Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-16
DEATH Of JAMES
GORDON BENNETT
Famous Proprietor of N. Y. Her.
ald-Original Figure in In.
ternati0nal Journalism

Bealieu. France. May 14.-James Gordon
Bennett, proprietor Of the New York
Herald. died at 4:30 o'clock this morning
after having been unconscious for TWO
days.
Mr.. Benefits last words before re-
| lapsing into unconsciousness were In reia-
ton to his newspaper interests. Mrs.
Bennett was with her husband when he
died.
James Gordon Bennett, one of the most
original and picturesque figures In inter-
national journalism, and undoubtedly the
greatest genius among the publishers OF
American newspapers of his time, was
born in New York city, May 10. 1Al, the
only son of James Gordon Bennett,
founder of The New York Herald" He
received his education from private tutors
and was carefully trained for his Journal
istic career by his father. who took great
pains to initiate his son and heir into the
complicated mechanism Of every branch
of newspaper work
To build up great newspaper had been
the leading purpose of the fathers life.
and it is said that his last injunction to
his son was to sustain and develop that
which he had created. Old Bennett died
in 1872 and his son fell heir of his large
fortune and to The Herald. which had
| been the pride of his father. Young
Bennett faithfully complied with his
fathers wish and, in doing so. displayed
all the energy. sagacity. varied ability.
personal probity and tremendous enter
prise that had distinguished his father.
Although his enormous wealth and his
position as publisher Of the Herald gave
him great personal power, he never used
it for his own personal advantage or
himself. cared nothing for titles and
rank and declined any personal share of
credit for the great journalistic achieve
ments of his newspaper. He lived and
labored to perpetuate the fame OF his
father, not to gain distinction for himself.
A few years after he had assumed the
control and active direction of the New
York Herald, which continued to thrive
under his management. Mr.. Gordon went
to Paris where he established his resi-
dence and headquarters and where he
founded a Paris edition of the New York
Herald At first it was only a small
paper, published with view Of supplying
American travellers in Europe with cable
news from home. but gradually 1t de-
veloped into a large and important paper
and was made the cable clearing house
for the Continental news intended for
the New York Herald.
A few years later Mr.. Bennett also
established a London edition Of his paper.
but the experiment failed and after a
little more than a year. during which
time the maintenance of the paper had
cost him about s1.00OOOO, Mr.. Bennett
discontinued the venture and devoted his
energy to the New York and Paris edi-
tions exclusively. During the greater
| part of the time he resided in Paris but
often he would absent himself for long
| periods. going on extensive hunting trips
| or cruising in his private yacht to all
parts of the world. But, whether he was
! in Paris or at one Of his numerous villas
/ in the southern part Of Europe, he al
ways remained in touch with his papers
| and daily communicated with the New
York Herald by cable, receiving detailed
reports and directing the work and policy
of the paper.
news sense" which characterizes journal
! istlc genius and his enterprise was practi-
cally unlimited. He never did things by
| halves and never counted cost of obtain
| ing exclusive news stories. He inaugurated
the publication in England Of storm warn
ings transmitted from the United States
sent Henry NJ. Stanley to Africa to find
! Livingstone in 1874: fitted out at his own
expense the Jeannette polar expedition in
1873; established in 1883. together with
John w. Mackay. the Commercial
| Overwhelmingly Cable company; sent
out Vizitelly in 1889. to intercept Stanley
in East Africa and obtain from him a re-
| port on the Emin Pasha relief expedition
saved Mrs Maybrick from being SEN
fenced to death on the gallows and ex-
| posed the conspiracy to bring about the
political downfall of the Irish leader Par
nell.
On his periodical visits to New York
Mr. Bennett went carefully through the
composition and press rooms. observing
the condition and working of the ma
chinery and suggesting improvements to
increase its efficiency. He always kept
himself we'll informed concerning the
work of the members Of his staff and had
high regard for ability and faithful
service.
He always took great interest in sports.
especially in yachting. and sailed two
|