Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-10-22
DEATH OF CHARLES A. DANA
EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK SUN.
Mr.. Dana's Work for Half . Gem
fury Has Commanded . Foremost
Place-Sketch Of Usefal Ca
Feer.


l.. !. MIR. Dana's death had been expected !
for several hours and his family and ply
sicians were at his bedside when the end |
came. His condition had been such for |
several months that the members of his |
family had kept themselves in constant
readiness to go to his bedside at any mo-
ment. On Saturday morning he had a re-
lapse and it was apparent that recovery
was impossible. Several times, however.
he rallied, but toward night began to
sink. During the night there were feeble
rallies, but they did not last long. This
morning it was seen that the end was
but few hours off and his attendants re-
manned almost constantly ut his bedside.
The end came quietly. The extreme heat
of Friday and Saturday had much to do
with fastening death. On Friday Mr..
Dana showed signs of distress and every
thing possible was done to relieve him. He
had been weakened by his long illness and
during the Summer was several times
thought to be on the verge of fatal col
lapse, but each time rallied. He did not
improve much with the coming of cooler
weather, and the sinking spells become
more frequent. On Friday Mr.. Dana was
able to take only the lightest nourish-
ment, and this condition continued. Paul
Dana and his sisters, Mrs. Draper, Mrs.
Underhill and Mrs. Branan, were at his
home on Saturday morning and were
warned to remain there. They were at
the bedside when death came. The cause
of Mr.. Dana's death was cirrhosis of the
liver. On June he was at his Office, ap-
parently strong and healthy. The next
day he was taken i'll and he never after
ward visited New York. He was Is years
of age.
Charles Anderson Dana was born in
Hinsdale, N. H., August 8, 1919. He was
descendent of Jacob, eldest son of Rich
ard Dana, progenitor of most of those who
bear the name in the United States. His
boyhood was spent in Buffalo, N. Y,
where he worked in store until he was
Is years old. At that age he first studied
the Latin gramamr and prepared himself
for college, entering Harvard in 1889, but
after two years serious trouble with his
eyesight compelled him to leave. He re-
ceived an honorable dismissal and after
ward was given n bachelors and masters
degrees. In 1912 he became a member Of
the Brook Farm Association.
His earliest newspaper experience was
gained in the management of the Har-
binger, which was devoted to social re-
| form and general literature. After about
two years editorial work on Elizur
Wrights Boston Chronotype, daily pa
per, Mr.. Dana Joined the staff of the New
York Tribune in l847. The next year he
spent eight months in Europe. and after
his return he became one of the proprie'
tors and managing editor Of the Tribune
a post which he held unt;i april l, 1862
The extraordinary influence and circula'
ton attained by that newspaper during
the 10 years preceding the civil war was
in degree due to the development Of
Mr.. Dana's genius for journalism.
During the first year Of the war thu
ideas OF Mr.. Greeley and those OF Mr.
Dana in regard to the proper conduct o
military operations were somewhat at va
} rance and this disagreement resulted il
the resignation Of Mr.. Dana after Il
} years service on the Tribune. He was a
once employed by Secretary Stanton il
special work of Importance for the wa
, department and in 1868 was appointed as
J sistant secretary of war. which Office h
held until after the surrender of Lee.
At the time when General Grants char
2 acter and probable usefulness were un
known quantities Mr.. Dana's confidenc
in Grants military ability did much
defeat the powerful effort then making t
break down the rising commander
= Returning to New York, he organize
in 1867 the stock company that now own
the Sun newspaper and became its edito
= The first number of the Sun. issued b
A Mr.. Dana, appeared January p. 1868, nm
n since that time he has been actively an
4 continuously engaged in the nnanageme'
o of that successful journal and solely r
. sponsible for its conduct. He made II
d Sun democratic newspaper, independe'
II and outspoken in the expression OF j
e opinion respecting the affairs of eth
}. party. His criticism Of civil maladmini
e tration during General Grants terms
" president led to notable attempt on Il
v part of that administration, in July. 1877
e to take him from New York on char
of libel, to be tried without jury in
Washington police court. Applicant
was made to the United States distri
n court in New York for writ Of remov'
Is but in memorable decision Jud
q Blatchford, now justice of the suprer
= court of the United States, refused t
s. warrant, holding the proposed form
As trial to be unconstitutional. Perhaps
re a greater extent than in the case of a
h. other conspicuous journalist. Mr. Dam
personality was identified in the pub
mind with the newspaper that he edl
He has recorded no theories of journals
e. other than those of common sense
'e human interest.
nd Mr.. Dana's first book was volume
TX titled "The Black Ant" New York
10 Leipsic, ls4s). In 1855 he planned a
ce edited with George Ripley. the "The n
's' American Cyclopaedia" tl6 vols, n
1879 -eA With Gauaral James