Evening journal., 1891-02-09
JOHN PRESLEY DUNNlNG.
He RETURNS TO HIS OLD HOME,
FAMOUS, AFTER FIVE YEARS.


tion aud strict business Application
Success In the West The Awful storm
at Samoa IN which he Worked Thirty
six Hours Saving Life and Property.
An EVENING JOURNAL reporter called
on J. Presley Dunning, the famous
Samoan correspondent Of the Associated
/ Press, at his home la Middletown on
| Saturday evening Although Mr. Dun
ming had been at home but twenty four
hours after journey lasting ten days he
seemed very bright and fresh and his
vigorous constitution prevented him
| from even "feeliug tired As he was
preparing to take an evening train FOR
Dover. he could not indulge liz lengthy
conversation but his remarks. although
brief, were exceedingly interesting
Mr.. Dunning came East by q circultous
route, having business appointments IN
many Of the Southern cities for the Asso-
ciated Press, by which he Is still en-
ployed. From San Francisco lie went To
Los Angeles, thence to Santa Fe New
Orleans and Baltimore, whence ha came
home, reaching there on Friday evening
Since January 81 when be left San Fran.
cisco. bis present home, his business
duties have kept him constantly On the
. 60, and the FIRST good rest that he has
had was after be crossed the threshold
Of his old home.
The young newspaper writer was born
in MiddletOwn. in the same house in
which he is now staying, twenty seven
years ago His father Is D. L Dunninp
a well known merchant Of Middletown.
and his mother was the only daughter Of
Major John Jones, of alS12" fame. He
received an education ia the colamon
English branches ut Hiddletown. after
which he went to the Lawrenceville
Classical High School Of Lawrenceville.
n. J. After q four years course there
be graduated with high honors, aud re.
turned to his home for brief rest.
few months later he went to Dover
and began to read law in the Office of
Hon ~ B Smithers. Careful study
soon brought him into the front ranks Of
the young barristeTs, and In the sprlng
Of 1885 he was admitted t. the Dover bar
He acted as leg slative correspondent to
several Wilmington and Philadelphia
papers during that winter, and it was
then that be first conceived the idea OF
becoming a newspaper man. In April,
1885. his mother whom he
loved dearly, was taken suddenly
Ill, aud died This was a
great bereavement to his family and
great sorrow to him. In July, of the
same year, he started West. hoping to
find an opening for a diligent Young
lawyer in California or elsewhere. he
settled in San Francisco and, about
year later. Was offered position on the
Western staff Of the Associated Press.
This position was just what he wanted
he began work with determination TO
prosper. Strict business application
soon gsined for him an enviable reputa-
tion in his profession. He made himself
used TO long journeys. to all kinds Of
storm. and long seasons Of sleepless
hours
As soon as the differences arose between
the natives OF the Samoan Islands and
the United States Government, and 1t be-
came necessary TO despatch war ships TO
the scene to protect American interests
Ar Dunning was assigned to 60 there as
the Associated PEeas correspondent He
scent the first few days in becoming
| familiar with his surroundings and with
the habits Of the natives Then came
the furious and disastrous storm. in
which scores Of lives we're lost and two
fine war ships destroyed
Mr.. Dunni1g was among ths FIRST to
the rescue when the furious elements
began to rage he worked with all his
strength for thirtY-six hours in blind
ing wind sad rain storm and with clouds
Of sand piercing every exposed part Of
his body. The young man was entirely
unconscious Of his duties as a newspaper
nsn, so Jealous was he in assisting to
save life and property. As soon as the
storm began to cease, he was compelled
/ to retire from sheer exhaustion. He
slept well into the second day, and when
ne awoke he at once began to write the
| story which made him famous, his asme
immortal, and which was read by hun
dreds and thousands ia every nation on
tho globe. The vivid portraits which he
drew Of the struggling humanity ol
the raging seas and the men-ofwar anC
big ships battling with the waves, were
| reprinted bysalmost every paper in th'
| country and read with deepest interest.
subsequently, he wrote other stories
of the disaster, his last one being for st
Nicholas only a short time ago This
was none the less graphic, but was read
by thousands of children with greai
delight After his return from Samoa
Mr. Dunning was given q higher position
on his staff, which ne has since held will
much credit
The brilliant young man will b.
rendered . reception by the people o.
Middletown aud sf this state. in the
Opera House there, this evening. 1t will
be held under the auspices of Major Johr
Jones Post, No. %. g A. B. The Mid
dletown Orchestra will discourse musi
and Hon. H.. A. Rowland will preside
Hon N B. Smithers of Dover will max
the address of welcome and introduc
Mr.. Dunning, who will deliver an address
on bis experiences in th
Samoan Islands This will be f0llowe
by short addresses BY prominent speak
ers from all over the state Anon
those who are expected to speak are th
Hon. Z F. Baysra, Hon. George Gray
Hon. Anthony Higgins, Hon. George
Massey and many others. At the cor
clusion of these exercises an open cam
FIRE will be held snd there will be man
responses to toasts.
On Thursday evening Mr. Dunnin
will be married to Mary Elizabeth, tn
daughter of Congressman J b Pening
ton, in the Presbyterian Church at Dove
The bride and groom will then leave II
an extended wedding tour North, return
ing to Middletwon about the last of I'll
, month. After spending a fortnight
Middletown they will leave for San Frai
cisco,
Appointed Deputy Marshal.
United States Marshal Henry
. Mshaffy has appointed George M.