The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-05
THE POET AND JOURNALIST
Bids GoOdby to the Scenes of
Earth
EUGENE FIELD HAS GONE
Heart Failure the Cause of His Sudden
Demise
The Angel Of D:ath Called and the Poet
Passed Away With a Smile
On His Lips


CHICAGO. Nov. 4.-Eugene Field. poet,
died of heart failure about ) this morn
ing. He retired last night in his usual
health, and appeared perfectly we'll
until daybreak, when his son. who oc-
curied the room with him, heard him
groan. 1t was his expiring gasp.
Mr.. Field leaves widow AMI five chil.
dren. He had been indisposed for several
days, but no serious results were even
thought of by his family and immediate
friends. Georgs II. Yenowins of this
city was at Field 8 bedside when he diet.
Tney had Intended to sta { together for
Kansas City. whsre Field was to read
tonight.
Eugene FELL wass born at st. Louis
September 3 1850, the son of Boswell
Martin and France (Reed) Field. His
parents were both natives of Windham
county. Vt. His father was Dred SCOTS
first attorney in the case which resulted
in the famous 'Dred Scott decision," 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,
Mass. He attended Williama' college and
the state university of Missouri. He
adopted the profession of newspaper
writer, beginning with the St. Louis
Journal in 1872. He was later connected
with the st. Joseph. Mo-. Gazette, ST.
Louis Times, Journal, Kansas City Times
and Denver Tribune; He came 10 Chi
cago in August. 1888, to accept a position
on the editorial staff o the Chicago Nom
ing News, (now Recoru,) and his connec-
tion with this paper continued without
interruption until his death. Fields last
contribution to his department in this
paper, Sharps and Flats. was published
Saturday morning, and in 1t was a char.
fusal to accept the imputatiJns as to the
cause OF the recent assault on ths hum.
orist at Patterson, n. J.
In addition 10 newspaper work, Field
established a reputation as a powerful
and clever Writer OF stories and verse.
His latest poem OF pretension was Dream
Ships, prlnte in October in the aides
Home Journal. He was especia,s adept
in poems and stories of child llfa. and
his printed books now nun Der half
dozen volumes. He also mada himself
famous as reader of his own stories and
verses. In June, 1898. Knox college con-
ferred upon him the honorary degree of
A. NJ.
For sore days Mr.. Field had been all
ing, but 1t was supposed he was sufferin
from his usual stomach oubles, and no
serious turn was anticipated. DR.. Frank
Reilly, who was summoned this morning
pronounced the death to have been caused
by the formation OF clot of blood in the
heart.
4 All day yesterday Mr.. Field was feel
ing so i'll that ne telegraphed to Kansas
City cancelling an engagement which he
had there for tonight. He sat up until
late hour. chatting with Mr.. Yenowine
OF the Milwaukee illustrated News.
Mr.. YenOwlne was to have accom- panied
Mr.. Field to Kansas City, and had come
from Milwaukee for that purpose. The
deceased was very cheerful and the two
sat up until late hour discussing future
plans. Shortly before midnight Mr..
Field had telegram sent to Kansas City
saying that be would be able to come
later in the week.
Upon going to bed Mr.. Field did not
complain, but during the night Fred
Field, the IA year-old son OF tho deceased,
heard his father groaning in his sleep.
Tne lad thought nothing of this until
near morning; the sleeping man groaned
more heavily than before and then be-
came perfectly still and quiet. When the
famIlr reached the bedside they found
that Eugene Field was no more. His
body was lying in an easy and natural
position, the heat of life had not yet died
out and a tranquil, peaceful expression
on his face gave the appearance of having
dropped into gentle slumber.
The funeral services will take place at
the Fourth Presbyterian church on We'd
nesday o. ; p. M. The Rev. DR.. Frank
W. Gunsaulus will officiate, assisted by
the Rev. DR.. Frank M. Bristol, and ap-
propriate addresses VIII be made py Rev.
DR.. NJ. M. Stricken and the Hon. Luther
Latin Mills.
The interment will be at Graceland
cemetery and will be private.