Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-31
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The Silent Reaper's Harvest.


the silent reaper, death, has been very
busy among the great Of the earth.
Every year. when it is reviewed at its
close seems to have taken from the
ranks of men many figures who VIII
he much missed, but there is no doubt
that 1902 is noteworthy among the
years OF this generation in the unusu-
ally larre number of famous people
who have passed beyond during its
twelve months. 1t can only do us
good to run over the more prominent
names or the long list. dwelling in our
minds on the work of the lives that
ended and of the example and the les
son left by them for us.
All walks of life have had their
share in the loss. Here are some OF
the names that come most quickly to
the mind: Cecil Rhodes, Thomas b.
Reed. Bret Harte, Emile lola, Alfred
Krupp. Rudolph Virchow. Lord
Pauncefote Rear Admiral Sampson,
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Dewitt Tai
mage. John w. Mackay and Archbishop
Corrigan. Among those prominent in
American public life who hive died in
1902 are Senator Mcmillan and ex-Sen-
ator Arkell who died in August. Ex-
Senator Fowler of Tennessee, and Ma
jor Pruden, for years known as the
bearer of the Presidents messages,
died in April. as did J. Sterling Nor
ton, formerly secretary of agriculture
The list is completed with such names
as Ex-Governor Hoadly of Ohio; ex-
Senator Roach of North Dakota; Con-
gresham Polk, of Pennsylvania; ex-
Governor Shepherd, who is so largely
responsible for the beauty of the ma
tional capitol: Congressman Russell of
Connecticut; Congressman Cummins
of New York, and A. E. Buck, United
States minister to Japan.
The scythe of the grim reaper has
mown down many famous workers in
the field of letters. In reckoning up
her losses for 1902, literature muot
mourn many of her followers. Emile
lola was perhaps the greatest. but no
better or more rounded student of an
tiquities has lived than Canon Rawlin-
son, of England. and no stOry-telfer in
America was more truly loved than
Frank r. Stockton. and these are gone.
Americas losses include Bret Harte,
Paul Leicester Ford. Frank Norris, Ed
ward Eggleston. Elbridge S. Brooks,
and two more who will be remembered
for single poems-Thomas Dunn Eng
fish. the author of ''Ben Bolt" and Will
liam Allen Butler, whose work as a
lawyer will DE forgotten long before
readers cease to laugh at Flora Nc
F'limsey. In Journalism: John Latey
of the English sketch: Edward How
ard House of Japan; Horace f. Scud-
der OF the Atlantic: w. A. Hemphill,
who founded the Atlanta Constitution;
Colonel J. B. Maynard. of Indianapo-
lis, and Colonel Tom Ochiltree of
Texas; Charles Dow. of the Wall
Street Journal Edwin l.. Godkin. of
the New York Evening Post; John w.
Bailey, of the Philadelphia Record.
and Alfred Guernsey of Harper's Mag
azine. =
Coming to the armies and navies of
the world, the death lists include. in
the military column: Prince Edward,
of Saxe-Weimar. and Field Marshal
Sir Neville Chamberlain, of England !;
a Lucas Meyer and Christian Botha of
the Boer forces; General Won Geesier,
Prussian minister of war. and General
Franz Sigel. The death roll of Amer
Jean officers is long one-Generals
Hughes. Hooper. Wade Hampton Bell.
Forney. Wager Stayne. and Colonel
Hopkins, whose tactics are standard
wherever the art of war is taught The
navy Of the United States has suffered
In the losses of Rear Admirals Samp-
son. Jouett and Selfridge, and Commo-
dore Montgomery. The navy of Eng
land mourns for Admiral Rice and
Rear Admirals Kimberly and Wat
son. Royalty has not been exempt
from the calls of DEATH In April died
Don Francisco dAssisi. ex-King of
Spain; in June. King Albert of Sax
ony: IN August, the Arch Duchess
Marguerite Sophie Of Austria: in July
the Sultan of Zanzibar: In September
the tll-fated Queen of the Belrians
MART Henrietta. One of the most
sensational deaths or the twelve
monIhs was that of Craig. the secret
serv e of,cer. who laid down his life
IN alvah endeavor to warn back the
car which crashed into the carr;ags =,
the President. Two explorers off,.
risking their lives for more than for,v
years in the little known parts of the
earth. died peacefully in bed. Captain
Sastano Cassati of Italy ana H. r.,