God's Own Electric Circus

Another archetype, never intended for mass consumption, meets his self-imposed fate

DENVER - Journalist Hunter S. Thompson did not take his life ''in a moment of haste or anger or despondency'' and probably planned his suicide well in advance because of his declining health, the family's spokesman said Wednesday.

Douglas Brinkley, a historian and author who has edited some of Thompson's work, said the founder of ''gonzo'' journalism shot himself Sunday night after weeks of pain from a host of physical problems that included a broken leg and a hip replacement.

''I think he made a conscious decision that he had an incredible run of 67 years, lived the way he wanted to, and wasn't going to suffer the indignities of old age,'' Brinkley said in a telephone interview from Aspen. ''He was not going to let anybody dictate how he was going to die.''

In a statement, Hunter's widow, Anita, and adult son, Juan, said ''it is entirely fitting that Hunter, as a master of politics and control, chose to take his life on his own schedule by his own hand, rather than submitting to fate, genetics or chance.

''Though we will miss him bitterly, we understand his decision. Let the world know that Hunter S. Thompson died with his glass full, a fearless man, a warrior.''

Thompson, famous for New Journalism masterpieces like ''Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,'' spent an intimate weekend with his son, Juan, daughter-in-law Jennifer and young grandson William, the spokesman said.

''He was trying to really bond and be close to the family'' before his suicide, Brinkley said. ''This was not just an act of irrationality. It was a very pre-planned act.''

Family members had no hint that Thompson planned to take his own life, Brinkley said, and he did not leave a note. ''There was no farewell salutation,'' he said.

The family is looking into whether Thompson's cremated remains can be blasted out of a cannon, a wish the gun-loving writer often expressed, Brinkley said.

''Right now, there's a period of great sadness and deep mourning but also a sense of great joy of what his life stood for, and if that's what he wanted, we'll see if we can pull it off,'' he said. ''The optimal, best-case scenario is the ashes will be shot out of a cannon.''

''There's no question, I'm sure that's what he would want,'' said Mike Cleverly, a longtime friend and neighbor. ''Hunter truly loved that kind of thing.''

Colorado fireworks impresario Marc Williams said it's doable.

''Oh, sweet. I'd love to. I would so love to,'' said Williams, 44, owner of Night Musick Inc. in suburban Denver and a fan of Thompson's writing.

Williams said it's not uncommon for families to have their loved one's ashes scattered across the sky in a fireworks shell, though his company has never done it.

If the Thompson job was his, Williams said, he'd probably blast the ashes from a 12-inch-diameter mortar 800 feet into the sky. Then a second, window-rattling blast would scatter them amid a massive blossom of color about 600 feet across.

''If you were going to light up a flash-bomb worthy of Hunter S. Thompson, you'd want to make it an earth-shaker,'' Williams said.

Thompson's wife, and son, are looking into the cannon scenario, said Brinkley.

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