Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-29
FOUND DEAD In OFFICE
WILLIAM sTEUART DANIELS VIC
TIM OF AsPHYxIATIoN,
One Of the Best-Known Newspaper Cor
respondents in Washington
His Career.

William Steuart Daniels, for many years
correspondent in Washington for the st.
Louis Republic and one of the best-known
newspaper men in this city, was found In
his Office, sol 14th street northwest, yester-
day afternoon asphyxiated. The body was
discovered by Mr.. Daniels seventeen-year-
old son Richard, who climbed into the room
after having tried vainly to force open the
door. The room was filled with gas COM
ing from a broken connection in the gas
stove, which had evidently been knocked
over during the afternoon. The body was
discovered at o'clock and was cold, show
ing that life had been extinct several hours.
1t is believed Mr.. Daniels went to sleep
in his chair and accidentally tilted over on
the floor, breaking the stove connection and
at the same time stunning himself. The
coroner was notified and gave a certificate
of accidental death The body was taken
Immediately to Lees undertaking establish
ment on Pennsylvania avenue.
A meeting of the correspondents will be
held tomorrow at l pm. in the Senate
press gallery, when appropriate action
Will be taken on the death of Mr.. Daniels
and arrangements made for representa-
ton of newspaper men to attend the
funeral.
Sketch of His Career.
Mr.. Daniels wife and two sons survive
him. The sons are Richard D.. aged seven
teen years. and Milton R., aged fifteen.
Mr.. Daniels was born in Springfield, Mass,
about forty-three years ago. He secured a
public school education and studied and
mastered telegraphy. His first employment
was railroad operator at Warren,
Mass. AT the age of seventeen he was sup
porting his mother and was already &C
counted very fine telegraph operator.
He became dissatisfied with the limita-
vii a ND hay inc G
tered stenography he addressed sixteen let
tiers to the principal cities of the United
States describing his qualifications and
asking for a posidon. A reply came to him
from New York city to the effect that if he
was good operator he would be given en-
ployment by the Associated Press.
A Speedy Operator.
He went to New York and soon became
known among telegraphers as one of the
speediest operators in the business. He
held many responsible positions with the
great news associations. In the early sos
he sought position in Washington, and
here. He worked with several news bureaus
in Washington. and eventually entered the
government servic as an expert stenogra-
pher. He was in turn stenographer o
Gen. James S. Clarkson and Mr.. Adlai Ste
venson when they held the position of first
assistant postmaster general.
Later he became a post Office inspector
and worked in the states of the southwest
He filled the position with much ability
Many Of the striking experiences that came
to him in that branch of the government
secret service he made the subject of news
paper articles. It was through this work
that some years afterward he adopted the
profession of Journalism. When Mr.. Ste
venson returned to Washington as Vice
President of the United States Mr.. Daniels
became his secretary. Shortly after this
he entered the Washington bureau of the
st. Louis Republic as telegraph operator
and assistant to Mr.. q Brien Moore then
in charge of that bureau. Mr.. Moore re-
signed his position during the Spanish war
and MIR. Daniels succeeded him. He had
been in charge of the bureau since that
time.