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Show I AS THE WORLD 1 I REVOLVES ! JL- 1 lo GREAT EDITOR IS DEAD. Demise of Will Van Benthuysen Regretted Re-gretted by All Who Knew Him. Wi'l Van Benthuysen of ths editorial staff of the New York World, died at his home in that city iast week. Mr. Van Benthuysen was born near Drakeville, in Davis county, la., on Dec. 1, 1S55. His father, who is still living, is Judge William Van Benthuysen, Benthuy-sen, of Bloomfield, la. The family is ef Dutch descent. At the age of 13 Jlr. Van Benthuysen Benthuy-sen became a printer's apprentice in a small country office at Bloomfield. After thoroughly learning the printer's trade he went to California in 1873, where he worked as a compositor. Returning to Eloomfield after a few years' absence he purchased the Bloomfield Bloom-field Commonwealth. Later he disposed dis-posed of that property and purchased the Observer at Carbondale. 111. In 1878 Mr.' Van Benthuysen sold hi3 newspaper interests and went to Leavenworth, Leav-enworth, Kas., where he joined the editorial staff of the Press. After a year's connection with that newspaper he attracted the attention cf Col. D. R. Anthony, owner and editor of the Lavensworth Times, who invited him to join his staff. It was there that Mr. Van Benthuysen's newspaper career ca-reer practically began. Col. Anthony held the young editor in the highest admiration and soon placed him in entire en-tire charge of his newspaper. When Col. Anthony saw that he could not offer to Mr. Van Benthuysen the inducements in-ducements he deserved, he recom- mil mv rmz7K5m mended him to Joseph Medill, editor of the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Van Benthuysen joined the Tribune's Tri-bune's staff as reporter on April 7, 1883. In Chicago his rise to prominence promi-nence was rapid. Within a year he became telegraph editor of the Tribune. Tri-bune. Next he was promoted to the night editor's desk, and within two years took charge of the paper as managing editor. In this position he remained for eight years. Mr. Van Benthuysen was called to New York in March, 1898. to take the position of editorial manager of the World, and for five years was a valued member of the staff, where his services were highly appreciated and where, by his never failing kindness, sympathy, and courtesy, he earned the esteem and affection of ail his associates. |