New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-06
WILLIAM {. CURTIS DEAD
Well Known Writer and Travel
Ter SuCCumbs to ApopIexy.
A FAMOUS CORRESPONDENT
Had Long Served at Washington
Death Occurred in
Philadelphia.

u W dsHlilS lpils inc WlutlN hllO"h
writer Of The Chicago Record-Herald'
died suddenly tonight in his apartment at
the Belevue-Stratford from a stroke OF
apoplexy. His wife was in the room when
Mr. Curtis. who was dressing for dinner
fell 10 the floor
Mrs. Curtis Immediately telephoned to the
Office OF the hotel, and three doctors were
rushed to the assistance OF the stricken
man. but he was dead before they arrived
Mr.. Curtis and his wife arrived here to-
day from Washington. and no signs OF the
i'll health Of Mr.. Curtis were visible and
the sudden death came as great shock 10
his wife, who IS Frustrated
Mr. Curtis for the last several months
had been gathering material in cities OF
the Southern States for a series Of news
paper articles. His tour was taken durins
the hot summer months, and IL was said by
one OF his relatives tonight that this trip
may have weakened his general consutu-
ton and made him an easy victim OF the
sudden attack.
Immediately after the death OF Mr.. Cur
It's relatives in East Orange, y. D., were
notified. A nephew and Mr.. Curtis's son.
who was IN New York. reached here 10
night
Mr. Curtis lived at No. 1901 Connecticut
avenue, Washington. He was sixty-one
years old.
No arrangements have yet been MAZE
for the disposition of the body.
William Eleroy Curtis had been known
10 all readers in the United States from
his letters to The Chicago Record now
The Record Herald') from every part u
the world he being one Of the most prollllc
newspaper writer's in the country. NJ
uewspaper man In the world ever published
go many columns. as one OF his COM
mentators has said. and they have seldom
contained a dull line.
William Eleroy Curtis was born in Akron
Ohio, and educated at a high school N
Clinton y Y. and at Western Reserve
College. Ohio, being graduated in ISL. His
father was a clergyman OF limited MEANS
and the son was early accustomed to the
idea of supporting himself.
In 1872 he went 70 Chicago 10 MI sub
ordinate position on The Inter Ocean
and remained with that paper for fourteen
years, working his way up, and filing al
most every position on the STAFF, from
reporter 20 managing editor. During TINS
period he undertook and accomplished
great many difficult journalistic feats'
which gave him a wide reputation among
the fraternity. Among the most striking
OF his undertakings was a trip in 1873 with
a party Of Pinkerton detectives to Missouri
i'm pursuit Of the James and Younger
brothers, the notorious highwaymen. On
this occasion all his comrades were muir
dered by the bandits. and he would doubt
less have shared their fate mad he not been
temporarily absent from the party in search
Of evidence against the murderers. After
this he had the courage 10 go and inter-
view the bandits OF course without telling
them Of his connection with the detectives.
He was kept a prisoner for several days
on suspicion OF being a spy, but finally es-
capped. and wrote d vivid account OF his ad-
ventures.
In tho next year Mr.. Curtis accompanied
General Custer in his campaign against
the Sioux Indians, and il fell TO him 70
reveal 10 the country the first news Of the
discovery Of gold in the Black Hills, which
discovery was one Of the results of The
Custer expedition. Immediately after this
Mr. Curtis was sent TO Louisiana 70 report
concerning the Ku-Klux, and he made an
extensive tour through various Southern
states. gaining very thorough information
concerning the subject Of his mission, of
which extensive use was made In the SUBJ
sequent political campaign by the Repub
Leans During this tour Mr.. Curtis. whose
mission was known by the Southerners,
had several narrow escapes from assassina-
ton, and al last. in order 70 get back
safely 20 the North, he was obliged 10
change his name and assume a disguise.
At one time a reward of 5000 was offered
Tor his capture, dead or alive.
This Southern experience led TO his re-
moval 70 Washington, where he afterward
resided almost continuously. He was sum
moned 10 that city as a witness before a
committee Of Congress which was investi-
eating the Ku-Klux outrages. He was
then deputed to take charge Of the Wash
ington Office of the inter Ocean" and
presided over It for several years in a most
efficient manner and until called back to
Chicago to become the managing editor of
the paper, which office he held for some
time. resigning it in 1854 to accept the sec
retarysh ship Of the South American Commits
sion which was offered 20 him by Presi-
dent Arthur.
This appointment resulted in Mr.. Curtis
making a long series Of travels in Central
and South America In the course OF which
he visited and thoroughly examined all the
countries Of the Western Hemisphere south
Of the United States, and secured in this
way a valuable fund OF knowledge concern
Ing large number Of important subjects,
at that time only little understood by the
people of this country
After settling down in Washington again
Nj Curtis accepted the position OF man
aeer " the Washington Bureau Of The
Chicago Daily News" and in 1883 he went
TO Russia in the Interest Of that paper to
investigate the anarchist troubles. on his
return he resumed his work at Washington,
and when the Pan-American movement was
revived his services were naturally called
into rpquisition by the national authorities
At their request he drew up the bill subse-
auently passed by Congress, authorizing the
meeting OF the International American Con-
ference. When the conference met Mr..
Curtis was made its executive officer. ana
In is deliberations he acted as the person
al representative OF Mr Blaine. the Sec
rotary OF State. lie arranged and managed
the excursion given 10 the foreign delegates
through this country and was active in pre-
pairing the reports adopted by the confer
ence on the various topics which came be-
fore il for consideration. After the Bu-
reau Of the American Republics was Gre
ated by the conference the foreign dele
gates waited upon Mr. Blaine and expressed
the wish that Mr. Curtis should be placed
In charge OF H. which was accordingly done
J. AUMONiER.
London. oct. 81. Aumonier the artist.
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