DEATH OF G. W. STEEVENS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 7

DEATH OF G. W. STEEVENS.

END OF A BRILLIANT CAREER

CARRIED OFF BY FEVER

(Received January 21, 5 p.m.) LONDON, January 20. All - G. W. Stccvcns, one of the “Daily Mail’s” special correspondents, is reported to have died of fever at .uadybuiith.

By the death of Mr Stecveus. the world of English daily journalism Joses one of its most hi : i;ant craftsmen. Mr Stccrens in his lifetime was probably the finest writer of descriptive matter foi newspaper purposes then living. _ IL had a wonderful facile pen, and wielded it with admirable effect, clothing his impressions in such charming language and imparting such a characteristic touch of the master hand to everything ho wrote, that his contributions to the Press became famous wherever newspapers arc read. Mr Steevcns left London for South Africa before .the outbreak of hostilities, and has been with the Britv-b forces in Natal ever since. Bis letters, written at Ladysmith—“From Capetown to Pretoria”—to the “Daily Mail” have been the most interesting records of thsiege available, and on special occasions his communications, by reason of their dramatic colour, were especially interesting—those concerning the battle of Elands Laagte, the surrender at Nicholsen’s Nek, and the return of the Dundee column, being particularly fine. In the recent Egyptian campaign Mr Steevcns did sterling work, his book “With Kitchener to Khartoum” meeting with wide popularity. In the Tureo-Grecian war, also, the now deceased gentleman especially distinguished himself. "When not on active service Mr Steevcns found plenty of scope for his powers in tho delineation of more peaceful scenes than those of battle. Some of his notes of travel are worthy of a permanent place' in literature, written though they were under tho pressure of journalism. Notiw ing better in their own particular line than his “Indian Pictures” and “The Land of tho Dollar” have over been published. Mr Steevcns was quite a young man—only thirty. His early death will be widely regretted.