Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-18
JOAQUIN MILLER PASSES AWAY
IN CABIN IN MOUNTAINS
HE LOVED.
PEN WAS BUSY ALMOST
TO THE END OF LIFE
Was Engaged in Writing New Poem
During Last IIlness-Wifs and
Daughter With Eccentric Man-Pic-
turesque Character in Literary
World.


Miller, the poet of the Sierras," died
late yesterday in his one-roon bin.
which he built with his own hands in
the Piedmont hills many years ago.
with his daughter Juanita Miller, and
his wife with him. The end came at
3 o'clock in the afternoon with farm
sunshine flooding the room where lay
the author of Songs of the Sunland."
Death came slowly upon the vener-
able poet. He became unconscious
Thursday after lingering illness
which began when he succumbed to an
attack Of paralysis two years ago. His
wife and daughter were mmoned ar
that time from the east. and have
been with him since. The weakness of
Old age had crept upon him. and altho
he worked at times. he rarely ventured
from The Heights" as he called his
mountain resort.
For many years THE Heights" has
been the mecca of lovers Of Joaquin
Mil:er's poetry He always received
his guests eraciousiy, and loved TO talk
in vein of quaint humor Of the old.
adventurous days which he memorial
'Zed in his verse.
Ills faculties were urdimmed until
almos. the end. and he worked al in
tcrva!s Upon a poem which ne said was
TO be the most noiilentous work of his
life. He guarded the poem with the
utmost secrecy. and not even his wife
aud daughter knew its subject.
Hope If saving his life ended sun
day when the attending physician an
nnnnced that the end was only mat
ter OF q few days. At noon yesterday
life was barely describe. Senility
was tbs. only cause OF death the physt-
elan could give.
A Picturesque Figure.
Cincinnatus Heire Miller. better
known by his pen name Joaquin"
Miller. the Poet of the Sierras." was
one of tho most picturesque characters
in the literary world of the United
states. He was born from Scotch
American parents in the Wabash DIS
trict of Indiana Nov. 10. 1912. He was
scarcely 10 years old when his father
emigrated TO Oregon, then wild ana
sparely settled country. He received
but little education and lived a wild
and adventurous life.
His literary activity began about
1864 or 1865. He began to write poems.
dealing mostly with the adventurous
life OF the west. He published nrst
collection of poems in paper covers
called Specimens" and next q VOL
uma with the title Joaquin ct al,
which contained a defense OF Joaquin
Marietta. the famous Spanish-An
can outlaw, who had been the terror Oh
California for ten years. From TINS
Miller took his pen name, Joaquin
D.Ger which he published all mis- suo-
sequent works.
In 1870 Miller went to London, wnere
n. published in the following year. ms
.'Sorys of the Sierras" and Paclhc
Poems" During his sojourn In Lonooh
Miller was taken up by society ana oe-
came a much sought after guest IN
drawing rooms. The romantic nimous
surrounding his personality. his &c
centrac way of dressing and OF nearing
himself interested society and ne was
fairly overwhelmed with invitations.
His poems were read by everybody ana
there was 10 man more popular tAoA'
ne in London at that time.
After his return from England. Miller
found himself a celebrity in his own
country. He vas well known and mao
no difficulty in finding papers o. inae
azines eager to print and liberally pay
for his prose and poetry. In 1910 uo
published another volume unoes .he
title Songs Of the Sun Land ana
| prose volume entitled Life among INC
Moaocs: Unwritten History. since
! then he has published more than TWEEN, ),
" books, poems. novels, ESSAYS anu
| p1ays. For a number Of years ne h'eu
| the life of a recluse on his farm hea'
! Oakland, Cal. but the last years OF MS
| ufe ne spent on his estate. ne
| Heights" near Dimond. Cal.