The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-06-02
DEATH OF Mr.. c. |. BITTlNeER

l.. Bittinger, editor of the Ocala Even
ing Star, viii be received throughout
this state with profound and universal
sorrow.
Until Tuesday night his physicians,
family and friends entertained strong
hopes of his recovery, but sometime
during the night his symptoms grew
alarmingly worse, and early Wednes-
day morning his physicians abandon
ed all hopes and impaired the sad
news to his sorrowing family.
Mr. Bittinger attended the last
meeting of the Florida Press Associa-
ton at Tallahassee, and took his old
time interests in it's deliberations. He
was prominent in the debates and de-
livered an address on the subject of
Good Roads-his last public utter
ance.
Mr.. Bittinger showed a little weak
ness in his limbs and his friends de-
tected that he was not possessed Of
his usual quickness and vigor.
The weather turned suddenly cold,
and he attended an open air concert,
and the following night had an attack
of an old trouble. He Immediately re-
turned home, and in day or two was
well enough to go down to the Star of
flee, but the next day he was forced
to take to his bed again, and was
troubled with a slow but malignant fe-
yer. On Friday the fever left him,
but he continued limp and occasional
ly lapsed into Inconsistencies, but
for the last three or four days he par
took of nourishment, conversed with
those around his bedside and gave ev-
idence of recuperation, but on We'd
nesday every beacon light of hope
faded, and he continued to sink rapid
ly until death relieved him of his suf-
ferings at $50 o'clock.
Mr.. Bittinger was a man of remark
able powers and his habits of life
won him many friends. He was of
robust frame; he possessed a strong,
vigorous intellect; a sunny, optimistic
temperament. He opposed oppression
in all its forms, and did not wish to
deny nor abridge the right of free
speech to any human being. Tolerant
in his own opinions, he was most toll
Grant of the opinions of others. He
was an ardent prohibitionist, and took
conspicuous part in all temperance
movements. He was a strong -advo-
cate of good roads and was secretary
of the association. He took an active
interest in our public schools, and
used his voice and pen to promote
their efficiency. For the past thirty
years he attended every school com
mencement in this city, and being a
fluent speaker, was invited, and &C,
cepted many invitations, to deliver
school addresses in this and adjoining
counties. He was a school enthusiast.
and believed that the public school,
more than all things else, was the
prime factor in cur development and
homogeneity. He served on our local
school board and his zeal was always
in evidence.
Mr.. Bittinger was horn at York,
Pennsylvania, in 1913 He had just
ono drotod ot tho O,,+brooI, IF o,1r civil
war, and following OUT the dictates OF
a nature ardent and enthusiastic he
enlisted as private and rose to the
RANK of captain, having been promot-
ed for gallantry. He was quick to
let "bygones be bygones,' and held to
no sectional prejudices nor political
animosities. No man was more anx-
ious to hasten the day when all sec
lions of our country shall nestle
under the wings of the white dove of
peace.
Sometime after the clash of arms
we find him a wholesale merchant in
Chicago, and again a prospector at
Cripple Creek, at the time of the gold
excitement there.
Fortune having failed to befriend
him, he turned his footsteps in the
direction of Florida, and settled near
Summerfield. He became a tiller of
the soil, and after his crops were har-
vested he taught in the public schools
during the winter months.
1t was about this time that he be-
came correspondent of this paper
under the nom de plume of Yankee
Dutchman." The articles that he con-
attracted such favorable and
widespread attention that he was Of
fered position on the paper, which
he accepted, and remained with it
for period of twelve years.
After the freeze and bank failures
here Mr.. Bittinger went to North Car
DINA to engage in business, but he
was not there long before he was Of