The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-11-09
POET FIELD Is DEAD
One Of the Best Known West
ern Writers of Verse.
WAS AN EDITOR OF ABILITY
sketch OF His Career as a Newspaper
Mau-nis Latest Poem,
"Dreamships."

Chicago, NOV. 4-Eugene Field, poet,
died of heart failure about o'clock
this morning. He retired last night in
his usual health and apparently slept
soundly till daybreak, when his son,
who occupied the room with him. heard
him groan. It was his expiring gasp.
Field leaves a widow and five children.
Field has been indisposed for several
days, but no serious results were even
thought Of by his family and immediate
friends. George II. Yenowyno of this
city was at Fields bedside when he
died. Field and Yenowyno intended to
start together for Kansas City, where
Field was to read tonight.
For some days Mr.. Field has been all
ing, but it was supposed he was suffer-
ing from his usual stomach troubles.
and no serious turn was anticipated. DIR.
Frank Reilly, who was summoned this
morning, pronounced the death to have
been caused by the formation of a
clot of blood in the heart Although
yesterday Mr. Field was feeling so Ill
that he telegraphed to Kansas City
cancelling an engagement which he had
there for tonight, he sat up until late
hour chatting with Mr.. YenOwine or
the Milwaukee illustrated News. Mr.
Yenowine was to have accompanied Mr..
Field to Kansas City The deceased was
very cheerful and the two sat up until
a late hour discussing future plans.
Shortly before midnight Mr. Field
had a telegram sent to Kansas City
saying that he would not be able to
come later in the week. Upon going to
bed Mr.. Field did not complain, but dur
ing the night Fred Field, the l4-year-old
son Of the deceased, heard his father
grooming in his sleep. The lad thought
nothing of this until nearly morning
the sleeping man groaned more heavily
than before, and then became perfectly
still and quiet. When the family reach
ed the bedside they found that Eugene
Field was no more. His body was lying
in an easy natural position, the heat
of life had not yet died out and tran
quill, peaceful expression on his face
gave the appearance of having dropped
into a slumber.
Eugene Field was born at st. Louis
September 2, 1850, son of Roswell Mar
tin and Frances (Reed) Field. His pa
rents were both natives of Windham
county, Vermont. His father was bred
SCOTS first attorney in the case which
resulted in the famous bred Scott de-
cision by the United States supreme
court. Eugene Fields mother died in
1857. He was then put under the care
of his cousin, Miss Mary Field French
at Amherst. He attended Williams
college, Knox college and the state
university of Missouri. He adopted the
profession of a newspaper writer, be-
ginning with the st. Louis Journal in
1872 He was later connected with the
i St. Joseph, Mo, Gazette, St. Louis
Times-Journal, Kansas City Times and
nanxrnV frpfh1Tnp a q m (thicq
August 10, 1888, to accept a position on
the editorial staff of the Chicago Morn
- ing News NOW Record, and his con-
nechon with this paper continued with
out interruption until his death. Fields
= last contribution to his department in
this paper, "Sharps and Flats" was
- published Saturday morning, and in it
"a was characteristic defense of Bill Nye
~ and refusal to accept imputations as to
the cause Of the recent assault on the
humorist in Patterson. N. j.
. In addition to his newspaper work.
e Field established a reputation as a
&c powerful and clever writer of stories
and verses. His last poem Of pretension
was "Dreamships," printed in the Oc-
D tOber Ladies' Home Journal. He was
d especially adept in poems and stories
of child life, and his printed books now
number half a dozen volumes. He also
=, made himself famous as a reader OF
a his own stories and verses. In June
- 1898, Knox college conferred upon Field
+; the honorary degree of A. NJ.
The funeral services will take place
- at the Fourth Presbyterian church OF
- Wednesday at 2 p. m. The Rev. DR.
Frank W. Gunsaulus will ohiciate, as
sisted by the Rev. DR.. Frank NJ. Bris
IS toll.