New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-03
HOMER DAVENPORT DEAD
Cartoonist g. Victim Of Pneu-
monia at the Age of As.

db VIZ @A6 -
Homer Calvin Davenport, one Of the best
known cartoonists in this country, died
esterday from pneumonia In the apart
ments OF Mrs. A. y. Cochran, at No 81
West Hath street He went there on Apnl
IS TO visit Mrs. Cochran, who had been
friend since childhood. He was stricken
I'm her house where eight physicians and
three nurses were in attendance on him.
Mr.. Davenport was born on an Oregon
farm forty-five years ago. and without even
having attended an art school or any other
school 10 any extent, for that matter, ne
came one OF the most successful newspaper
cartoonists OF his day.
lie began twenty years ago on The Port
land Orgeonian" at 81 week. One day,
shortly after he went TO work, the business
manager asked him to draw a picture OF q
cook stove for an advertising cut. II was
such a poor piece OF work that he was dis
charged on the spot. But geometrical line
drawing wasn't a part OF the makeup or
his genius This rebuff did NOT discourage
him. lie went on The San Francisco Ex-
aminer" soon afterward. and in 1895 Mr..
Hearst brought him to New York as one
Of the highest paid men in the business.
In 1904 he went 10 The New York Mali
Tor Il time. but recently returned to his old
allegiance.
Dayenport's opportunity to become ear
toouist was the result or an obsession or
his mother. The father. physician, OF
Woodstock Ohio, had abandoned his pro-
fesson and gone 20 the backwoods To De
Gin life over again. He and his wife Kept
up their literary interests, and among their
periodicals was "Harper's Weekly at that
time making much of Nasts cartoons.
They made great impression on the
mother. and she predicted that they would
have a son who would be great cartoonist.
The boy was born soon afterward, ara
OF the age of two began to play with pencil
and paper. \ year later the mother died,
pledging her husband on her deathbed to
Give tho boy n chance 10 draw. 30 II came
about that. though the father could not AZ
FORD 20 educate him. he VAS never put to
work bat grew into 4 lanky siA-footer.
nointsd out hy the rural ucighhors g. a
laz, good -for-nothing.
Davenport caricature Of Mark Hanna
IN the dollar mark suit gave him national
fame His CLAN, figures Of the trus's also
won great popularity. Ills work was large
~ responsible for the attempt 20 PASS the
anti-cartoon bill OF 1897. During that year
hc spent much time m Europe. HIS car
,nors Of public characters there attracted
much attention particularly those ut Glad
stone. Hc attended tho Dreyfus trial and
drew mary sketches or courtroom scenes
Ills cartoon I'm defence % Admiral Dewey
when tne public was wrought up over hts
transfer 81 the nations gift 10 his VIE
won tho old sea- lighters lasting gratitude
Mr.. Davenport wss a writer as Vel
as a craftsman. Among his works are
The Bell Of Silverton and Other Short
Stories Of Oregon" THE Dollar or IN"
Man" and a number OF animal stories. In
these nc drew on his own varied expert
onces for I'm the few years before he was
established as \ maker of pictures he hao
tried his hand briefly as q shoemaker : ap-
prentice. a jockey, a railroad engineer ana
a circus clown.
As an avocatio1 Mr. Davenport In recent
years devoted himself enthusiastically 10
stock farming on his place near Morris
Plains, y J. lie became an expert In the
raising ~ fancy horses, goats and geese
IN is,i he got permission from TN" sultan
81 Turkey 10 export t""uty-scven ARABIAN
horses from the desert 81 Arabia To TINS
country. These are said 10 be tho Only
genuine Arabian horses m this country
While on this mission lie drew pct
ure or tho Sultan. said 20 be the ohIE
likeness OF that monarch ever made. lie
was thereupon created desert brother OF
Akmut Haffez. the great Bedouin.
In tsa Mir Davenport and his VII" S"pa-
rated on account ot incompatbility OF tenn
permanent. Mrs Davenport stayed ON the
Sow Jersey farm and he took NJ res'nence
a, hotel IN this city. They had three
children. two girls and boy.