The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-12-22
Body Will Remain In
Florida Until Spring
When 1t Will Be Re-
moved To Louisville
Connection With the
Courier Journal Had
Ceased and He Was En-
joying Life of Leisure

Jacksonville, Fla, Dec. 22.-Henry
Watterson, one of the country's best
. known journalists and former owner
and publisher of the Louisville (Ky.)
Courier Journal, died at a local hotel
at 6:15 O'Clock this morning.
Col. Watterson's death was unex-
pected, though it had been known for
some days that he was seriously ill.
He had been here about six weeks as
was his custom on his annual trips
to Florida: He has for years been
ending his winters largely at Fort
Myers and it was his intention to
CO .ur'-1 10 that place when his con-
dition improved sufficiently to take
the trip. His wife, son and daughter
were at his bedside when he died
Col Wattersons condition became
worse yesterday and death was due
to heart disease supinduced by con-
gcstlon of the lungs, according to the
physician. He was conscious for
few minutes, and 80 minutes before
his death called his wife into his
room and talked with her. After
few words with Mrs. Watterson, the
son and daughter were summoned.
Members of the family said his
having lapsed into Inconsistencies
again a few minutes before he passed
away i
The body of Col. Watterson will
remain i'll Florida until some time in
the spring when it will be taken to
Louisville for burial in the family plot
in Cave Hill Cemetery, where his
father and mother rest, his son Henry
Wnffnpcnn u
terson said his mother was very frail
and that because of her condition. as
a result of the death of her husband,
he deemed it inadvisable for her to
leave Florida during the winter.
Sketch OF His Life
Henry Watterson was born in
Washington, d. c., Feb. 16, 1910. He
entered journalism as reporter for
the Democratic Review, of that city
He removed to Nashville, Tenn.
where he edited number of papers
before and after the war, spending the
interim in gallant service in the Con-
federate army. In 1868 he became
editor of the Louisville Journal, con-
solidating with the Courier in the lat
ter part of the same year.
AS editor of the Louisville Courier
Journal he attained celebrity which
no American newspaper man has sur
passed. He quickly became known
far and wide for his remarkably pun
gent style and his bold and original
treatment of current themes.
Besides his daily contributions to
the paper he found time to do a vast
amount of miscellaneous writings, his
published works including a History
of the Spanish-Amric2n War" and
abraham Lincoln
Some CT his finest writing and most
discriminating observation of men
and motives are to be found in his
recent series of sketches published
in the Saturday Evening Post.
Though vitriolic to a degree in his
+ discussions, he was a man of liberal
views, making many fast friends
among his political enemies. He was
a devoted admirer of Lincoln, whose
character impressed him deeply, and
a warm personal friend of Theodore
Roosevelt. He was one of the original
supporters of President Wilson whom
he assisted to become candidate for
the presidency in 1912.
In 1918, Mr.. Watterson sold his in
terest in the Courier-Journal to Judge
Robert w. Bingham, of Louisville,
who also purchased stock of other
owners, and Watterson retired from
editorial responsibility and place, ac-
cepting for several months the title of
editor emeritus. I'd the spring of
1919, he resigned that position and
since then he has been living a wholly
retired life, interrupted only occa-
sionally by a letter to a newspaper
on a public topic or an interview to
scme rowing reporter.
One example of his characteristic
style is found in letter, written in
October, 1921. regretting that age
rendered inadvisable his attendance
upon the Confederate reunion at
Chattanooga 1T cannot be long he
wrote, when we shall meet on that
beautiful shore, and, when we meet,
be sure the Bonnie Blue Flag will be
flying at the fore and the bands will
be playing Dixie on parade. whilst
the pretty girls will be distributing
The Chattanooga Rebel to groups of
ragged. red-nosed angels who have
not forgotten the rebel yell"
Louisville Grieves a.
Louisville, KY, Dec, 22.-Henry
Watterson, who died in Jacksonville,
Fla. early this morning, left Louis
/. Vile three weeks ago for his annual
pilgrimage for the south. where for
years he had spent the winter, Ap-
parently be was In his psual, good
beat which. however for several