Evening star., 1926-03-06
FRANCIS A. RICHARDSON,
NOTED WRITER, is DEAD
AFTER WEEKS ILLNESS
CONTINUED from First Page)

on the advice of the Confederate Sec
retary of war and others, ran the
blockade from Wilmington. N. c.. to
Nassau and sailed from there to New
York, with the intention of coming to
Washington in the effort to secure an
interview with President Lincoln.
Soon after he landed in New York he
was arrested and sent to Fort Della
ware, where he was confined for more
than q year. He was released only
about two weeks before the surrender
Of Gen. Lee. He planned to re-estab
lish the newspaper in Baltimore. but
could not do so because of lack OF
funds. Deciding to become a Wash
ington correspondent. he arrived here
November 16, 1865, and secured en-
ployment almost Immediately. Be
coming connected with the Baltimore
Sun. in January, 1866, he continued
that service for 35 years, when he vol
unfairly retired. About this time Mr..
Richardson and George w. Adams
were associated i'll conducting the Bal
timore Associated Press. which made
special feature Of reporting the pro
ceedings OF Congress. Mr.. Richard.
son had charge Of the Senate and Mr..
Adams OF the House Of Representa-
tives. At various periods Mr.. Rich
ardson wrote from Washington for
many other newspapers. including the
Boston Post, the New York Tribune.
the New Orleans Picayune, the At.
lanta Herald. the Mobile Tribune and
the Savannah News.
Alr. Richardson took charge of tho
Baltimore Sun bureau here in 1872
and four years later severed his
connections with all other newspa-
perS. At the time of his retirement
ht1r l.
years. the oldest Washington CORE
spondent in continuous service. and
MS record as chief of the Washing
ton bureau eXcelled that of any other
man Despite his engrosSing Iabors
here, he found time in 1871. to pre-
pare and publish an elaborate his
torical and biographical work on his
natlve city, Baltimore. In addition to
.ne great mass of correspondence from
Washington he wrote for the Sun.
Mr.. Richardson wrote for that news
paper two series of letters from En-
rope, and. Summer after Summer.
letters from the principal watering
places or the United States. and sew
erai series of Winter letters from
Florida.
Was Director of Star.
Mr. Richardson became q member
OF the board Of directors Of The Eve.
ming Star Newspaper Company in
1880. following his appointment as
trustee OF the estate of the late
George W. Adams, one Of the owners
OF The Star since it's incorporation in
1867. During his lengthy connection
with the active management OF this
newspaper Mr. Richardson devoted to
tention.
Mr.. Richardson reported for the
Baltimore Sun the proceedings of
every national convention of both
poNtlcal parties from 1872 to 1900
and in the presidential campaigns
during that extended period went
into all the doubtful States of the
East and West to give the newspaper
he represented and its readers his
Impressions of conditions and prob
abilities. There was no signature
better known in the wide circle Of
readers which the Sun enjoyed than
that of IF. A. R And in the jour
nalistic ranks there was no man
more respected and beloved than
Frank Richardson"
Mr.. Richardson terminated his direct
connection with the Baltimore Sun
Saturday, June /, 1901. He closed his
newspaper life not only by his own
positive determination, but against the
earnest solicitation of the Messrs.
Abel, the owners of the Sun, under
whom-father and sons-he served for
nearly two generations. At that time
the Sun printed the following tribute.
We cannot recall a single instance
that has marred his relation with the
paper. and we doubt If there has been
involved even SO much as a rnisunder-
| standing with either his proprietors OF
readers And this almost unexampled
| freedom from criticism or complain:
has not been at the expense either Of
| independence or efficiency.
Mr. Richardson has ever been
man of opinions, as well as Of enter
prise, but his uniform courtesy and
| sense of justice have served him III
good stead in all the incidents and
| exactions of his dual relations.
THE Sun will miss him, and equally
positive are we that he will miss the