The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-07-12
Herbert IN. Ayfes,
NeWSpaperman
and Poet, Is Dead
Veteran Of Honolulu Press and
Singer Of Sweet Songs An
sWers Last Call Far From the
Islands He Loved

Herbert Melton Ayres, poet and
newspaperman, who left the Islands
last fan for work on the mainland,
died last month at Reno, Nevada, fol.
lowing an operation.
News of Mr.. Ayres death reached
here yesterday in letter received by
Johnny Carroll, manager of the Ha
waii theater, written by George W.
lSt,'ry, manager of George Wingield 3
stock farm in Nevada.
News of Mr.. Ayres' death came
as quite q shock to US" wrote Mr..
Berry. He was i'll but a short time
and never recovered from an opera
tion he underwent. Ayres was man
a9er OF Reno's leading newspaper. He
was making good ana made a lot of
Mr.. Wihgheld, the millionaire mine
On -er, VIA take care of the funeral
arrangements
Ayres arrived Honolulu in 1898 dur
ing the spanish war, as L member of
Company l., Second Volunteer Engi-
neers, ,aId was stationed at Camp Me-
hinley, the first American military
post in the Islands. While serving in
this organization he gave evidence of
his versatility as n writer by estab
fishing "The Reveille," weekly pub
lication devoted largely to local army
news and to sports, particularly horses,
the tack and fishing. He was an ar.
dent lover Of horsefiesh and was early
recOl nized as an authority on racing
land as n judge of racing animals.
On Advertiser STAFF
After. being honorably discharged
from the volunteer army, he CONTINUED
his paper, and then became a reporter
on The Advertiser, serving on this
paper OFT and on for nearly eighteen
years. y His stories of the track and
field, cricket, the prize ring and many
other Clements OF sports life, were
those. of an expert who knew sports
intimately. Tnterspersed with these
daily stories Of life in the field of
sports, were many other stories writ
ten in ryhme, and now and then n
poem.
As poet Mr. Ayres achieved fame
not only locally but his verses found
praise in many lands, and few years
ago a large collection of his deli 9htful
poem was gathered and issued in book
form under the title of 'Trade Wind
Lyrics" His passion for flowers found
an outlet in many beautiful verses.
His poems dealt almost exclusively
with bits of life in Hawaii and many
were devoted to the Hawaiian people.
Another passion was that of angling,
his specially being to fish in the Coral
shadows close to the shore, but quite
often ont in deep waters padding a
Hawaiian canoe. He became an expert
on fishing in island waters and many
Of his prose and poetical efforts in
cluded graphic descriptions Of delight,
full days with hook and line.
He was also q devotee of walking
and took long hikes, and during his
residence here walked over and around
most Of the islands. He was in add
ton a competition heel and toe walker
and was the father of the Kalakaua
avenue walking competitions, which
are now held annually. He was n strict
heel and toe walker and even though
handicapped by difference of many
years in favor of contestants. he walk
ed to victory on many occasions.
His writings breathed the ntmo
sphere of Hawaii mel and of almost
every phase of life here.
He was born in England but came
to America when Ind and. but for
one visit home. spent much of his life
away from Albion, in Hawaii.
Mr. Ayres belonged to the "Old
rrov6,p nf HOnolulu' = newsnapermPn
many of his writing associates Of the
early days having preceded him to the
Great Beyond by many years.