The Van Buren press., 1902-07-12

Thirty-nine years ago today
Lee was retreating from
Gettysburg, Vicksburg was
surrendered and the battle OF
Helena was fought and lost.
That day the Confederacy re-
ceived its death blow. 1t IS
BETTING that my taking on
should end today"
The above note, found on a table
In his room at Little ROCK
hotel. explained the manner of death
of Col. ]. N. Smithee, one Of the best
known newspaper writer's in the
southwest. On the bed lay the body
of Col. Smithee, in his right hand
clasped a 9S-calibre revolver, with one
chamber empty, the leaden missile
having went straight through MS
temple, entering the right side. Col.
Smithee was last seen alive on the al
ternoon of the 4th, and his body was
not discovered until about twenty
hours after death and his many
friends were dumbfounded at the news
About two months ago Col. Smlthee'
while in New York city, fell on SLIP
perry pavement and sustained a frac'
ture of the right ankle, which caused
him intense suffering. He returned
to Little Rock apparently on the road
to recovery, when he was stricken with
fever. A few weeks spent at Hot
Springs greatly benefited him, but he
was still a sufferer from the accident
that befell him in New York. HIS
was such a character that would not
permit of appeals to friends for
aid. under the circumstances, and he
deliberately planned to take his own
life. Col. Smithee YVES native OF
Arkansas, and numbered among his
personal friends her most prominent
citizens, and to all Of them 1t would
have been pleasure to have rendered
him assistance had they but known OF
his circumstances.
A longtime associate OF the de-
ceased, referring to his life, says:
1.-THE tragic death Of Col. j. N
Smithee has unnerved all his friends
Every person who knew him-and
thousands knew him-should be his
friend, for he never did aught, In his
long career in which he held position
that gave him opportunity, to exercise
influence against the individual He
had an affection for Arkansas that
know no bounds. II all the money
that he had contributed to relieve the
pressing wants Of the mendicant the
tramp and cripple were available 1t
would pay for the most costly monu
ment that marks the resting place OF
any dead citizen OF Arkansas. The
worst blow that Smithee ever struck
his friends was administered when he
touched the trigger Of the weapon
which sent the leaden missile through
his manly brain. He died like a
philosopher it is true, but he inflicted
more sorrow in this world by that
single act than most men, even the
most aggressive, do in lifetime"
Biographical
Col, James Newton Smithoc was born In
Sharp county, Arkansas, January II, lsl2, ID
Scotchlrsh purontnge, and his paturn0l grand
father was soldier In the revolutionary war
His father, n native OF Tennessee, was farm
Al hon n a.
Of illinois aud II daughter Of Rev. John Wood
rum, of virginia, a prominent Baptist minister
The son education consisted Of a three months
attendance at u country school ana nntll N"
twelfth year he worked on his fathers farm
lio was then Hppren,icod TO the publisher OF
country Newspaper, the Dcs Are citizen and
for four years worked for his board and clothes,
learning the trade OF printer and eomposltor,
half interest In The Prairie County Democrat,
OF Brownsville, aud conducted 1t In support Of
Breckenridge and Lane In the presidential cam
puign OF 1890 On the secession OF South Car
olna he sold his interest IN lhc paper and ur'
IDENTIFY sspvuscd the southern cause, In Feb
runry, 1861 he aided IN the seizure OF ne
United States arsenal at Little Rock, and In
March was with the expedition which captured
Fort Smith, When Arkansas seeded he was
mustered into the Confederate service as 0
and In May, 1858, he surrendered being ut that
time nrEt lieutenant aud adJutUnt lilockcr,
Trans Mississippi battalion Of artillery liz
department aud was Wounded at Helena, July
a. 1854 At the close Of the war he resumed
his trade Of lypcscItlng IN Memphis but H.
November, 1905, be returned 10 Little Rocb
and bccaAc the foreman In the othcc Of the
Daily Arkansas GaEctte During the eight
succeeding years he wnp connected with the
paper becoming city editor managing editor.
and Anplll proprietor he took M active par.
In the celebrated BROOKS Baxter war, In April
aud MAY MA, serving ON the stan Of boy,
crnor Baxter, with the rank Of colonel aud
thY d
the reorganization OF the government was mp
pointed commissioner of state lands lilo vas
twice reelected to tho post mud accomplished
many notable reforms during his tenure, Hay.
Ink declined n thlId reelection he established
the Arkansas Democrat which be ably con
Quoted for several months ana thon dlspohlR
wns chairman Of the democratic state central
committee from ISIS 10 lNs2, aud was un IN
successful candidate for the democratic nomnu'
ulcycunds nrst term Col Smlthcc served NJ a
special land agent Of Ne general lgnl onico
N Colorado aud New Mnlco with bcadqnor'
tiers at Suntc fo but In 1870 he removed 10
Denver, Cola and accepted an editorial posi-.
ilun on the Rocky M0unlum News llo re-,
| turned to Little Rock In MAY. isnO, mud up,om,
Ink owner Of n majority OF Its stock, was elect
I'd president ~ the Gazette Publishing Com
| punS aud editor Of the Gazette hut retired from
that position IN isOs, For twenty yours prior
| Arkansas aud occupied many POSI- lons Of honor
| aud responsibility lie was the frat pres,
dcnt Of III, Arkansas Pros. AssocAtion sory'
| Ing three terms IN such, lie wrote history
| Of the Arkansas press and several vidog.dls,
| trbuted pamphlets On the Resources u the
state, llr was for itcn years ia, agent u the
person appointed TO the position. Colonel
| Smlhcc was married January. l. 1857, 10 Annie
| y, daughter OF Addison J, II, Cowgirl, VI lit
| tie Rock, and great granddaughter ~ nculamlu
pendonee, Ligbl children Nv,s bolH 10 Hpwi
| -7===g