New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-03

County, n y, on May Is. 1872 His father and his
grandfather ministers OF the Christian de-
nomination. and the former Editor OF The
Christian Palladium" and The Christian Mes
senger'' when Amos a boy. He early took an
interest in typesetting, and worked at the case
when he small that he had to stand on
box to reach the type. When he was twelve years
old his father yielded to his opportunities and
made him apprentice IN the printing office
whence his papers were issued At fifteen years
the boy away from home. and he worked at
typesetting in nearly all the large cities Of the
country. In 1857 he joined the Walker hlibuster
ing expedition 10 Nicaragua. but captured
with his associates. hundreds I'm number, by
a United States sloop-of- war and returned TO Mo-
bile. Young Cummings made his way back to this
city and set type for time in the composing room
OF The Tribune
When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the
26th New-Jersey Volunteers for three years. and
rose to the rank Of sergeant-major. He was Off
claIly mentioned for gallantry and received
a medal from Congress. He returned the
in The Tribune Office in time to take
part In its defence at the time Of the draft
riots. In July, 1863. when the raging mob tried to
break into the old building at Nassau and Spruce
SITS. lie was one OF four compositors who stuck to
their cases and barricaded the door OF the com
posing room. arming themselves with such weapons
they could find. Before the mob reached that
floor the police drove the rioters away
In 1864 Mr. Cummings lost his place by reason OF
a strike, and he worked IN Yonkers for time and
afterward in the composing of The Law
Transcript" In this city. This his last regu-
lar work at the case. Early in 1863 he accepted
place the editorial staff Of The Tribune. taking
charge Of the condensation of for the
weekly edition. He said Of this experience:
1T taught condensation and gave
the power of saying much in little. which
IS, after all, the greatest secret of journalism"
After doing this work for two years he became
city editor for few months of the daily edition,
and later a political editorial writer when John
Russell Young was managing editor, in the first
Grant campaign.
In December. 1868 he transferred his newspaper
relations THE Sun" then recently purchased by
Charles A Dana, and soon became night editor,
and later managing editor and a stakeholder. His
health broke down in 1872 and he went 10 Florida
for recuperation, and spent several winters there
He wrote many letters to 1.-The Sun" the sig
nature of "Zska" from Florida. Colorado Utah.
Nevada and California in the next few years. Mr.
Cummings returned to this city become Editor
of THE NewYork Evening Express" in which
John Kelly. then head Of Tammany Hail. had
secured a controlling interest, In the spring OF
1876, and remained with # until after Samuel J.
The next year he resumed active work on The
sun and was special correspondent at many
political CONCEPTIONS and important criminal trials.
In 1884 and 1888 he was president OF the New-York
Mr. Cummingss political career began in 1885,
when he was elected to Congress from the With
District Of this city as County Democrat In
he became its editor remaining in that position
until the opening OF the Lth Congress in the fol-
1888 in order to give al his time editorial work
but in the autumn or 1883 he sought s n candi-
date for the seat left vacant by the death of S s.
C'SunsetO Cox. and was elected. so that his SER
vice unbroken IN the House of Representa-
tives, in which he remained until his death, serv
TVIth and LVIIth Congresses lie resigned his
seat in Congress in 1888 70 become a Subway Com
missioner under Mayor Groy but was removed by
Mayor Strong the following year, and secured the
CampbeiI in the tn District whose seat in CON
gress had been made vacant by death.
Mr. Cummings held places on important com
mttees and was chairman OF that on Naval Az |
fairs under speaktsP, lisp, He was delegate 10
the Democratic Nhtional conventions in 1892 and |
1895 and was somewhat talked OF as a Vice-Presi-