Evening journal., 1913-01-02
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Newspaper COrreSpOn-
dents Friendship for
Garfield
BY HgMard.

The late General Henry V. Boyn-
ton. who was numbered among the
bravest Of the Union officers in the
civil war and whose name is identi-
fed with the establishment of the
great national cemetery at Chicka-
mauga, where he fought. was for
many years after the close OF the
civil war an influential Washington
correspondent He represented a
Cincinnati newspaper and he was
also a special correspondent for a
number OF other newspapers. He
became the dean of newspaper row
about 1881. although there were one
or two other correspondents who had
been a little longer I'm service than
he. He was recognized as the dean,
however, because of his distinguished
career as a soldier before he began
his journalistic life.
General BoyntOn was i'm confden-
tial relations with almost all of the
men in public life at Washington,
especially during the administra-
tions of President Hayes and Presi-
dent Garfield. He was several times
offered important public Office, but he
preferred to remain in his post as a
Washington correspondent Fur
thermore he had In mind a history
of the battle of Chickamauga ana ne
was intensely interested in the es-
tablishment OF the natioanl cemetery
upon that site. He was "A man Of
very kind heart, extremely sympa-
thetic, a most accurate writer y
news believing that, for him, at
least the best way was to present
the news as concisely and briefly as
possible. He was also a man of in
tense loyalty in his friendships. He
clung tenaciously to friendly asso-
citation, and if man of public life
were once his friend that relation
was maintained. He possessed, also,
the quality that goes with his in
tense loyalty Of friendship capac-
ity for intense dislikes. II he had
any weakness as a journalist it
could be exclusively referred TO the
fact that his loyalty as well as his
apimosity sometimes Influenced his
judgment.
On the evening of Sept 10, 1881,
met General Boynton at the tele-
graph office in the West End Hotel,
at Long Branch. / had just received
information from my assistant, who
was stationed at the Elberon cottage
at Long Branch, to which Garfield
was taken from the White House at
Washington, that the President had
died The information did not aston
ish me for knew that some mem
bers of the Cabinet looked upon his
death within a few hours as inevit-
able
General Boyntons affection for
Garfield was almost that or a broth
haN H.. L.
lieve that Garfields wound was NOR
tai, and he was firmly persuaded that
recovery slow though it might be.
was certain. He was. in fact, a lit
tie tOuchy on the subject. seeming
almost to take reports of correspon-
dents who were not hopeful of Gar
fields recovery as a personal griev-
ance AT the telegraph Office Gen
eral Boynton greeted me pleasantly.
He said 81 have just finished my
despatch to my paper, and am get
ting 1t off rather eearly tonight. De-
cause there isn't much to- say
What are YOU tclegraphing. gen
eral?" | asked.
81 am saying that the President
has passed a very restful day and
that his recovery now seems as
sured"
So saying. General Boynton show
ed me his manuscript
Il wouldn't send that despatch,
General Boynton." | said
"Why not?' he replied. little
testify. And he added 81 know that
YOU do not regard Garfeld's recovery
as probable"
81 wouldn't send that despatch" I
continued "and for "A good reason
General Garfield is dead
With a glance that told the story
of his agony at heart, combined with
some feeling toward me as the bear
er of evil news. General Boynton
left the hotel for the purpose OF veri-
flying what ! had said, when he re-
turned his face was like that of a
man who has lost his dearest friend
Copyright, 1913, by h. J. Edwards
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell
of "A Great LAWYERS Idea of Tf.er.