New-York tribune., 1921-03-30
mo. Burroughs
Dies on Train
Nearing Home
End Comes in Ohio Town as
Naturalist. 85, Was on Way
From California to His
Cabin in Ulster County
Had Been Operated On
Was Known as Friend of All
Outdoors; Wrote Many
Works on Nature Study

John Burroughs. naturalist and
friend of all outdoors, died early yes
terday aboard New York Central
train that was speeding him toward
the little rough hewn timber home
that he had built with his own hands
IN West Park, Ulster County. New
York. His body was taken from the
train yesterday afternoon at Pough-
keepsie and ferried across the river
to his cabin. SIabsides.
The Pullman car in which Mr.. Bur
roughs was completing 3 fatiguing
Journey from Pasadena, Calf. vas
2 o'clock in the morning when the end
came. Travelling with the octogenarian
naturalist were his physician, Miss
Clara Barrus; his grand daughter, Miss
Ursula Burroughs, and the Misses
Elinor and Harriet Burroughs.
Mr.. Burroughs had been sleeping fit
fully through the first half Of the
night At Kingsville he raised him
self with one elbow on his pillow and
near home are we? Told that the
train was crossing Ohio he sank back
and in few moments was dead.
It was twelve hours later that the
train reached Poughkeepsie, where an
undertaken took charge of the body
and placed it in a coffin while the
train was held. A crowd that gathered
at the station stood uncovered as the
coffin was carried from the Pullman
che journey across the Hudson.
Camping Trip Plans Cancelled
By. that time kilograms had con-
veyed news of his death to his
cronies, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford,
Hudson Maxim and Harvey Firestone.
For weeks they had been writing each
other in anticipation of camping trip
similar to others they have made to-
Eether in recent years. Before night
fall those left had cancelled all ar
rangements for the camping trip and
were preparing to attend their old
friends funeral, which will be held
at the tiny home on the West Park
hillside
Mr.. Burroughs left Pasadena last
Friday for his home, where he planned
to pass his eighty fourth birthday on
April 8. short time before his de-
parture he had left hospital here,
where he had received treatment for
an abscess on the chest. He had di-
vided his time during the winter be-
tween La Jolla, near San Diego, and
cabin IN Pasadena Glen.
Sketch Of His Life
The story Of such life as that Of
John Burroughs is best read-indeed,
there alone can it be completely read
in his own writings. which. intention
ally or not, are preeminently auto
biographical. The data Of his career
Of the usual type are comparatively
few and not Of striking interest or
significance: but his works are many
and they are all characteristic of his
strong and exceptional personality.
He was born at Roxbury, N. Y. on
April 8. 1887, the son of Chauncey A.
and Amy Kelly Burroughs, and was
endowed from birth with the robust
physical frame which served him so
well through lifetime far exceeding
in length the utmost limit prescribed
oy Moses without incurring the threat
ened penalty OF labor and sorrow. He
was sent to the local school. where
his desk was next to that of Jaw Could
the son OF his fathers near neighbor.
The two boys were close friends in
their school days
MS interest In nature study began
IN early childhood. though it was not
manifested IN a practical way until he
became school teacher. at the age of
nineteen. On this subject he said
some years ago:
betsy Gould. jays sister, says that
WAS an expert on insects while a
small boy. l believe she actually th;nls
so. l knew all the common birds, it is
~ sI ana nad some primary knowledge
--.,l0 ~ DulnDleoees and frogs. but got no