The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-02

REV. JoHs '. DAMON.
Others sho became the most brilliant
thinkers OF the age. IL has been a good
many years since Mr. Damon has had a
regular pastorsie. lie organized the
Plymouth Congregational church Of this
city. but iil.iealth compelled him 10 give
up the church, since which time he has
devoted his energies and life 10 making
people happy. lie has been m!niatering
angel TO the poor in distress. has ofsLciaied
81 the funerals OF their loved ones free of
charge, and it is not to be wondered ut
that he Is nos enjoying peaceful,
happy Old age. loved by All. young
and old. Hundreds of people will
wish, him happy New Year. It is "A
happy co-ncident tina. Mr.. Damon's
brother. Rev. &. Damon. OF Hayerhill.
Mass, IS years old, has also given up his
passionate and Is deyoting his remaining
years to marrying people, christening
children and soothing the families which
death has visited.
At the age OF 10 years Mr.. Damon
started out IN life rs printers devil" and
has had q remarkable career. lie mas con-
Quoted numerous newspapers, vas at one
time editor of the Portland oTcgcnian. aud
did no. adopt ihe ministry until after his
marriage. His father was oyerseer at
Waitham OF the first COTTON mill ever
operated by machinery. Mr.. Damon
started 10 learn the printers trade In the
office of the Lynn, Mass, Record, then one
of the prominent weekly papers Of the
country. lie served an apprenticeship OF
five years and the age Of II found him set
ting typ re at Cambridge. in Metcal.'s office,
Harvard university press. Al that time
Henry ". iongfs!low was professor in
Harvard sud was publishing a volume Of
poems from Me;ealfs Office. Young pa-
,non was a remarkably swift and accurate
tvpesetter. and he was put to work on
l4ongfeliow's original manuscript. The
poems we're being set in bourgeois type.
and Mr.. Damon states that Mr. Iongfei-
ioS would eome into the composing room
ard watch him by the hour. lie has a
vivid recollection of the poet, aud the other
evening said:
1T Was season of boyish pride when
ever i.ongieilow came into the office. lie
was so uDassuming. always so pleasant
lie would stand behind me by the hour
and watch the progress Of the work over
my shoulder. making frequent changes
from copy a. new ideas would come To his
mind. lie used TO say that the way put
the tyre in my stick reminded him of a
hungry chicken picking up corn. But
that was fifty wears ago.
While in Mstealcs office Mr.. Damon did
much work oa she Massachusetts supreme
court reports. shlch IN Itself vas a good
education. Ia September. t~s9. Daniel
Webster delivered his famous address At
the compIesiea OF the Bunker Hin mona.
ment and Mr., Damon has = most vivid
recollection OF tho event lie was then at
work on the Lynn Record bat could not
resist the temptation - run away and AZ
tend the ceremonies going on at Rss,on.
in recalling the circumstance NJ. Damon
sad
"At lynn the pulse seized me. and I
sssst left the cshcs III ms SHIRT sleeves. eot
en the traln and rode 20 Boston / de
sioctiy remember tke great procession oi
u nf1 PEOPLE Who marched across the
Charles river bridge AMI up 10 bunker
HHt in ChaFlestoNn. ~ that time nv
mother was visiting relatives on the hiIi-
Klde % bunker H!H. ana I tried 10 avoid
meeting ner hung around on The cut.
skirts a. she CROWD au8 tried 20 hear What
Mr. Webster Nss saying. Suddenly
mother caught slehI %! rpe, aud ran u
taa snj she alter fHe. | eva2ei her
hossve and had last reached iown when
that famous Sfarm broke out Th-
heavens fust seemed - open aud let uoa a
a. cceaa ~ rain. The mass 81 f,eoplc az,
Ehc Hill raa IN every direction seeking
shelter. and the nefcrness ct the storm
frightened use also. and started 70 yun
sgAio. Ahead Of ne vas eir
syn y kich resi-. 'Stahlinc Around
tbs Corusy Ia my excitement |
read a., 'StNhh.ns Around The toruer
stopped and looked hack. The p~,arle
We're running to town. ant could not 4 n.
dersssni hoH tt wAs that toe news IL! ths
stAeaiur had reached the thousands an.
tending the Bunker liza ceremonies any
rsorr than ! could unterstsnd how lt as
that shs fact % the tragedy Should ID
painted "a Ass letters GA slEn. White 1
Nas trying 80 make est what il al fl~a..t
mother seized rue by she shoultrs
marched nae up town and hoaeht me !
jacket. The circumstances al the storm
and thar siga was - y1viaiy imprtnsrsl
IN my Youthful mind that III neye,
forgvt - "
In iSl6 CAPT Mccoy. Of The United
States army, organized = company OF
yonnE men IN Boston. mostly printers. q
Join an expedition under Col. Stevenson
10 take possession Of California, whiea 81
that time had nos been coded 70 the t'nion
Nj. Damon was then 10 years cid. Aaa he
1oiaei the company. bus Cart McCoy
failed 10 secure hss commission, and ths
company dss6an3ed. Most al the boy,
went on 10 Nev York. enlisted there AID
went 80 California anyway. Mr.. Daaou
went aIons tAe docAs "a Boston barber.
short time after this inciieas. Sai
seeing whaling hsig ;he Sssnus. sad
Thomas. shtpP~3 as sailor Several
weeks were Consumed (a V3.tjne uaiEavH
snAss IL she vessel, Transforming Ass lgeAl