Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-04-08

WALT WHITMAN.
Walt Whitman, the good gray poet"
died at his home in Camden, n. j., at 6:43
q few evenings ago. His end was peaceful
and he was conscious until the last. The
aged bard had been struggling with death
since December II, when he was taken down
with pneumonia. His death was looked for
daily. His vitality so great that he
rallied from the attack although his
physicians said he was very weak and
liable to expire at any time. Five days be-
fore his death change was noticed in
Whitman's condition, and for the last three
days he took no nourishment 1T all. About
o'clock in the afternoon 9 attendants
noticed he was growing worse, and DR.. Al
exander McAllster was sent for. He saw
the poet was dying and remained until the
end. The other persons by his bedside were
Mrs. Mary Davis his housekeeper; War
rem FritZinger, his nurse; and Thomas B.
Harmed and Horace Traubel. two warm
friends DIR. McAlhster asked Whitman if
he was in pain, and the dying poet answered:
s'No." Whitman's last words were a re-
quest to his nurse to shift him in bed Then,
eaching for his handkerchief respira-
ton ceased although his heart beat for ten
minutes afterward. Artist Aitisen made
plaster cast of Whitman's face. 1t was de-
cided that Whitman should be buried in
Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, where he sup
erntended the erection of his tomb several
years ago. He died a poor man. his only
possessions being his house, library and copy
rights. Whitman disposed of these by will
three months ago, leaving his property to
those who nursed him in his last illness.
Lite and Literary Productions
Walter, or Walt Whitman, was born at
West Hills, Long Island, N. Y, May 81,
1919. His father, whose name he bore, was
a farmer; and the boy, the eldest of the
family hrO11ph IN with SfiCht EnOvvl.
edge of even the few refnements obtainable
in the country sixty years ago.
He was strong and sturdy, a good
rider and swimmer, fond of outdoor exer-
else. and impatient of all the amenities of
life. What book education he had he re-
ceived in the public schools of New York and
Brooklyn 1t was not much, for when only
sixteen he was back in the country, teach
ing others and learning from them rather
than from books.
After year or so of teaching he became
a carpenter for time; then he learned
printing working at the case IN New York
City and Brooklyn. and editing papers in
New Orleans and in Huntington, Long
Island. In 1S47-S, with his brother Jefferson
Whitman, he went on long pedestrian tour
of the country, working his way
along by doing carpenters jobs, tramp
ing it, one might almost say. For two years
the brothers wandered about, down the Ohio
and Mississippi Rivers in Louisiana and
lakes, into Canada, and down the Hudson
back to Long Island, where Walt Whitman
betook himself once more to the printers
case.
Up to 1856 he had been known, so far as
he was known, simply as carpenter printer
of no especial steadiness. In 1855, however,
appeared his first and most famous book.
LEAVES of Grass" a volume Of rhapsodical
poems, always without rhyme. generally
without rhythm, dealing especially With the
and progress of the time.
The first edition Of this book Whitman set
I'D and printed himself, and for thirty years
ne has been revising and adding to the book.
At the beginning Of the war Whitman
was living in New York City; but his
brother George was wounded at Fredericks-
burg in 1862 and the poet went to the front
to nurse him He remained with the army
until the close of the war, afterward giving
his experiences in two volumes, Drum
War; 1S60.> Els most conventional poem
is in ''Drum Taps'-"Captaan, Ny Cap
tain" in memory of Lincoln;
In 1864 he had been compelled to give up
for time his work as nurse, because OF q
fever caught in the hosnital camos- among
the sick From the effects of this fever
Whitman never recovered fully, though he
returned to his nursing as soon as he was sable
to be about.
At the close of the war he obtained clerk
he was dismissed when his superior officer
learned that he the author of
Leaves of Grass" He obtained clerk
ship in the Attorney Generals Office, how
ever. which he kept until 1874. In February,
1878. he had stroke of paralysis, resulting
from his fever of 1864 and the exposures of
his army life. and went to Camden, n. J.
He was recovering rapidly when in May his
mother died suddenly in his presence. The
shock caused a relapse and he was in
capacitated for any work for many months.
On his recovery he resigned his clerksaip
and settled in Camden, where he resided
the rest of his life.
Before this while in Washington, ne pub
ished passage to India Qs7O, After
An. Not to Create Only" Qs7n, ''As a
Strong Bird on Pinions Free" ns72, and a
volume Of prose essays Democratic Vistas''
1870. republished in 1878 and 1883. In 1881
a new edition of Leaves Of Grass" was
published in Boston, to the sale OF which the
Massac Ausetts authorities objected. on the
ground of immortality. In 1888 Whitman
published Specimen Days and Collect" in
1885 November Boughs," and in 1889
sands at Seventy"
In the latter var he had another stroke OF
paralysis. 1t crippled him almost entirely,
and on his SEVENTEEN birthday his friends
gave TO him pony carriage and pony. and