Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-13
]. HARRY Shannon,
'THERAM|B|:LI.ER,' DIES
Veteran Member Of Star
Staff Had: Great Fund
sr~~4r 81
of Local History.

- a. :
J. Harry Shannon. veteran membe,
of the editorial stat Of The Evening
OF rea dess as THE Rambler" died yes
terday morning at his home. 1900 Forty
second street, following relapse from
previous illness. -" 49, "'s-''-rr~-
Although he had been In poor health
since 1922. when he suffered severe
nervous collapse. his death came as a
distinct shock to his legion OF colleagues
in the newspaper world. who haG
watched him gaMely battle for return
to health and his beloved rarnblings
His death marks an untin1ely thirty
to a newspaper career as varied as II
was colorful. and deprives the District
Of a resident whose fund OF intorma-
ton. history and "reminiscences of the
National Capital was uneXcel.ed IN MS
Gay. 80
Had Large Following.
While himself only IS years OF age.
The Rambler was intimately familiar
with the traditions and historical asso-
cations of the Capital as far back as
Indian times and in his weekly ram
hleS" he detailed interesting DTS OF IN
formation concerning persons. things
and happenings of the good old days.
His articles. written in picturesque,
narrative style and enlivened by a
Characteristic wit. had a~renarkaole 1ol.
loving of readers Of all ages. rofceo
t. interrup; his writing by an ATTACK
akin to sleeping sickness IN l9@1. Aus
Star was besieged with anxious INQUIRIES
f7cm his followers. to the maloItt o.
whom. he was Snown simply bv ms nom
d. plume, - s,ou
process. marked by frequent meolcai
consultations and numerous treatments
al .Iohns Hopkins and local hospitals
Althoush not completely recovered, ne
insisted on returning to his once az
The Star. but was forced TO limit nus
wanoerings to the confines OF tne pls,
Gn,ved INTO countless forgotten phases
OF early life in nearby Maryland ano
Vireinia. gathering notes for his column
ana SNAPSHOTS to illustrate his art!cles
as he tramped or drove from one county
to another.
Last "Ramb!e" December IL.
Desnite his rapidly weakening condl-
ton during the past few weeks. MI,
Snannosi continued his contributions 10
the SUNDAY magazine section. MS last
.ran,b!e" appearing Sunday. December
II and dealing with the old racetracE
which once fourished near the Govern
m.nt Hospital for the Insane In Ana
costa ..
morrow morning at 10 O'Clock, at Ins
Church Of the Sacred heart. oNoseus..
street and Park road, Rev. Peter Guloay
Of the Catholic University ofnciat'ng
In,erment will be at Fort Lincoln Gem
etery. The palibearers will be Rear Ao-
n1irsl c. W. Dyson. q. S. n. retired;
Thomas .. Geoghan. James FITZPATRICK.
GIDEON A, Lyon. c. Fred Cook and
Henry G. Hanford-
] Harry Shannon and Miss Ellen
Sposord Bray were married In Ne"
YORK City March 20, 1897. Mrs. Snan-
non and one brother. George H. onan-
non Of Prince Georges County. NO.
survive hin.
Born in Baltimore.
Ar. Shannon was born April 8.
1859. In Baltimore, Nd. He resided IN
early boyhood and for many years in
Auacos.ia. D. C. As a boy he was
greatly interested in natural history and
In collecting relies" and this, interest
remained with hin through the years
Nc better insight into his cary learn
fugs Isl available than that gwen. IN ms
race,rsck ar..cle Sunday. December r.
1927. Hhen he wrote:
Il was never much Of a young fell
Log for race crowds or other Groves.
On biz days at 4he National race
cosrse rave s.rayed through Pam
coast woorS tuning and cracking
quartz pebAes In hope OF finding a
eeode. waking over the lowland ana
the base cf' e. wooded NJ ana ne
r!7er. boxing .ior aTrovheads. and AL
vavx keeping the eyes open for tracks
i DO not know that ever found
such tracks bat found paths through
tangled ccpses~ that seemed mysterious
70 rae, and / came on many places
vx1pte ] thought Indians had sat around
a coaDc.s FIRE You will understand
that | vas not in the crowds that
s~e.ncd A. ;t.is. racetrack on days when
hc.sos ran Or t:ottec, but ] write o!
these ttllrgs because once they inter.
eg.ed many persons ard perhaps st'ii
t,seyes, q considerable number.
Enters Service II The Star.
F,,erir.s the service Of The Star In
1880 LIZ Shannon covered" news OIL
Arzaccstia and the riser front, often ne
would roa cut 10 some newly ancnofeo
ship in the ilsrnor TO interview ,ne e
sk.ope~ and learn his mission. HI
kr.os ledge u shipping and river lore
vas rejected in many OF his later
writings. :.
He left. sne service Of The Star IA
1895 and became affiliated with the
ya@at Stsa q tne newly ehtaoilaneo
TINES. then in building at tne SOUTH
Hfx; ocrne. o. Tenth street and Penn
.xlyznls avenue Re re-entered tht
eny,To.7ner: 0. The Star In 1900 and
fad been continuously on tbs stan since
f,aa, time During recent years. In ad-
salo. % his Rarlbler articles. ne wrote
many editorials on special topics.
Began Srries In 1912.
L va while serving Is exchange edi-
t,y g: The star IA 1912 that ne began
his seraea Of Rambler contributions Fol
number II years he RODE horseback ol
vailed along Nearby country ROADS
carving h.& camera. IGnch5CZ and Fo1
s>9k Family Histories traditions ant
lege..ds were especially attractive u
MIR He searched into early ianG
grants, cfHn nacden sWsy On nustj
ft9e!ses q. dusty corthouses. I'd IN.
ter*lene6 descendants o. pioneer fam
;kes
T:-e Rambler always vas authorize
tlYe. because ~ MS painstakirg method,
If collecting data, aid IA 1924 his sr'
tries covering 3 perioc u 10 years from
1912 were bpUrc sI.c indeed at TN
pD1ir Library. Tor preservation ant
eafy Cofsui,&t!Dn A. the time the H.
br2Ty pg5aDec o1t nat the materia
lat extt&nfc)usry interest tor person.
saae: fpr knpwiecse u all the nu.~of
firs-Nsy nc ul.ysua! features and his
tory ~ ~ Capita! CITY and it, en
s.F@us
The 1epefs ERE valuable nla1yfically
q ~ss s.3Uo "&sE,e thry cJntain Or
.z3.s1 aesb sIptiosle ~ tiie old families
lcQsSf iaad grants mills. iron fur
anss ts4%FnS anc Foads The 0i.
churches with ttels gra}eyaroE. and ii.
(saf3efeifs near Hazfljnvt<yu were IN