Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-11-08
POET FIELD IS DEAD
One of the Best Known West
ern Writers Of Verse. -
WAS AN EDITOR OF ABILITY
sketch OF His Career as Newspaper
Man-Dis Latest Poem.
'Dreamships."

Chicago, Nov. 4.-Eugene Field. poet,
died of heart failure about s 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. 1t 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 H. Yenowyno of this
city was at Fields bedside when ne
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 surfer
ing from his usual stomach troubles,
and no serious turn was anticipated. Or.
Frank Reilly, who was summoned TINS
morning, pronounced the death to have
been caused by the formation OF
clot of blood in the heart. Although
yesterday Mr.. Field was feeling so i'll
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 OF
| the Milwaukee Illustrated News. Mr..
Yenowine was to have accompanied MI
! 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 14-year-old
| son of the deceased. heard his father
| groaning 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 hea
of life had not yet died out and tran
quill, peaceful expression on his fac,
gave the appearance of having dropped
into 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 Windhan
| county, Vermont. His father was Dred
| 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 il
| 1857. He was then put under the care
of his cousin. Miss Mary Field French
at Amherst. He attended William:
college, Knox college and the STATE
university of Missouri. He adopted tn,
profession of a newspaper writer, be
ginning with the st. Louis Journal il
1872. He was later connected with tn,
st. Joseph, Mo-, Gazette, st. Loui.
Times-Journal, Kansas City Times ant
Denver Tribune. He came to Chicago
August 10, 1888, to accept a position OF
the editorial staff of the Chicago Morn
ing News now Record), and his con
nection with this paper continued with
out interruption until his death. Field.
last contribution to his department II
this paper. "Sharps and Flats wa.
published Saturday morning, and in 1
was characteristic defense of Bill Ny,
and refusal to accept imputations as t.
the cause of the recent assault on tn,
humorist in Patterson. N. ].
In addition to his newspaper work
Field established reputation as
powerful and clever writer of storie,
and verses. His last poem of pretensior
was 'Dreamships," printed in the DC
tober Ladies' Home Journal. He wa.
especially adept in poems and storie.
of child life, and his printed books nov
number half dozen volumes. He alsC
made himself famous as a reader o.
his own stories and verses. In June
1898, Knox college conferred upon Field
the honorary degree of A. NJ.
The funeral services will take plac,
| n.
Wednesday at p. M The Rev. DR.
Frank W. Gunsaulus will officiate, as
sisted by the Rev. DR.. Frank NJ Bris
toll.