Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26
POVERTY AND PRISON
All Shades of Life Experienced ~ a
Worldwide Adventures from
Pennsylvania.

News OF the death at Carson, New. on
Thanksgiving day of Ross Raymond, war
correspondent. author and adventurer,
whose daring disregard OF men and laws
led him from palaces to prisons and back
again, recalled his remarkable career to
many New Workers who had known him
intimately in his earlier days as a news.
paper man in that city.
Raymond w to eight years ago, when
the New York Herald cleared up the mys-
terry Of his career, had declared himself to
be OF British parentage, the son of an
English officer. born in Sussex and edu-
Gated in a famous Latin school: that he
Joined the English navy and after promo
lions and long and honorable service he
resigned and left his ship at San Francisco
to become a newspaper correspondent and
writer of books. He said he entered the
British navy through the influence of his
uncle.
His real name. the Herald said. was
Frank H. Powers. He was born in Beaver,
Pa, in 1850. His father died when he was
a child and his mother moved to Poland,
o., and married Barnabas F. Lee, who
founded the Poland seminary. where win.
liam Mckinley was educated. Raymond
was his classmate.
Raymond entered the United States nav
resigned, served on a British warship, then
became a correspondent Of newspapers in
San Francisco, Chicago, Baltimore, New
York and London Later he became a
writer, travelling the world over, living in
poverty and luxury, yet making powerful
friends everywhere.
He served a raiah in India and was oil
the khedive's staff In Egypt about the
time of the bombardment of Alexandria.
Next he impersonated distinguished men,
generals and noblemen. served ten years
in Portland prison. England. and several
terms in Sing Sing. Raymond was an ac-
complished journalist, had engaging man
ners, q breezy military air and was good
looking. He said a power beyond his con-
troll took possession Of him when he drank
and was not responsible for the extraordi-
nary episodes in his life.
The story of his public career began
when he blossomed out as an Egyptian
war correspondent and press agent Of the
khedive. He appeared in Paris in Egyp-
tian uniform after the war in Egypt, ac-
companied by a retlnue Of the khedives
officers. He engaged whole floors at a
hotel for the khedive, who was soon TO
reach Paris. Raymond had trays of rarest
gems sent to him for inspection. The best
would be reserved for the khedive's APP
proval, he explained.
He surfeited the messengers in care OF
the gems with champagne, walked out OF
the rear windows with a fortune in dia-
monds, disappeared, and later appeared IN
India as a mighty rajah. with elephants
and a hundred servants. He drove in state
at XXI speed, making daily twenty
mile trips from his country establishment
! to Calcutta, the garrison each day turning
out to see the rajah enter the city with q
procession of barefooted natives running
ahead crying his name and shouting fol
the crowds to make way.
In October, 1899. Raymond visited Po'
land, o., for the first time IN a quarter
of a century. He found his mother dead
and was deeply affected when he knclt bS
her tomb in the village cemetery,
A remarkable feature of Raymond's ca
rees-was the devotion OF his wife. "Sht
stood by me for thirty years he said
with unfalterlng hope and never failing
aid. His wife said, why have l clunG
to Ross all these years?' Because l love
him. Some day. in another world, wher
all this insanity Of sin has passed away,
shall see him as he is-a grand, big-hearteC
man, a genius now temporarily lost IL
darkness and shame"