Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-05-27
John T.. Harris.

The sudden death in this city Mon
day Of John T. Harris, the veteran and
versatile journalist, was a blow TO his
many friends and admircr. Mr. Harris
during the last week had been liviugat the
motel at Queen City Park. and Monday
morning. after discussing the affairs of
The Advance. Of which he was editor,
with Wellington Smith. the business man
ager he started out ahead of Mr. smith
TO walk to the Home for Destitute Chill
dren to take a car for Burin. :ton. lie
walked to the point mentioned and sank
crtion. Mi Smith, who was not far be-
mind him, soon came up and saw that Mr..
Harris was breathing heavily and was
unconscious. a telephone message was
sent to this city and pr O. y. Eastman
responded but it was too late. as Mr. Iiar-
ris had passed away short time after
Mr. Smith had found him. He had eaten
d hearty breakfast, which, coupled With
his fast walk. had probably induced iudi-
scstion which was fatal to q heart weak
ness with which he had suffered for some
time. The body was taken to the Quincy
undressing rooms
Mr. Harris was a character IN Vermont
journalism. For mauy years he had
Il, writing gentle satire ON men, poll
tics and all timely topics ana there We're
thousands of Nermontcrs who read his
writings with much interest ana delight
He was born Journalist ana made good
copy Of whatcvCr came to his attention.
Ills birthplace was Cabot and the day OF
his birth July Z, 1853. 1t VAS evidently
the attention Of his parents to make a
lawyer of him, for he studied to enter the
legal profession ana was admitted to ptac-
tice at MONTPELIER in lN19 The law held
him for two years al panylle. then he en-
tered Journalism. from which he rover
retired. His first venture WIS the pur-
chaS" OF the st. Juhushury index. rrW the
Republican. Later he established the
Hardwck Gazette and then the Morris
willie Messenger, lie had been connected
with several other Vermont newspapers
in one capacity or another hut chiefly as
editorial writer where his talent bore
most fruit
At one tine he was editor Of the Bur
lington Clipper. His last work had been
with The Advance. published in this city,
and he was the editor Of that publication
at his death. For several wears he was
legislative editor If the Montpelier Jour
ma and for long period was Wash
ington correspondent for several Mont
pclicr newspapers He had also had con-
nection editorially with the Worcester
tMass) Evening Post In politics he was
republican. During the term of office
of tine late Senator Jonathan Ross he
was the senator's private secretary.
For several years and while he was
acting as Washington correspondent for
newspapers he was an employc of the
nited States Senate During the sum-
mcr If 1910 Mr. Harris Travelled through
Europe from Fars to Constantinople
as special inspector of immigration un-
der authority of the American immgra-
ton commission. he was n member Of
the American and European sections of
the Thcoaophica society, and an Odd
Fellow.
Mr., Harris was thrice married. His
first wife was Miss Carrie Brown of Bur-
lingtor. his second Miss Addic Soule of
Portland Me. and his third, Miss Eva
Cobb Of Atlanta, Ga. His sole survivor
In his immediate family is one daughter,
Mrs France Pache Of DanVilc, wife Of
DR. Henri l.. Pachc Two sons died
while boys.
The body was taken 10 Danville yester-
day for burial.