The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-22
MOST NOTED
EDITOR In
U. S. PASSES
Heart Failure Ends Career
of Famous Kentuck-
ian at 81.

jacksonville, Fla. Dec. ga
Colonel Henry Watterson, known
to the American people as one of
the last surviving members of the
Old School of Journalism, and to
his friends as "Marse Henry" died
early today at hotel here.
Death came peacefully, the ven
erable editor retaining conscious
ness almost to the end, and con-
yersing during his last half hour
with his wife, son and daughter.
Colonel Watterson came to Jack
sonyille several weeks ago in ac-
cordance with his annual custom
Of spending the winter in Florida,
usually at Fort Meyers. He con-
uacted a Slight cold on Tuesday
and while seated in a chair yes
terday morning soon after break
fsst he suffered an acute bronchial
l attack and was ordered to bed by
4 bis physician. His condition grew
4 worse during the day and night and
the end came at 6:15 O'Clock this
i morning. The immediate cause of
A BIS death, his physician said. was
/" LIOuDlCt 81 PEI DJ 1O1-
n gestion of the lungs.
Thus "Marse Henry" passed to
shat beautiful shore" where last
q October he wrote his comrades of
"a Ehe Confederate army he was sure
s the bonnie blue flag would be fly
q ing at the fore and the bands would
a be playing Dixie on parade and
n he pretty girls would be distribut-
"A Ing the Chattanooga Rebel (the
newspaper published by him during
q The war between the states) 20
A FOups of ragged, red-nosed angels,
{ Who have not forgotten the Rebel
Yell"
The body of Colonel Watterson,
4 was said by mis- son, Henry Wat
\ terson, would he placed in vault
here until spring, when it will be
iaken to Louisville for burial in
he family plot in Cave Hill ceme-
terry there.
Mr.. Watterson said his mother
was very frail and because of her
condition. it was inadyisable to re-
urn to the north before spring.
Louisville In Grief.
Louisville, Ky. Dec. 22.-Henry
Watterson, who died in Jackson
vile, Fla, early today, left Louis
j Vile three weeks ago for his an
aual pilgrimage to the south, where
q 10Y years he had spent the winter.
4 Apparently he was in his usual
health, which, however, for sever
u years had not been good.
News Of his death was received
WITH many evidences Of grief in
Louisville, where for more than so
j YEARS he had been a notable fig
N Apparently he faced with
almness the end OF his span of
ne Once, before undergoing an
cperadon, he said to the managing
@or Of the Courier journal:
Was Ready to Go.
am prepared at any time to
surrender my life to God who gave
I We do not know about these
Angs and I face the outcome with
Nfenity, whatever it may be. 1t
"a perlous thing for a man in his
"a year 10 submit to the surgeons
nne, but I am ready for it and
~ mat may follow"
while convalescing from pre-
yoes Illness, MIR. Watterson con-
sn.ed TO read some advance obit-
,es OF himself. and wrote this:
am getting a foretaste of my
WI Ioneral-sitting up in the
sls' Sl.a'e' as It were, and reading the
S~1uafies-and 'grinning at the
sys' but very cheerful and CRATE
~. ~. II Is kind O. cheering
ster than being saddled with mo-
-eS and called Names"
Editor BY Accident.
nehry Watterson was one of the
sSt OF the old time personal jour
sssNslS. More than half a century
Z euSorials. with their brilliant,
.sHal and phrase-making compo-
MSioh' attracted wide attention.
"a were commented on and cop
"a oS the press of the nation. Be-
oa Ses MS power III molding public
,Ion through his editorials Wat
STson's influence is credited with
ing shaped the platform of the
n,nsocFauc n,ausS party in more than one
sshential campaign.
H.. sdS perhaps through an acci-
MY us mat Henry Watterson pursued
svs.hailsm. All. Early in life he
SHeo unusual musical talent and
y. parents encouraged it. A mis-
lsarnat mat crushed his ieft thumb,
~ that member stiff, caused
so musical education to be aban-
i,s.s, isQ, as the piano was his favorite
oaa, a. natural bent for writing devel-
- ~ out even in this Mr.. Waiter
4 nv was seriously handicapped as
n, Iiness in infancy had affected
s,.lSion. His first journalistic ex-
- teace was gained on a Washing
M =. C., newspaper as musical
dramatic critic. His father.
Noninued- -0n-Last Rage.l