of humorous short story pamphlets that included Red Raven advertisements. The stories, each in the form of a letter written by "Billy Baxter" in a slangy style to his friend "Jim", were immediately and widely popular; Rollin Lynde Hartt wrote 20 years later that "no other humorist ever jumped into national fame so abruptly." Kountz's time as a writer was cut short when he died of peritonitis and appendicitis at age 31. He was interred in Pittsburgh's Allegheny Cemetery. A posthumous compilation of his writings was published as a book titled Billy Baxter's Letters. References Additional sources Allegheny Athletic Association players 19th-century players of American football American humorists Burials at Allegheny Cemetery 1867 births 1899 deaths