The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-06-09

pa Times.
Charles l. Bittinger. editor of the
Ocala Star, died at his home in Ocala
Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Bittinger
was an ideal newspaper man. bril-
! liant writer. a progressive citizen and
gentleman of high and noble ideas.
He had been prominent in the news
paper field OF Florida for a quarter
+ OF a century.-Waucnula Advocate.
J The death of Editor Charles L. Bit
! finger OF the Ocala Star will be sin
cerely mourned throughout the state,
and especially by the newspaper fra
+ ternity, which was proud 10 reckon
him as a brother and a co-laborer.
and in which he shone as bright
and particular star
/ Mr.. BiJtinger was attacked with
/ what proved 10 be his fatal illness
while attending the recent session of
| the Florida Press Association at Tai
lahassee. He was one OF the regular
attendants at these meetings and al
ways took a leading part in the pro
| ceedings of the annual conventions.
Returning home from Tallahassee he
I became seriously i'll. and had gradu-
ally grown worse. The news that
came TO Tampa Wednesday that he
was believed 10 be dying was quickly
followed by the announcement of his
death. 4 genuine wave of sorrow
sweeps the state The CHEEKY voice.
the hearty handclasp. the inspiring
/ presence OF this good man will be
known no more among Us.
/ Mr.. Bittinger had very active and
varied career He fought through the
civil war becoming a captain in the
Union army Mercantile pursuits en-
gagged his attention after the war ana
he conducted a thriving business in
Chicago until the great fire swept that
city, and, with il. the establishment
| OF Mr.. Bittinger. He then heard the
call of the great west and joined the
gold seekers, experiencing the priva-
tons, the dangers and the disappoint-
ments of frontier life From the west
/ he came 10 Florida. and began life as
a school teacher al Belleview, after
wards assuming the position as trav-
cling representative of the Ocala
Free Press. the paper established by
Col. Tom Harris in 1885. The Free
Press and Colonel Harris have both
crossed the shadow of the deep. For
twelve years prior 10 the first publ
cation of the Star. Mr.. Bittinger was
business manager and local editor of
the Ocala Banner. The Star has been
a success from its first issue, and Mr.
/ Bittinger successfully conducted it
until his last illness
/ Mr.. Bittinger was a magnetic man.
i ne drew people 10 him by his graces
/ of manner and his charm OF charac-
ter. He was one of the best speakers
| in Florida and could make an extern
poraneous address on practically any
subject that would inspire and in
struct his auditors. He was a CON
slant worker for the city OF his adop-
/ ton and gave his personal efforts as
we'll as his newspaper influence to-
ward upbuilding the fortunes OF
Ocala- He was a staunch advocate OF
good roads and of other material pro-
| jects for the advancement of his
state.
Mr.. Bittinger's loss viii be keenly
felt. His paper will be continued. but
it must lack the strong hand which
guided ii, and his place as a citizen
will be hard to FILL AS one who had
known him intimately and well. the
editor of the Tribune feels with espe-
/ cial keenness the sorrow OF his loss.
( The sympathy of the press and people
+ of Florida goes out to the bereaved
widow and daughter. One Of the real
men OF Florida has fallen.-Tampa
/ Tribune
The death OF c. L. Bittinger, editor
OF the Ocala Star. removes one of
Florida's most useful citizens, and
thousands bow in sorrow.
The spirit of brotherly love always
shown between Mr.. Bittinger and
Frank Harris. editor of the Ocala Ban
ner and nestor of the Florida press,
was indeed beautiful in this day when
editors of rival newspapers are gener-
ally engaged in bitter war for suprem-
acy. This feeling is shown by the fol-
lowing last printed utterance of Mr..
Bittinger, who recently returned TO
Ocala from Tallahassee, where he fol-
lowed his custom for years past by
working in behalf OF good roads:
We desire 10 express orr deem