The Washington times., 1903-04-19
HARRY |. HERRIGK DIES
AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS
Well Known as an Editorial Para
graph Writer.

Harry l. Merrick. for many years we'll
known as an editorial paragraph writer
on the Post. " died at II:20 O'Clock last
night at his apartments in the Farra-
gut.
Mr.. Merrick had been i'll for only
three days. and il was not until yester-
day that his condition was considered
serious.
Until Wednesday Of the past week.
which was the last day ne was at his
office. Mr. Merrick appeared TO be in his
usual good health. That night after
going home he complained of a severe
pain in his right ear Dr. Magruder
vas called the uext day and admins
tered treatment On the following day
Mr.. Merrick grew worse, and Dr. Belt
was called into consultation, and after
ward DR.. Richardson, a specialist in ear
and eye diseases. was summoned
An operation was performed yester-
day TO relieve the patient Of an abcess
just back of his ear For a short time
Mr. Merrick appeared to improve. but
yesterday about noon he Iapsed into a
condition Of Inconsistencies, from
which ne did not arouse.
At his bedside when he died, besides
the physicians and nurses. were Scott
c. Bone, managing editor of the Post"
and a warm personal friend Of Mr.. Mer-
rick; Mr. Tally, manager of the Raleigh.
another personal friend; Mrs. Merrick.
and MIR. Merrick's sister No arrange
ments have been made for the funeral.
but it is probable the remains will be
taken 10 Ohio for interment-
Mr.. Merrick was born near Xenia.
Ohio, forty-four years ago. and was the
son of prosperous farmer He was
educated in the common schools, and be-
fore attaining his majority took up
newspaper work He worked for a short
time upon the papers of his native
town, and then went TO GAINESVILLE.
where he was employed on the Sen
tineI," first as reporter and after
ward as city editor II was while he
was employed in GAINESVILLE that he
formed the friendship OF many promi-
nent Ohio politicians, among them
Beriah wilkins, proprietor of the
POST" Governor Campbell and others.
Mr.. Merrick himself took an active
interest ii politics, afHliating with the
Democratic party Mr. wilkins was
then a member of the State senate He
was afterward elected 10 Congress from
the GAINESVILLE district. and in 1889, in
partnership with he late Frank Hatton,
purchased the Washington Post" then
published in the present Times build
ing. Mr. wilkins knew Mr.. Merricks
qualities as a newspaper man and had
great admiration for him personally and
as a writer He offered him a position
uFon the Post which Mr.. Merriek ae-
cepted. and he came 10 Washington in
January, 1889. He served in several dif-
ferent CAPACITIES on the paper as a re-
porter and copy reader and general util-
ity man.
One dav there was a call for more
editorial copy. and particularly for some
editorial paragraphs, but there was no
one available to write them. In the
emergency Mr. Merrick was called in
and told TO do whatever he could in
that line. The result was most crafty
ing to the proDrietors Of the paper and
he was kept at the work up to the time
of his death.
It seemed to be the sort Of writing for
which he was best fitted. Soon his para
graphs were copied in papers far and
wide throughout the country. and at
tracted much attention His paragraphs
were union Of apparent literary spice
and suggestions OF deep meaning. In
three lines he frequently said more than
most men could tell in a colmu His
style was distincttye-alive, vigorous.
and singularly frightened by references
10 current fads. popular delusions, and
catch phrases.
Mr. Merrick was married last Christ
mas 10 George Crawford Of Portsmouth.
Ohio.