and on Saturday afternoon boat
man, impelled by curiosity, rowed toward it and
found it to all appearances deserted. The canoe
had its name, white Crow" painted on the bow.
On closer examination the body Of a man, lying
at full length in the bottom of the little craft.
was discovered life evidently having been extinct
for several days. The mans face was swollen and
bloody about the mouth, but no marks Of blows
were discernible. while the condition Of the face
was such as might easily rAult from several days
exposure to the weather.
In the boat were complete outfit for camp
ing, small kerosene stove, cooking utensils,
saw, and supply OF provisions In box in the
bow of the boat were found a banjo, writing ma
terials, an empty cigar-case, and some pages OF
brown paper covered with writing. The police
were Immediately informed, and Deputy Coroner
A. E. Stilwell, OF Gravesend took charge Of the
T. J. Needham, publisher at No. 80 West Four
teenth-st., as that of Prentice Mulford. The body
at first thought to be that of Mr. Needham,
owing to white paper writingpad found in the
boat with Mr. Needhams business address printed
1t, on which Milford had been writing.
Last June Milford returned from California and
assumed the editorship of The White Cross Lii
brary," monthly magazine showing how results
may be obtained in all business and art through
the force of thought and silent power Of mind"
of which F. j. Needham is publisher Milford
spent most Of his time with the Needham family
and made their house his home while in this city.
Last Monday be announced that he was about to
spend month or two in his canoe, cruising about
around New-York Bay and gradually working bis
way along Long Island Sound to Sag Harbor, Null
fords birthplace which he expected to reach by
July /, when Mr. Needham was to join him. When
Mulford was seen last Monday he in perfect
health This was the last the Needhams heard Of
him until they read the announcements in Sundays
papers of the body of an unknown man being found
in a canoe drifting in Sheepshead Bay. The writ
ing-pad with Needham's address printed on it.
together with other articles found In the canoe.
convinced them that it was the body Of Prentice
milford.
Milford had a retiring disposition and in
the habit of getting off to some lonely PLAZA and
writing down his thoughts. lie frequently wrote
there soloquies as if he were talking to himself.
rather as If be possessed two personalities. On
the brown paper found in the boat was found writ
ing which he penned evidently only few hours
before he died. These are the last words he
wrote:
With me you have perfectly healthy mind,
and you cannot have one elsewhere Things soon
will get better organized in the boat and you will
organize with them. 1t is cloudy thoughts you
are throwing off that keeps my mind from blend
ing with yours. 1t is as grievous TO me as to
you. Always know that blend with you when
you are happy. The material does not like this
change, for it sees so much of it; 1t must go. 1t
is trying to keep its old place and makes desper-
ate struggle Darling am here, close by your
side to sustain and cheer you Prentice, dear.
this is only black mental picture. 1t colors
black everything material about you. Get into
my mind by taking plenty Of time for doing small
things Remember the chief end of the boat is to
help YOU get into an element Of thought. IL Is
not going so far with the boat. 1t is going into
that new element. The realization of this will
come to you much faster here than when in the
world Your material part does like TO get out
of the world. The links connecting our spirits
are still delicate. In other WORDS the material
strength now vanishing can rupture our blending.
Recognize the first feeling of gloom that comes as
an evil thought. Throw it off directly, and it
is not liable TO find lodgment To think tf me
when eating will make me much more real to
you and give me much material strength, for
then not only eat with you, but get you in SO
eating"
Prentice Milford was born in Sag Harbor, Long
Island, in 1894, his father being for many years
a hotelkeeper in that place On the death of his
foth thar in nd IN rhq
hotel business, which he conducted until 1853
In 1856 he shipped before the mast in the clipper
ship Wizard, bound for China, but he left the ship
on her arrival at San Francisco His first
perenoe in the West was witnessing the hanging
by the Vigilance Committee of Brace and Hether-
ingtOn, two notorious desperadoes, opposite Fort
Gunnybags, August 6, 1886 In 1860 he became
writer for The Union Democrat" In 1864 he
ran for the Legislature, but was defeated. He
was taken on the editorial staff of The Golden
Era" in 1865. He ran Stockton daily paper in
1S67-'6s, and wrote for The Dramatic Chronicle"
Milford then came East, and after a short stay
in New-York went to Europe. After that he re-
turned to the West, where for seven years he con-
Quoted THE Overland Monthly" lie also was
an editorial writer for "a The San Francisco Chron-
icle In 1886 he came last again, and for some
time was engaged on The New-York Daily
Graphic. In 1888 he began in the Sunday
edition of The star a department. Of misce:
laneous matter under the head Of " The Omnibus"
few years ago he built a hut in a New-lersey
swamp, where for four months he led the life OF
a hermit. mot wrote milford, that | was
cynical or disguised with the world 1t has given
me lots of amusement sandwiched between head
aches, periods Of repentance and sundry hours
spent in the manufacture of good resolutions, but
because there in the solitude Of the woods could
better commune with my own thoughts.
In 1870 Mulford married, but his wife dieh
shortly afterward He leaves no children, his
only near relatives being two sisters who live in
Sag HarbCT lie wrote several books, among
which are The Swamp Angel published in 1888,
and Life by Land and Sea- published in 1880
WHITE GAPS IN SOrTH CAROLAyl