The state herald., 1906-03-16
EDITORS DEATH
THos. e. M'kENNA, MANAGING
EDITOR DENVER NEWS, GONE.
TWELVE YEARS IN SERVICE

easo-Learned Newspaper Work In
colorado-Won Distinction by Great
Ability.
Denyer.-Thomas e. McKenna, for
many years managing editor of the
Rocky Mountain News. died at st.
Joseph's hospital in this city Satur-
day night, after an illness of little
over a month.
Thomas Edward McKenna was born
in Montreal November 2, 1861, but re-
ceived his education in Chicago. He
then returned to his native city and
there became leader in amateur ath-
letics. For four years he was secre-
tary and manager of the famous Sham.
rock lacrosse team, which held the
championship of Canada and England.
During his management the team ac-
cumulated property valued at $4,000.
In training for Il cross country race
Mr.. Mckenna contracted severe cold
after an attack of typhoid fever. The
4
weakened condition and on the advice
| OF physicians hr came to Colorado In
1857. One year of ''roughing it, on
Bar ii ranch in Routt county restored
him to his former health. He then
came TO Denver and Joined the re-
portorial staff of the Rocky Mountain
News. His keen perception, quickness
to grasp details, his nose for news"
his ability to write it in an attractive
style and his executive ability soon
won MIN promotion to the city editors
desk He remained in that position.
however, only year, because of the
confinement which had begun to show
It's traces. AT his own request he re-
turned to reportorial work. Twelve
years ago he was made managing edi-
Tor oil the News. On February II,
l906, MIR. Mckenna completed seven
teen years of service on the News.
Three years ago, when the Times was
consolidated with the News, Mr.. Nc
kenna also became managing editor of
the former publication.
The first sign of failing health as.
serted itself on November I'd last. II
was his forty-fourth birthday anniver.
sary. During an informal celebration
of The anniversary at his home with
few intimate friends he was attacked
by what was thought TO he a bilious
fever This confined him 10 his home
| FOR three weeks He was cautioned
and even urged by his friends to take
n long rest in lower altitude. How.
hs.V L..
to resume his duties and refused to
take a vacation.
Two months later. one Saturday
night at the Office, his final collapse
came. His condition was so serious
that he decided to rest, so left Denver
on February 18th for Redlands, Calf
fornia. accompanied by his wife ana
their infant daughter on the advice Of
his physician. II was necessary for
him TO seek a lower altitude becaus,
OF an affection OF the heart.
Mr. Mckenna reached California
about the commencement of the rainy
season. For ten days after his arrival
the rain poured. This had depress.
Ing influence upon the patient and his
condition failed to improve.
Mr. McKenna married Miss Rita
Reilly eleven years ago In Denver.
Two children were born of the union.
The first died a week after birth. The
other is now ten months old. For
years the family lived at 1865 Jose.
phine street.
John G. Martin, first cousin OF Nj
McKenna, is the latter's only relative
In Denver. outside the immediate fam
ily. Besides his mother, there are four
brothers OF MIR. McKennn living IN
Montreal. The eldest. William Nc.
kenna. Is deputy revenue collector
there. having been connected with the
custom house for twenty years.
As reporter Mr. McKenna wrote
two big stories for the News which
made him famous. particularly In the
west One OF these was ON the open
Ing OF Creede. Colo. Cy Warman WAS
| publishing the Crecdc Candle at the
time, The News sent Mr.. McKenna
TO write up the new camp, II was
midwinior and bitter cold. Most OF
those who went there slept In trains.
Cfeedc was the biggest silver camp In
the west. The white metal was then
worth coinage value. Mr., Mckonni
sent to his paper two'pnge story with
| pictures II wns the first big aud re-
liable story sent out Of the camp. For
descriptive beauty, forciblc language
and accurate detail 1t has never been
equallod
In 1891. when the FIRST discoveries
were made In the Cripple Creek dis
irici. the News dispatched MIR. Me
| konna 10 that camp with Prof Sndtler
of the Colorado School of Mines The
| former wrote story Of the camp from
the newspaper mans viewpoint, group
inR nll The facts and detailing the con
ditlonE with the same graphic force
aa he hnd done nt crccdc,
II was In this story that Mr.. Me
kcnna coined the phrase shipping tho
scenery" hitting upon Il as an apt de
| RrIlptinn of the work he saw ON the
old Dew born property. whose surface
WAS being fnetod aud shipped to the
hmrllUr This dirt brought large fc'