The sun., 1919-08-23
T. A. ROSSTTER DEAD;
LONG WITH THE SUN
Served Paper for 46 Years,
Most of Time Head of Com
posing Room.
WAS FRIEND OF DANA
Refused to Take Vacation
During Greater Period
of Service.

Thomas A. Rossiter, who was an en-
ployee Of THE Sun for forty-six years
and for thirty years foreman OF its COM
posing room, died yesterday OF paralysis
at the home OF his daughter. Mrs
Franklin A. Phelan, 7ss East Twenty
second street. Flatbueh. He began set
ting type for this newspaper In 1858.
the first year of Charles A. Dana's edi-
torship, and continued to work until
1914. when he retired on a pension.
For thirty-nine years he would take
no vacation. He used TO say that he
was so used to the atmosphere of
composing room that he felt uncom-
forte BILE elsewhere. In the fortieth year
Of this persistency Chester s. Lord. then
managing editor, said to his friend the
foreman, TON, 1t does not become a
man to stay in one place so long. Go
out of the city somewhere to rest. Stay
a, least two weeks and as much longer
as you wish" Rossiter went TO the Cat
sklls Three days later the managing
editor, glancing up from his desk to see
whose hand had Just laid some proof
sheets thereon. beheld Rossiter in his
working clothes.
Couldn't stand It any longer, Boss
the foreman said. PLEASE don't order
me to go on a vacation again"
last He was born in Ferns, County
Wexford. ireland, in 1S43. and was the
son of Philip and Margaret O'Neii Ros-
sitter. He finished his irish schooling
at the age of 10, came to New York
and learned the printing trade in a
commercial shop In Manhattan. Typt
was set by hand for newspapers for
many years after he began to help ir
the making of THE SUN. He was al
first n compositor, then copy cutter
makeup man. foreman and day foreman
His esteem for Mr.. Dana and the latter't
successors was reciprocated.
Mr.. Dana gave him an autograph let
ter of President Lincoln's which wa
perhaps the foreman's most cherished
possession.
In 1899 when THE SUNS composing
room force went on strike RossIte
stayed. He went through the editoria
rooms. found several men at copy desk
who were graduates of the printer
case. including Deacon" Amos B. Still
man, and set them at work with tn
stick. The paper did not skip an issue
Rossiter was himself a member OF tn
| typographical union. and his decision
| that his duty as head of the composin,
room was TO stand by 1t left him. q
course in an embarrassing predicament
| The respect in which the men held hin
| personally despite his course was evi
denced by the fact that when the strik
| ended with victory for the union hi
union card was restored to him and h
continued to act as day foreman.
| An attack OF paralysis caused his re
| tirement FIVE years ago. It was followe
by eight other attacks. the hast Of which
coming ten weeks ago. left him helples,
| Mrs. Rossiter. who was Miss Mar
Raret Brady OF New York. died tw
years ago. Her husband is survived b
the daughter. Mrs. Phelan. with whor
he made his home recently. and by tw
sons. Frank Rossiter and DR.. Philip Ed
ward Rossiter Of Cape Vincent. late Car
tain in the Medical Corps OF the army
The Rev Leon A. Harvey. pastor of I'll
| Fourth Unitarian Church of Brooklyn