Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-10-21
CHARLES A. DANA DEAD.

Tho Noted Editor Of the New York Sun
Passes Away at tho Age of Seventy Eight.
New York, Oct. 17.-Charles A. Dana,
editor of the New York Sun, died ut
1:2O this afternoon at his home ut Glen
Cove, Long island.
Mr.. Dana's death had been expected
for several hours, and his family and
physicians were at his bedside when
the end came. His condition had been
such for several months that the men,
bers of his family had kept themselves
In constant readiness to so to his bed
side ut any moment. On Saturday
morning he had relapse and 1t 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
1t was seen that the end was but a few
hours of. and his attendants remained
almost constantly at his bedside. The
end came quietly.
The cause of Mr.. Dnn,-.I \ death was
cirrhosis Of the liver. On June o he was
ut his office apparently strong md
healthy. The next day lie was taken
Ill, and he never afterwards visited
New York. ae was rs years of age.
Charles Anderson Dana was born In
Hinsdale. N. H.. August 8. 1910, and
was therefore rs years old.
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 grammar and
prepared himself for college. entering
Harvard In 1880, but after two years
serious trouble with his eyesight COM
PEELED him to leave. He received IN
honorable dismissal and was after
| ward given his bachelors and aster's
| degree. In 1912 he became member
of the Brook Farm Association for ag-
riculture and education.
His earliest newspaper experience
was gained In the management OF the
Harbinger. which was devoted to So
cial reform and general literature.
After about two years Of editorial wor.:
on EliZur Wright's Boston Chronotype.
n daily newspaper. Mr.. Dana Joined the
STAFF OF the New York Tribune in 1S47.
| During the first years Of the war the
ideas of Mr.. Greeley and those Of Mr..
Dana in regard to the proper conduct
| Of military operations We're somewhat
Mt variance; and this disagreement re-
suited In the resignation OF Mr.. Dana,
after fifteen years service on the Tri-
bunc. He was at once employed by
Secretary Stanton In special work of
importance for the War department.
| ann ia lSthb WIS uSsis"ht
secretary OF war. which office he held
until after the surrender Of Lee.
Returning to New York. he organized
In 1867 the stock company that now
owns the Sun newspaper. and became
Its editor The first number OF the Sun
issued by Mr.. Dana appeared on jan
unry %, 1SGS.
Mr.. Dana continued at the head Of
his paper until his death. Advancing
years seemed to have but little effect
upon him. and up to year or 80 ngo
no member OF his force was more rcgu-
lar In attendance at the office than he.
Under his management, which cx-
tended to every department Of the
newspaper. the Sun was immensely
profitable. and he accumulated large
fortune. while at the same time inau-
gurntlng system Of high salaries at
the time unprecedented In Journalism.
The Sun was Democratic. espousinG
the cause OF Tnmmany In New York
municipal Affairs, but Mr.. Dana was
never bound very closely by party ties.
Mr.. Dana built mp on the sun stan
OF newspaper workers which was un-
cQualctl In Its time. and did more than
| any other man TO create and supply
demand for flrs,.clnss literary style in
newspaper. He was great believer
In American literature. and from en-
| cOuraging notices In the suns columns
many writer's date their literary sue.
| cess.
| 1t may bc truly said that II was he
who lifted Journalism to the dignity Of
profession. There are those who ut
tribute to his influence the fact that
newspaper writer's have been enabled
to earn salaries more or less commcn.
surrte with the intelligence and ability
involved In their work. lie worked
with Horace Greeley on the Tribune.
and was paid $40 week for work that
he afterwnpi avowel was worth four
stimcs the money. II was these carly
rcbufrs that determined his career. He
was not impressed with the ncwspa-
per hack Of the early days. and he set
to work to teach newspaper men the
real meaning Of their calling and to cs-
tablish code OF journalistic ethics
which will long survive him.