The gold leaf., 1904-04-14
PATRICK HENRY WINSTON.
Well Known North Car0iinian Dies at
His Home in Spokane. Washington,
on April 3rd.
News and Observer.

Patrick Henry Winston. who died
at his home in Spokane, Washington
last Sunday, was one of the most
brilliant and interesting public men
ever produced by the Old North
State He was born in Windsor.
Bertie county, the Oldest son Of Pat
rick Henry Winston and Martha
Elizabeth Byrd. On his fathers side
he was kin to the great orator of the
Revolution, and on his mothers to
Col! VIM. Byrd, author of the West
over Manuscripts, whom John Esten
Cook pronounced the finest scholar,
wit and humorist of Colonial times
in America. AS an orator, a wit and
a humorist Pat Winston would have
ranked among the foremost in any
country. There are hundreds, yes,
thousands. who can easilyrecall with
pleasure his flashing witticisms, his
overpowering humor or his thrilling
eloquence. Throughout North Car
olina for a quarter OF a century he
supplied lovers OF repartee with a
feast of wit and humor. And in re-
cent years on the Pacific Coast his
fame for intellectual fencing grew
and spread until it reached across
the continent back again in North
Carolina.
He was graduated from the Uni
versity in 1867, the valedictorian
of his class 1t was memorable oc-
casion Andrew johnson, President;
Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State
and other National celebrities were
present. Winston's father had sent
him a gold watch by Secretary Sc
ward. The great statesman was so
pleased with the eloquent speech Of
the young graduate, that he added,
as a present from himself, a beauti-
full gold chain which he had worn for
many years.
AS trustee of the University, as
public speaker, as editor and as at
torney-at-law, Mr.. Winston was in
the public eye for a quarter OF a CEN
tury. AS a public speaker he was
bold, captivating, resistless. He lit
orally swept the crowd off its feet.
His humor was immense it swallowed
| up his adversaries and knocked them
over like huge ocean billow. But
there was no bitterness in him. He
was loving, sympathetic and tender
hearted. Few men have labored so
necessarily for others, and so little
for SELF He understood the great
fundamental principles Of govern
ment and of human liberty, and he
fought for them with tongue and
pen. He despised the carpet-baggel
and reconstruction. Itwas his great
speech in Metropolitan Hall in 1875
that caused the Legislature to call a
convention and repeal the Candy
Constitution. All the leaders of the
State were opposed to it, or were
slow and hesitating. After Pat Win
ston's eloquent and unanswerable
speech, setting forth the eternal fun.
damental principles of free govern
ment and liberty, nobody doubted
nor hesitated.
He moved to the Pacific Coast
about 16 years ago and was elected
Attorney General OF the State oi
Washington.
A few years ago his health failed.
But recently he seemed entirely Y well
and was editing and pusblishing Win
ston's Weekly, a journal filled with
the brightest flashes Of his wit and
radiant with the rarest humor The
future seemed bright and promising,
when suddenly the end came, with
failure OF the heart and the; great
brain ceased to work, the big heart
to thrill with sympathy. He is gone
and his place in the world will not
soon be filled He leaves a widow
and nine children of whom the eldest
is a prominent lawyer OF Spokane
and three others are married. In
North Carolina lie leaves three
brothers and one sister-President
Geo. T. Winston, Judge Fracis D
Winston, Judge Robert W. Winston
and Mrs. Frank S. Spruill.