The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-07-13
COL. BLETHEN
LOSES FIGHT
WITH DEATH

The funeral OF Col. Alden j.
Blethen. 6S. editor Of the Seattle
Daily Times. who died Monday aft
ernoon at i;39 o'clock. at the fam
fly residence. $40 w. Highland
drive. will be held from tho nlethen
homo "Wednesday afternoon. at I
o'clock.
Col. Blethen had been I'll for n
year. during part OF which time he
travelled In vain search for health
High blood pressure. bronchitis aud
series OF colds combined at inter.
walls 20 undermine his health and
rendered his constitution unable TO
combat an attack OF septioemia.
Partially unconscious since June
II. no was for tho last eight days
unable TO take food or talk. and
only at times he recognized Nom.
beers OF the family. lilo was kept
alive by stimulants.
Continue Management
The Seattle Times will continue
20 bo published under nlethen man.
aEcment. Col Blethen several years
ago providing for his share OF the
stock TO 40 TO his two sons. Joseph
and Clearance II. nlethen. upon his
death.
Besides holding the controlling
interest IN the Times. Col nlethen
dominated the Times Investment
Co. a corporation holding the real.
~ and securities OF the newspaper
He also owned considerable real
estate about town and In the East
The news Of his death will
rouse mixed emotions In many
hearts.
a strong man has gone tho
way OF all flesh. he played
big part In the life OF Seattle
and the Northwest Fer q little
while he will be missed. The
old world ~sps on.
Col. elethen's was y curious
personality. he had many
friends and more enemies. Men
either liked or hated him.
Some men mlsludsed him. ne
was lraseible. violent %
speech. even with his friends.
lie had admirable qualities. aud
ignoble ones His creed Was; Il
stand by my friends" lie did. Re
tho friend saint or sinner. Col
Blcthen stood by him. thru thick
and thin. at any sacrifice
Fought Enemies Bitterly
But his enemies he fought bitter.
ly and sometimes yindictively ard
with any weapon that came to his
hand
lie vas not n broad man. lie
had violent preludlces.
Once he had great influence in
the community In latter years
often good. waned This made him
bitter. and, Il may be. fastened his
end.
Col. Blcthcn dominated his news.
paper. He was the Times. Its
voice was hls voice. Such editors
have great power and a greater re-
sponsibllity.
lie had a tempcstuous career. In
his vigorous years he enjoyed
| fighting But. as he reiterated be.
| fore tho creep Of age. those who
were close 10 him say. his nature
softsned Less frequent and less
violent were his irasciblc moods.
And II was with something very
like relief that. at the end. he laid
his burden down.
Was School Principal
ool. Blethen was born at Knox.
Maine. Dec. 81. 1876. After &C.
quiring common school education
he entered Wesleyan seminary and
college. where he was graduated In
/ 1865.
In 1872 he took M teaching and
was lessee and principal OF the Alb.
bolt family school at Pennington.
Maine. from 1869 10 1873.
AZ the same time he carried on
the study OF Law aud was admitted
to the bar In 1873. establishing an
office In Portland. lie there en-.
gagged IN practice until 1850. when,
on account OF III health. he removed
10 Kansas City. Mo. where. for
four years. he was manager OF the
Kansas City Journal.
Came Here In 1896
Thence he removed to Mlunsapo-
lis. where he purchased an interest
In the Tribune and the Journal.
After financial failure. due to fire
aud the panic OF 1898. he came 20
Seattle In 1896 and purchased the
| Times.
Col. Blethen Ia survived by his
widow and four children. Alden
Joseph Blethen. jr.. Clarence Bret.
tun Blethen. Mrs. Florence Blethen
Duffy and Mrs. Marion Blethen