The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-01-08


Ills brain was affected" said the
doctor. but his intellect was all right.
He never gave any signs OF mental
breakdown during his illness.
"lle suffered from profound nervous
exhaustion, complicated with n recur-
ring kidney trouble and an asthmatic
affection. The late political campaign
had undermined his health.
No writings were found in Mr.. Nc
Cullagh's room explaining his act or
leaving instructions for the arrange
ment of his affairs.
Mr.. McCullagh's illness first came
upon him shortly after the close OF
the late Repu blican national conven-
ton. 1t took the form of acute asthma.
complicated with nervous depression.
When he passed through the acute
stage he found himself slow in recov-
cry. His limbs had lost their vigor,
his arms were numb and there were
premonitions that the brain had come
undec the same shadowy spell.
MIR. McCullagh would not admit that
he was failing either physically or
mentally. lie insisted on managing
his newspaper from his bedroom All
through the day he sat in ms arm
chair wrapped in blankets, received
renorts from his subordinates ana
gave them orders for the conduct OF
the paper.
/ IJoseph II. McCullngh was born in Dublin
ireland in November. 1872 and when out u
\ years OF age came to this country on u Saii'ns
i shin. workin. his passage before the mast
t,,,tned even IN that early time Of life with al
| ,,nhitiou 10 make his fortune in the new coun
! try across the seas. Arriving In New iors
| CITY in 1853 he aprrenticed TO leaih th'
| printiny business in the Office or the FREE
mans Journal
rtve vears later. In 1885, he camo TO -. Lou
ana entered the Office Of the Christian Advo
cate then edited by Dr. McAnuliy and Will
| engaged ON that paper STUDIED the art OF pho
biography. in which In a short time be becain
an expert Mr.. John Frazier. who was fore
man OF the Advocate Office at the time. and al
forwards went to the Missouri Democra
once recommended Mr.. McCullagh to Messrs
Mckee and Fishback AS promising reporter
and he was finally. In 1859, given place on III
daily paper
he proved himself industrious and capable
and in the winter Of lsav-6o was sent 10 Jener
son City as legislative correspondent lie wa
, faithful and fearless In the discharge OF hi
duties at the state capital. and incurred tn
animosity OF many democratic members {
| both houses, but on the whole was liked fc
his fearless truthful style OF reporting. Ia IN
spring OF 1850 he severed his connection VIII
, the Democrat 10 accept very advantageot
off,r from the Cincinnati Gazette.
When the war broke out, he changed to u
e Cincinnati Commercial. and continued as !
war correspondent throughout all the mote
a campaigns In the west. undergoing gree
fatigue and deprivation. and taking mar
. chances Of his lie. He was with Cominouo
J. foote in the attack on Fort Doncison, the on
!. reporter in the pilothOuse OF the ~ boat wa
the gallant old naval officer when ne was
severely wounded by a shell from confede
y ate battery lie was afterwards one
u the correspondents who ran the confedera
l. batteries at Vicksburg. and narrowly escap
a with his life. Throughout the whole war
was ever at the front. shrinking from no lao
!. or risk. and writing home to his newspap'
IL his Commercial a series OF descriptive lette
which were not surpassed In the whoie iltei
:. ture OF the war. Those letters gained h
. great reputation. and contributed largely
'e the immense circulation OF the paper Fin
II ing him so capable In his letters. the CONNIE
K cial. after the war; established MIN as
n Washington correspondent
N |
enhanced his reputation ~ u writer. While
this service he Invented" so TO speak. the
lie Of interviewing. which In later years has be
Of 80 much used and abused by the Americ
h press In that admirable series OF intervie
with President Andrew johnson and Sena
ben f. Wade. OF Ohio, Mr. McCullaeh v
NJ wide eamc
al Mack" by means Of his shorthand
On complishmcnt, made 1t point not only to
IT. serve the matter Of the Interview, but also
=. manner OF the man, his actual speech pnra
~ information, gesticulation, all that the subj
r. was anc said and did ut the moment. so :
MT his talks with Andy johnson" and I'll
Wade excited the attention and contribu
:. 10 the information and amusement OF
" wholc country. In 1858 he seve
MI his connection with the Commercial
Ia. became editor Of the Cincinnati Enquirer,
N. subsequently, In 1870 went to Chicago
took charge OF the Republican Of that 9
which he conducted with remarkable abb