TED COWAN GONE.

NZ Truth, Issue 144, 21 March 1908, Page 6

TED COWAN GONE.

An Appreciation.

Present scribe records, with' ming"!ed feelings; the unexpected death of Edmund Cowan, whose facile and (Virile pen has held masterly sway m tthe columns of "Christchurchiana" '^ince the inception of this literary "preserve; which- is devoted exclusively to the doings of the Cathedral • gity. By the death of ' 'Teddy Cowan, New Zealand has lost one of .tei* most versatile writers, whose reijrutation is intercoronial m grade, and was acquired m various importtan,t publicatiohjs.iboth within • and fwithout the Dbniihiori. Born . m 8J569, during the height of the early iSiames gold rush, Ted mipxated with Ms parents to the scene of the PoverWy Bay Massacre, where the names of flfe Kooti (or Te Kuiti) and the maneating Hau-Haus were used to fright-' en. the children of the period into obedience. His education was acquired m Napier, and he entered the journalistic profession at an early. aia:o ■ under a splendid mentor m Jack faardcastle, presently of Timaru, who sub-edited -Napier "Evening News" m those days, and Napier . "Daily Telegraph" saw" him later. It was on this journal that he acquired a lasting reputation as a sporting! writer under the pen name of "Buff and Black," a reputation enhanced by his contributions to Auckland "Sporffcing Review." R. A. Loughnan. M.L.C., edited' "N.Z./ Times". - when, (the late Mr Cowan journeyed WelHineitonwards to join ihe staff of that : l publication, and m later yearsV he. served under editors J. T: M. Horns-;, by and J. L. Kelly on the same 7 gaper. The dead journalist"; found a Wider field for his ener.eies m Syd-\> jfiev. where he- joined the staff of the ""Daily Post," a new democratic paper which was to shake up the "S.M.v fterald" and "Telegraph" and the•lhetr dailies m that city, but whictt'i iMLguished 'for want of ability toi> riLai&tain a strictiv cash basis. It Was probably on the "Bulletin" that Mr Cowan ' ! WAS SEENTAT HIS BEST ns. a humorous writer. Those were jAftdsome days m Sydney, which was |nto home of a bohemian circle of ar■tists, poets, actors, singers, and litr rftateurs m a general way, few of ifchom, alas ! survive m these prosaic Nranes. We find him again on Wellington '-'Times" prior to his removal to Christcliurch, where he ran Russell's "Spectator" what time its •fcwner represented Riccarton m the Hewse of Reps. His work on ,' John Norton's pape): is too well, known; to. f*»eive extended notice. "Teddy" Wsvs something of an athlete m his ytwng days, and (receiving a few Yards) dead-hea^M twice wifjh J. 11 . Tttßiptoji when that soeedy sprinter tawt up his famous > record at Naqier «£ 9 4-5 sec. over a hundred yards. s£r Cpw.an, who acted os secretary •t« the Napier Amateur Athletic Asvueaiation, was also a member Of the. Napier Rowing Club, and figured m •th y « winning four on more than one occasion. He married Miss Gertrude Sstton, second daughter of Mr Edmund Sutton, of Ward r op and Su'tlon. one-time Napier wine and spirit merchants, and - v two' children— a girl of fourteen and/ a boy under four years^-sui:vive wi-jfh their mother. Mr Cowan had been m bad health for a liumblT of months, but refused to lie ud, and pneumonia supery^il'v.r. he die 4 m Chris tohurch Hosnital at 11 'o'.tlcck on , Thuvsdav lu^ht'. March 33. "Teddv'\ Cowan, whose mortal remains i^sfc m Sydenham cemetaprv, vvas ©ne of the few men who had no enemies. ' '■■- '- •. ■ ■ '