New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-13
JAMES CREELMAN
dies in HARNESS
End Comes in. Berlin While
Reporting the Greatest
War of All.
THIRTY YEARS ON
NEW YORK PAPERS
China, Greece, Cuba, Philippines
and Mexico Included In a
Career of Many Perils.

Berlin, Feb. flames Creelmsn, the
New York journalist, died here to-day
after an illness of several weeks. Mr..
Creelman underwent an operation in q
sanatorium here two days ago for
Brights disease. The United States
State Department was informed of his
death by Ambassador Gerard. Mr.
Creelman was fifty-hve years old.
James .Creelman left nothing 20 be
desired as war correspondent of the
old school. In thirty years Of service
on half dozen New York papers he
hardly missed an international compli-
cation OF any sort. The prominent per-
sonages from whom he obtained inter
views ran all the way from the Pope to
Sitting Bull. His exploits included
jumping into New York Bay in an eN-
perimentsl lifesaving suit and making
an ascension in Pages iron airship,
which got up just high enough to in
capacitate all the occupants for several
weeks. A bullet wound here, q broken
bone thete were mementos of battle
fields and hazardous risks which con-
tributed many a thrill TO an adventur
Gus life.
Knew Smell Of Powder.
Creelman knew the smell Of powder
when war corresponding was real &C.
c0pation, long before the days OF dress
suits, demi-tasses and cigarette dreams
Many of his stories were written with
the bullets singing about his head. Far
from being miles from the battle lines,
he occasionally got in front of the very
~ tba Snan-
ish war, he preceded by several hun
dred feet charge on the Notifications
and with hi. own. hands captured the
flag of the fort. In doing so he was
severely wounded and was forced 10
return 70 New York, but as soon as h.
was we'll again he started for the
Philippines, where another bullet
brought him down.
When he wasn't at a war he was busy
investigating, interviewing and throw
ing the light on evil spots all over the
world. He was expelled from Cuba by
General Weyler two years before the
war between the United States and
Spain for stories Of the Spanish atroc-
tiles. He penetrated Russia TO look
into the persecution Of the Jews; he
described how Stockholm received the
body of Ericsson ne met Stanley on
the latter's return from the Emin Bey
trip; he talked personally with Louis
Kossuth, Bismarck, Count Toilstoy, King
George of Greece, President Faure. the
Emperor Of Corea and host of others
in the course of his career as special
writer. And at the end he died in har-
ness, reporting the progress OF the
greatest war of them all.
Canadian by Birth.
Creelman was born in Montreal, Can
ada. on November ~, 1859 He ran
away from home when he was twelve
and started to walk to New York. With
the aid Of an occasional train ride he
reached his destination. He was then
gifted with a remarkably clear soprano
voice. This attracted the attention of
the Rev. DR.. William A. Nuremberg
who took the youngster up and made a
great favorite Of him. This led to his
employment as typesetter in the
Office Of "The Church and State" then
the official organ of the Protestant
Episcopal Church. He drifted from one
Office to another until at length he
landed with "The Brooklyn Eagle"
Here he met Thomas Kinsella. who en-
couraged him to write. In 1878 a va
cancy occurred on the staff of THE
New York Herald" and Creelman was
taken on as a reporter. Only nineteen
years old, Creelman quickly distin-
guished himself and almost lost his
life. The winter of 1873 found Captain
Paul Boynton in New York with his
famous lifesaving suit, then much
doubted novelty. Creeiman was as
signed to test the efficacy of the inven-
ton. One night he and Captain Boyn-
ton donned the lifesaving armor and,
jumping into the river at the Battery,
allowed themselves to drift down into
the bay.
The night was very cold and the river
so full of ice that when the swimmers
wished to reach the shore they found
themselves unable to do so. Creelman
wrote the account of this nights adj
venture for his paper. and the publ
cation created a sensation. AS result
the young reporter was assigned to &C
company Boynton on his trip from OIL
City, Penn, through the Allegheny, Ohio
and Mississippi rivers TO the Gulf OF
Mexico.
Exploits for "The Herald"
In 1879 "The Herald' undertook the
task of exposing the practice OF dump,
ing the cityTefuse into the bay instead
Of towing the barges TO sea. Creelman
chartered a private yacht, received per-
mission TO cruise around the bay at
night without lights, and obtained the
information which led TO the removal
of the state shore inspector and com
plete reform of harbor regulations. In
the same year Creelman was sent to
Montreal to accompany Professor I. II.
Grimley in the first ascension OF Pages
iron airship. The ship burst and
dragged its occupants for many miles
before they were rescued. Creelman
escaped with broken arm and few
painful bruises, while Grimley was
confined to his bed for many months.
He had hardly recovered from THIS
adventure before General Custer was
killed and away he sped TO the West
to investigate He succeeded in get
ting interviews with Sitting Bull and
all the fighting chiefs OF the day. On
his way back he wandered over into
Kentucky to see what could be done
about the great Hatfield-McCoy feud.
He found that the mountaineers were
much more difficult 10 handle than the
savage Indians. He was frequently shot
at by the Hatfelds. who refused TO let
him approach their rendezvous, COM
pelling him TO sleep in the woods.
In 1890 Creelman was appointed
editor Of the London edition OF THE
Herald" and a year later he filled
similar position on the Paris edition.
IL was during these days abroad that