Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-08-23
A VETERAN EDITOR,
COLONEL JOHN ARklNs DEAD.
The well-Known Publisher of tho Rocky
Mountain News Expires at Denver
Brief Sketch of His Career.-A Most
Successful business Man.


Denver, Aug. 1D.-Colonel John Ar
kins, for many years the editor and
publisher of the Rocky Mountain
News, died at 100 p. IN. yesterday.
The death of Colonel Atkins was not
entirely unexpected. He had been all
ing for several months, and had been
under the care of physicians. His
original trouble was an affection of
the liver, but at the last gastritis at
tackled him, and to this disease his
death was directly due.
Six months ago Colonel Atkins HIM
self was forced to admit that his
physical health was not what 1t had
been, and he placed himself under the
care of physician. The physician
found that his patient was a serious
sufferer from liver enlargement and
advised him to give up the labor and
care of the newspaper office for some
months at least. This advice the col
onel reluctantly accepted, and under
the doctors advice and instructions he
decided to take trip to Excelsior
Springs, Mo. After recuperating there
rs he expected to do, the colonel meant
to try an entire change of scene and
climate by spending some months on
Rock Island, Il well-known summer re-
sort off the Rhode Island coast. The
latter part of his plan was not carried
out, because the first part miscarried.
Colonel Atkins returned from his jour
ncy to Missouri much worse in health
than before he started upon 1t, and
with the shadow of death already upon
him.
Since his arrival two weeks ago last
Thursday he had been confined most
of the time to his room. DR.. Grant at
tended him all the time, but medical
skill could do no more than postpone
for few days the end that was now
inevitable.
John Atkins was born Of Irish stock
in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on
Feb. II, 1912, leaving him 90 years
and Z months old at his death. He
was given public school education,
and at the age of 1G became appren-
ticed to the printing trade in the office
of The Republican at Red Wing, MINI.
The proprietor of this publication and
young Atkins employer was Il. A.
Meredith, afterward managing editor
of the Rocky Mountain News.
He served three years in the Union
army during the hottest period of the
war, and came out at its close nom
commissioned officer. Most of these
three years We're spent with the com
mand of his brother, who held the
rank of captain.
After leaving the army Colonel Ar
kins started out as a travelling printer,
working in many towns and cities
throughout the South, and then going
TO Chicago, where he renewed his ac-
quaintance with f. A. Meredith, and
while there was married.
In 1878 he came to Denver, seeing
good opportunity here for a live young
man. His first position here was fore
man OH the Sunday Mirror, a paper
published by Stanley G.. Fowler. He
associated himself with the Denver
Typographical union and was twice
elected its president. Colonel Atkins
was always strong man among the
union typos, and at his death Union 40
had his name upon its roll of honorary
members.
He formed n partnership in Novem-
bcr. 1875, with J. NJ. Burnell and G. c.
Davis to start n newspaper and print
ing office in Leadville. This was the
Chronicle Colonel Atkins had the po-
sition of editorial and local staffs
combined. lie Satnefeu tne news,
wrote it, got up the editorials and
filed the poetry department.
The Chronicle was Republican pub
lication and exercised n strong infiu-
ence throughout the mining region, be-
ing essentially miners paper. 1t
grew most rapidly and made money
for its owners. Its earnings for the
first three months of its existence are
said to have been $4,000.
In year after the birth Of the
Chronicle it had daily circulation of
1000 and a weekly edition was printed
besides.
On July 1, 1870, Mr.. Burnell retired
from the Chronicle company, and in
April, 1880, Colonel Atkins sold out to
Mr.. Davis. He then made short trip
East, and in June Of that year he pur-
chased an interest in the Rocky Noun
tain News, becoming its business and
editorial manager. Ever since then he
has devoted himself entirely to that
publication.
Colonel Atkins was a strong descrip-
tive writer and bright paragrapher.
He also wrote some clever verses, but
his strongest point was his ability to
manage his business subordinates. III
this province he excelled.