Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-04-06
". C. BRANN IS DEAD.
Vitriolic Newspaper Man Killed in
Duel on the Streets of
Waco, Tex.

Waco, Tex. April Wv. G. Brann,
the lighting editor, died at 1:55 a. NJ to-
! day. His wife and children were beside
! him. 1t was a remarkable death-bed
! scene, and those who were present say
! the picture was one hard to be forgotten.
| Brann's death is the result of an encoun-
ter last night in which he fatally wound
ed his antagonist, Capt. NJ. t. Davis.
| The fight was the latest of a long series
OF similar tragic affairs in which Brann
has been a participant or was more or
less concerned, his vitriolic style of per
sonal Journalism being the chief factor.
! The tight with Capt. Davis last night
I took place on the street, the weapons be-
ing revolvers. Each of the combatants
received three bullets. Three non-com-
, batants were each slightly wounded.
! Brann died from internal bleeding of the
lungs. Capt. Davis is suffering in pre-
cIsely the same way, and his death is eX-
pected at any moment.
| The particular motive for the shooting
! IN this case was the extraordinary attack
by Brann in his paper, the Iconoclast, on
the chastity of the students at Baylor uni
versity Waco, Tex. Among the students
at the university were the two daughters
Of Capt Davis. When the two men met
Oh the street last night they had some
words, drew revolvers and firing by both
followed almost instantly.
Career of w. c. Brann
w. C. Brann has stirred up more trou-
bic, caused more personal difficulties,
been the direct agent of more tragedies
perhaps than any other newspaper man
that ever followed the profession in the
Lone Star state From the moment he
stepped from a freight train, OF which
he had been employed as brakeman to
the editorial rooms of the Galveston
News fourteen years ago, he has been
unique figure in the civic history CT
Texas. His character has been infinite
III variety. From the reading of his
philippines one would be forced to the con-
clusion that he was Il desperate charac-
ter His utterances in newspapers have
sounded as ii they were inspired by one
who ate Mexican peppers by the peck
measures and washed them down with
turpentine. But personally he was tame
When he was member Of the editorial
staff of the Galveston News he not in
frequently had to write with crippled
hand or arm, but it was often the case
| that he had to dictate to a stenOgrapher
because his eyes had been closed by some
| one with 4 grievance. He went to San
Antonio, worked on the Express, got
! Frank Grice, its proprietor. into innumer-
| able ScrapeS, and then emigrated to HOus-
| ton, where he made the pages of the Post
| lurid with his invectlyes.
Hater of Religion.
| He seemed to nave grudge against pol
| tiles and religion that could not be salts
fed. He believed in no church, sect or So
| ciety that had its foundation based on or
| thodox religion. He hated sham. des-
| pissed cant, doubted the integrity of the
officeholders and politicians, and despised
| the negro race with an intensity that was
| cruel.
| He was absolutely devoid of policy.
| he disregarded all instructions. He
could write but one way and in one style,
and his thoughts came from mind and
! heart that worked in unison.
j. B: McCullagh sent for him in 1892
| to take a place on the GlObe-Democrat in
| ST. Louis as a special writer. He lasted
| four months. and Mr.. McCullash said
! that if he had remained much longer his
| newspaper would have been compelled to
issue bonds to meet judgments for libel
| Becomes Lecturer.
Brann went back to Texas and took to
| the lecture platform. His manager has
| said that Brann addressed more people
! in Texas from the lecture platform than
| had any other man in America. He es-
| tablished the Iconoclast as an expert
ment four years ago. Waco is civilized
! town. 1t is called the Athens of Texas
Many universities are located there. 1t
| has been said that there are more Bibles
| per capita Ill waco Itdu IN any Otner
| town in the state.
Brann's criticisms OF religion brought
| him into instant and unIriendly notice.
| He was Ostracised by society, snubbed
| by newlymade acquaintances, reviled by
| church members, cartOoned by the secu-
| lar press, denounced from pulpits, but
| laughed at by those who knew him best.
| He seemed to thrive best on adverse
criticism. The element that he loved
was when some friend buckIed on armor
| for an enemy that he had been
the cause of making. Brann himself
never enjoyed a physical fight. During
| the troubles with students from Baylor
! university in November last he left his
| pistol 1T 13me His explanation was that
| if he was known to walk about with one
| somebody would kill him and then pro-
tiuce testimony that Brann had first pulled
his y, revolver, but few days ago he
| walked into a hardware store where
| he was acquainted and asked to
| see catalogue showing pic-
lures and prices Of all kinds of firearms.
lie talked about buying cannon, a doz
en- rifles, powder, pistols, bowie knives.
shotguns and swords The clerk asked
| him if he was going to Cuba
NO" he replied. my name is
Brann, and [ am thinking about saving
something more about Baylor university
| next week"