Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1897-01-07
VICTIM OF OyERWORK.
Joseph B. Met ullagh, editor O

Joseph b. McCullagh, editor OF
the ST. Louis Globe-D Democrat,
who took his own life Thursday
morning by plunging from the
window of his room aud dashing
his brains out on the stone pave
ment below, was clearly a victim
of oycrwork. He was a perfect
steam engine of energy and for
many years, it is told of him,
that he remained at his desk eigh-
teen or twenty hours per day. 1t
was In fact a regular custom of
his to 90 down to his office at 8
O'Clock in the morning and not
leave his work until 3 O'Clock the
next morning. His work was his
glory, his pride and his life, and
neither his wonderful brain nor his
energetic body seemed to tire. He
kept this pace up year in and year
out, but the breakdown came at
last. The human mind and body
can not endure overtaXation for
eycr In October last McCul-
lagh's health failed him. Nervous
exhaustion was his chief ailment,
but this was complicated by a va
riety of complaints. He was III
the midst of a great Presidential
campaign, directing every detail
of the work of his big newspaper
and enthused over his labors when
the physical collapse came. The
man who had never known any
thing but activity in life was
forced to seek the seclusion of his
room, physically depleted and in
a state of general collapse. The
strain had been too great. The
mind was willing to 60 on but the
body refused. 1t is not altogether
strange under these melancholy
conditions that the great editor
should seek solace in death, tragic
as the manner Of his taking off
was. The end came as a relief.
Mr.. McCullagf's life can be
pointed to as one worthy Of en-
ulation by the American youth.
He began at the bottom round Of
the ladder and climbed to the
top. He was born in Ireland
fifty-four years ago and came 10
America when II years old,
working his passage on a steam~
er. He was penuiless and friend
less when he set foot on Amerl>
can soil. AT once he went to
work on the Freeman's Journal,
of New York, as an apprentice
to learn the printers trade. Five
years later he went to st. Louis
and became a reporter. His ops
portunity came with the war,
when he acted as Correspondent
for the Cincinnati Commercial,
earning for himself a great rep
utation. Later, he served as
Washington correspondent for
that paper. In 1868 he became
editor of the Cincinnati Euquir-
er and subsequently, in 1870,
went to Chicago and took charge
of the Republican, Of that city.
The great fire of the following
year swept the Republican out
OF existence, and Mr.. McCul~
lagh assumed editorial manage
ment of the Missouri Democrat,
of St. Louis. The paper was
later on consolidated with the
Globe and Mr.. McCullagh cons
tinued in charge of the Globe
Democrat from that time until
death. He never married.
ME. CCulldSu WIS Ouo VI LhS
few strong newspaper men OF
his day. He was we'll versed il
every department of journalism
and under his guiding hand one
of the greatest newspaper prop
erties Of the country has been
built up. AS a writer he was
ready and vigorous. AS a de-
veloper of new features and
styles he was the acknowledged
pioneer, aud as a news gatherer
he had 40 equal. His splendid
conception of news gathering
was shown when a friend once
asked him what did he regard as
the highest instinct Of a true ed
itcr. Mr.. McCullagh replied
"To know where hell is going
to break loose next and have q
reporter on hand to write.it up
American Journalism has suf-
fered a severe loss in the death
Of Joseph B. McCullagh.