The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-02-09
CORRESPONDENCE.
ODELL.

To write of the living is easy com
pared to the task of recording the
life work Of the dead. But considering
the post of duty the post of honor,
with some missgvings we undertake
the sorrowfuI task of furnishing the
Glacier readers with the subject OF
this sketch.
John Whitmore Black, who died
at Odell last Thursday morning, Feb
ruary ., at 2 o'clock, was native
of Texas, having been born in Van
San county, Sortemer l6, 1858, being
thus AZ years old at the time of his
death. The cause of his death was
consumption Although afflicted for
many years with this dread disease,
it was only a few days before his death
that he became helpless.
So apt are weland perhaps it is right
to draw the curtain Of charity over
the life Of the dead, we almost fear
that what we are now constrained to
say will be misunderstood by your
readers. But truly Mr.. Black was
character worthy of more than pas
sing notice He was a typical South
erner type of manhood, worthy of
admiration. Constrained to leave the
parental roof in boyhood, never re-
turning home, becoming wanderer
aud a stranger to his relatives, with
out an education, he fought his way
against inherited tendencies TO an en-
vieable position in life and whyY Be-
cause he always steadfastly adhered
TO the crowninR principle Of his life,
to-wit: A sterling integrity, the
ground work of his well rounded life.
A strict adherence to the principles
of Justice and fair dealing toward his
fellows brought him an abundant har
vest. And bravely, without murmur,
and untiinching courage he marched
triumphantly to deaths door, and was
ready for roll call. During his last
hours at his own request, NJ ID.
Odell was called to his bed side and
administered spiritual consolation
which was gladly accepted, and we
now record his last utterance, to-wit
That he accepted salvation; and as
John w. Black's word was never ques
toned in life, who shall question his
last statement before passing out
from us and into that unknown re-
gion of the land that lies beyond the
mystic river of deathY Not one of
us dare impeach Mr.. Black, not even
whom the shadows of death envelop
him.
What greater tribute could be paid
to the memory of a man or what more
precious monument could be erected
over the grave of friend than to say
understanding fully the meaning of
TRUE MANHOOD: Here lies the
body of John w. Black, who was
MAN in the fullest sense of the mean
ing of the word.
Man-think for moment and the
thought will come to you that there is
very much more in this than the mere
speaking or writing Of the word. John
W. Black as such man in the fullest
sense Of the word, and while he has TAX
en- his departure from us, yet his men,
ory will be fresh and green in the
hearts of those who knew him here,
as was fifty illustrated in the ritual
istic services conducted by the Odd
Fellows of Kemp Lodge at the Idle
wilde cemetery.
At his request the order of Odd Eel
lows took charge of his body, and
after services Mt the Union church,
laid him to rest at ! o'clock Fri
day after noon, February 3, Kemp
lodge performing acceptably the last
funeral rites at his grave.
Laying aside the pronounced views
of theology and Christianity in his
life, and retrospecting the life of Mr.
Black, here, we submit In conclusion
this following question: What tide of
the unknown future shall sweep his
way TO drift John w. Black from the
ranks of the upright over beyond the
raging river of deathY
Mr.. Black aud MIR. Runcorn had
been partners for nearly four years
prior to his death, and during this
time made his homo with Mr., Run
corn, During all that time and es-
pecially during the last days of his
illness, Mrs. Runcorn attended him
tenderly, and watched by his bedside
administering to his wants, 80 as his
days were drawing to a close he re-
quested that In no case should she de-
sert him. This she did faithfully and
willingly as the neighbors can bear
witness, and every wish of Mr.. Black
was gratifled. Concerning this Mr..
Black was satisfied and expressed him
self as truly gratilled that he was per-
mited to die at homo and in the
presence of those who were dear