Evening star., 1901-06-01

MIR. F.. A. Richardson.
grandfather Rev. Benjamin Richardson,
who was anxious to follow his sons who
had gone to Baltimore. Beale Howard
Richardson. the father of F. A. Richard
son. early displayed literary tastes. He
commenced to write for the magazines and
newspapers at the age of sixteen. and kept
1t up almost until his death, at the age of
seventy-eight. For a time he was also en-
gagged in mercantile pursuits. For years
he was the editor of the Baltimore Repub-
Ucan and Argus. the democratic organ of
the state of Maryland. In 1919 he acquired
a proprietary interest in it, and a few
years after became it's sole owner. He
was regarded one of the foremost demo-
cratic leaders of the state, having wide
acquaintance with the prominent men of
Maryland and the country. He represented
Baltimore city in the Maryland legislature
at a period when it was only entitled to
two members. He was man of fine ply
sique, of earnest and aggressive tenn
perament, was a public and an after-dn-
ner speaker of note, and is to this day
well remembered by all the older citizens
of Baltimore. In the hdeous reign of
know nothingism' In the city Of Baltimore
Mr.. Richardson denounced in his paper In
the most vigorous and violent terms Its
purposes and it's partisans. Yet when al
most every other prominent democrat In
Baltimore was driven from the polls ne
walked UP fearlessly on every election day
and put in his ballot without molestation.
Deriving his inspiration from such
father, f. A. Richardson CnOSe 1OurlldIlSiI
also for his profession. On leaving Baltt-
more City College, then known as the High
School. he entered the office of the Republi-
can. In accordance with the wish of his
father his own inclinations and his am
bition to be a thoroughly equipped news
paper man, he served alternately in various
departments-the composing room. the press
room. the counting room and the editorial
rooms At the age of tWenty-three he be-
came the managing editor of the paper. In
1861, when the civil war came on, the
Richardson's, who were heart and soul in
sympathy with the south, arrayed them
selves and their paper on that side. They
went through many exciting experiences.
Their establishment was several times
mobbed, they were frequently summoned be-
fore the United States military command
ers and warned and finally, one day in
September 1863 Maj. Gen. Schenck, then
in command of that department, summarily
suppressed the Republican and banished
the father and son beyond the lines to the
south. At that time the elder Richardson
was sixty-four years old, but as ;trong and
active man of fifty. He went to Mont
gomery, Ala. became editor of newspaper
in that city, and had full opportunity to
express his southern sentiments without in
reference from Gen. Schenck. He returned
to Baltimore after the expiration of the
war and died there in 1877.
F. A Richardson, acting under the ad-
vice of James A. SeGdon. confederate sec
retary of war. AMI other prominent confed-
crates ran the blockade from Wilmington,
~ c., to Nassau in the British island of
New Providence. lie then sailed for New
York with the intention of coming on to
Washington and asking for an interview
with President Lincoln. Soon after his
arrival in New York. and before he had
time to put his purpose in execution. he
was arrested and sent to Fort Delaware.
He was confined there for more than a
year. and released only about two weeks
be fore Lees surrender. He at first thought
of undertaking to re-establish the Repub-
lican. but forced to abandon the idea
for want of the necessary capital He
then made up his mind to be Washing
ton correspondent. lie Ia nded In the cap
ital city November II. 1865. and what he
always insists was through good luck.
rather than merit. got employment imme-
diately. In January, 1865. he became con-
neCted with the Baltimore Sun and has
written for it continuously up to the pres
ent day About this time Mr.. Richardson
and Mr.. George W. Adams were associated
In conducting the Baltimore Associated
Press which made special feature of re-
porting Congress. Mr.. Richardson had
charge of the Senate and Mr. Adams of the
House. At various periods he wrote from
Washington for many other papers. In
including the Boston Post New York Tri-
bune New orleans Picayune, Atlanta Her
aid. Mobile Tribune. Savannah News and
others
In 1872 he took charge Of the Baltimore
Sun bureau. and in 1876 severed his connec-
tion with all other papers. He is by years
the oldest Washington correspondent in
continuous service. and his record chief
of a Washington bureau much eXcels that
of any other. In 1871. despite his engroSs-
ing labOrs in Washington, he found time to
get out an elaborate historical and bio.
graphical work OF his native city of Balti-
more, and from 1879 TO 1881 he was editor
of the Congressional Directory. In addi-
ton to his great mass of correspondence
from Washington for the Sun, Mr.. Rich
ardson has written it two series of letters
from Europe, and summer after summer
letters from the principal watering places
of the United States; also several series of
winter letters from Florida. He has re-
ported for the Sun the proceedings of every
national convention of both political par
ties from 1872 to 1900 and in the presiden-
tial campaigns of this extended period mas
gone into all the doubtful states of the east
and west to give the Sun and it's readers
his impressions of conditions and prohabili-
ties. There is signature better known
in the wide circle of readers which the Sun
enjoys than that of IF. A. r." And in the
journalistic ranks there is no man more
respected and beloved than Frank Rich
ardson.' The Baltimore Sun has through
out its career had Washington correspond-
ents of ability and high character Elijah
Kingman-"Ion'' of. the Sun; Francis
Grund. whose signature was .Xr and
G. Allen. whose sign name was Aga"
were all writer's of note in their day but
none of them attained the wide reputation
and sustained high distinction for SO
long a period as has Mr.. Richardson.
Mr.. John +. Miller is to succeed Mr.
Richardson as the Washington correspon-
dent of the Sun. His work on The Star
! Tor many years, as well as the warm per-