Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-09
BARNUM DEAD.
The Aged Snowman Succumbs to
Mankinds Foe.
He DIES WITH FULL CONSCIOUSNESS
His Death Due Entirely to Old Age-Ar-
engagements For a Private Funeral
Sketch of His Remarkable Career In
terwoven With the Country.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn, April S.-The
great Snowman, p. T. Barnum, passed
away at 6:22 o'clock last evening in the
presence of his grief-stricken family.
The scene in the dying mans cham
Der was deeply pathetic. Mr.. Barnum
was fully awake and conscious, although
his nearly exhausted physical powers
made it impossible for him to talk. The
affectionate messages he conveyed with
his eyes to the weeping attendants were
more expressive than words. With the
exception of himself all were in tears.
The physicians say that Mr. Barnum
had no organic disease whatever, the
enfeebled heart action, which had been
apparent for the past few months, be-
ing due to gradual failure of his gen.
eral powers resulting from old age.
In a general way Mr.. Barnum has
prescribed directions for his funeral
He wished it to be of private charac-
ter and transformations.
BIOGRAPHICAL,
Phineas Taylor Barnum, store keeper, lot
terry agent, editor, king of showmen, town
builder, leg slator, lecturer, author, was
born in Bethel, Conn.,, July 5, 1910.
Never has a single life more thoroughly
typifed the genuine American than Bar
NUNS. Few men have had either the pluck,
the energy, the aggressiveness, the genial
good nature or the ability to find out what
the people wanted and to get it for them and
to let them know that it was at theirservice,
than he. And in no one man have these
qualities been better combined than In this
the prince of Humbugs," who after all was
never a distinguished humbug
Barnum's father was a country inn keeper
and poverty stricken man. He died when
his son was but 10 years of age. leaving the
unlettered youth to fight the world as best
he might.
But Phineas was already fighting it. At Is
years of age he entered business and for
five years did whatever came to his hand in
New York and in Brooklyn, whittier he had
gone seeking employment The lad showed
that he possessed the Yankee knack of ac-
cumulating dollars and returned to his ma
tive village in 1873 with sufficient money in
his pocket to open up a country store. This
he straightway proceeded to do.
The store was a success and the young.
merchant waxed prosperous. He took for
year the agency of a state lottery, whose
proceeds were to be applied to the erection
OF the Crotch monument, and this agency
also proved profitable. With success came
ambition and Barnum opened a larger store.
Here came his first reverse and it affected
him-as all his subsequent setbacks did
about as much as fiexion Injuries Damascus
steel He trusted people too freely and bad
debts pulled him down.
For this misfortune he consoled himself by
getting married and starting a newspaper.
The marriage to young lady of his native
town in 1923, and the newspaper, the Herald
of Freedom, was started the same year. It
was so entirely free in its sayings as to
cause the imprisonment OF its editor for
sixty days
This misfortune and others following Il
reduced Barnum's property and he shortly
removed to New York seeking fresh fields.
A visit to Philadelphia drew him into the
business which has made his name and
kindly face known the world over. While
I'm that city he strolled into hall wherein
was being exhibited Joyce Heth, I" the nurse
Of George Washington
Josea HelH Eas sls7z Ennan- allsead.