Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-10-22
DEATH OF CHARLES A. DANA
Americas Greatest Journalist Passes Away
at His Long Island Home.


died at his home at Glen Cove, Long
Island, at 1920 p. M, of cirrhosis of tn,
liver. Mr. Danas death had been ex
pected for several hours, and his fam
lily and physicians were at his bedside
when the end came. His condition
has been feeble for several months,
and the end was FASTENED by the ex-
treme heat on Friday and Saturday.
Char 'es Anderson Dana was born in
HinsC ale, N. H., August 8, 1919. His
boyhood was spent in Buffalo, ~ Y,
where he worked in store until he
was IS years of age.
His earliest newspaper experience
was gained in the management of the
/ Iarbinger, which was devoted to So
cial reform and general literature.
After about two years of editorial
work on Elizur Wright's Boston
Chronotype, a daily newspaper, Mr.
Dana joined the staff Of the New York
Tribune in 1s47. The next year he
spent eight months in Europe, and up
on his return became one of the pro-
prietors and managing editor of the
Tribune, a post which he held until
April, 1862
The extraordinary influence and cir
culation attained by that newspaper
during the ten years preceding the
Civil war was in degree due to the
development of Mr.. Danas genius for
journalism.
In 1861 Mr.. Dana went to Albany
to advance the cause of Mr.. Greeley,
as a candidate for the United States
senate, and nearly succeeded in nom
mating him. The caucus was about |
equally divided between Mr.. Greeley's |
friends and those of Mr.. Evarts, while
Ira Harris had few votes which held |
the balance of power, and, at the in
stigation Of Thurlow Weed, the sup
porters Of Mr.. Evarts went over to
Judge Harris,
During the first year of the war the
ideas of Mr. Greeley and those of Mr.
Dana in regard to the proper conduct
Of the military operations were some
what at variance; and this disagree
ment resulted in the resignation of Mr..
Dana, after fifteen years service on
the Tribune, He was at once employed
by Secretary Stan ton in special work
If Importance for the war department,
md in 1863 was appointed assistant
secretary of war, which Office he held
until after the surrender of Lee.
At the time when General Grants
character and probable usefulness
we're unknown quantities, Mr. Dana's
onfidence in Grants military ability
probably did much to defeat the pow
rful effort then making to break down
he rising commander.
Mr. Dana was in the saddle at the
ront much of the time during the
ampaigns of northern Mississippi and Y
'icksburg, the rescue of Chal tanooga t
nd the marches and battles of Vir L
mia in 1864 and 1865. /
After the war his services were :
ought by the Chicago Republican. b
ew daily, which failed, through O
luses not within the editors control Il
etnrning to New York he organized Il
1867, the stock company that now a
vns the Sun newspaper, and became il
5 editor. The first number of the II
III issued by Mr.. Dana appeared on O,
-nuary %, 1868, and for nearly thirty II
airs he has been actively and coutin- II
usly engaged in the management of
at successful journal, and solely re-
onsible for its conduct. He made
e sun democratic newspaper, indie -
ndent and outspoken in the expires ~
N of its opinions respecting the af-
RS of either party.
Perhaps to a greater extent than in
3 case of any other conspicuous jour "
list, Mr.. Dana's personality is iden-
ed in the public mind with the
gvspaper that he edited. He has re-
ded no theories of journalism other ~,
IN those of common sense and hui -
n interest He was impatient of -
'liXity, cant and the conventional
udard of news Importance.
lr Dana's first book was n volume
stories translated from the German, Va
titled 1.-The Black Ant" In 1855 he 40
nned and edited with George Rip. the
the New American Cyclopedia." bel
IN General James II. Wilson he YET
ote Life OF Ulysses 5. Grant" net
"Household Rock ~ Poetry atoI- mo
ion OF the Best Minor Poems of the wa
ylish Language" was first pub pro
ed in 1857, and has passed through has
~ editions the lateSt thorouChlv