New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-12-22
MARSE HENRY IS
DEAD AT 81 YRS.
Col. WatterSOn, Famous COnled-
crate Soldier, Noted Publisher
GREAT FRIEND OF LINCOLN
During The Civil War, He Was Head
OF Southern SCoutS-Was One or
Last OF Old Time Personal Journal
lists.

Last OF Old Time Personal Journal
lists.
Jacksonville, Fla, Dec. %, - Col,
Henry Watterson, known to the Am
crican people as the last surviving
member of the old school of journal
ism and to his friends as "Marse
Henry" died early today at hotel
here.
Death came peacefully, the veneer
able editor retaining consciousness al
most to the end and conversing dur
ing his last half hour with his wife,
son and daughter.
Col, Watterson came to Jackson
Vile several weeks ago in accordance
with his annual custom of spending
the winter in Florida, usually at Fort
Myers.
Stricken Ill
Soon after he arrived here he was
taken i'll but for the past few days
an improvement in his condition
seemed noticeable. He contracted a
slight cold Tuesday and while seated
in a chair yesterday morning soon
after breakfast he suffered an acute
bronchial attack and was ordered to
his bed by his physician His condi-
ton grew worse during the day and
night and the end came at CHS
O'Clock this morning. The immediate
cause Of his death his physician said
was heart failure superinduced by
congestion of the lungs.
Thus Marse Henry passed to that
beautiful shore" where last October
he wrote his comrades of the Con
federate army he was sure the bon
ME blue flag will be flying at the fore
and the bands will be playing Dixie
on parade and the pretty girls will be
distributing the Chattanooga Rebe
(the newspaper published by hin
during the war between the states)
to a group of ragged, red-nosed an
gels who have not forgotten the rebe
yell"
Famous Ncwspaperman
Henry Watterson was one OF the
last of the old time personal journal
lists. More than half a century hi
editorials, with their brilliant, origina
and phrase making composition, at
tracted wide attention. They were
commented on and copied by tn
press of the nation. Besides his pow
er in molding public opinion through
his editorials, Watterson's influence |
credited with having shaped the plat
form of the democratic party in NOR
than one presidential campaign.
1t was perhaps through an acciden
that Henry Watterson pursued Jour
nalism. Early in life he evinced un
Iusual musical talent and his parent
Hncouraged it. A mishap that crush
VA his left thumb. leaving tha
member stiff, caused the musical edu
cation to be abandoned, as the piano
was his favorte instrument.
Served in Civil War
Wattersons course in letters an
journalism in the national capital wa
interrupted as he attained his majori
ty by the outbreak of war. With nj
father, he opposed the secession move
ment. but upon the declaring of hostl
Iities, he returned to his Tennesse
home. and joined the army of the con
Ifederacy. He served throughout tn
war, except for a period of ten months
when he established and operated a
Chattanooga, Tenn, The Rebel,
semi-military paper.
Mr. Watterson served first as an aid
to the famous cavalry leader, Ger
Nathan Bedford Forrest, and later wa
on the staff of General Leonidas PolF
During the campaign between Ger
Sherman and Johnston, Watterson wa
chief-of- scouts of the Contederat
army.
Loved Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was said to be tn
great passion of Watterson's life. ii
lecture on Lincoln" was delivered
hundreds of cities and it was h
pride to tell of calling on Lincoln I'll
morning of his inauguration and
standing beside him at the ceremon
Let no Southern man point h
finger at me-" Mr.. Watterson sai'
"Because | cannonize Lincoln, for h
was the one friend we had at cou
when friends were most in need
Called 'NIarsc Henry"
His dashing style gave him sue
nicknamcs as Light Horse Harry
and Henry of Navarro" He WI
more popularity called plain Mars
Henry"
As effectively as he wrote Mr.. Wa
terson spoke on the public platform
His reputation as an orator reache
its climax when he delivered an az
dress at the dedication Of the co