The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-02-05
DEATH OF HUGH MILLER.
OF EDINpUReu, scorLANp.

cumstances, Of this eminent man. 1t seems
but yesterday that he received us in his
own house, conducted us through the mu.
scum which cost him so much labor TO col.
iect, and in the imaginary defence of which
ne seems to have perished by his own hand.
We respond 10 the remarks of the Scottish
Guardian
lfie announcement ofthe death of Hugh
sliller will he heard with a thrill of eenu.
me sorrow throughout the Church in which
he was astandad bearer-.t throughout Scot.
land, OF which he Yves one of the most con-
spicuous ornaments--throughou the world
OF science, which associates his honored
name with those of the men most distin-
guished in our day, as felow.workers in
building up the stately fabric of the modern
geology" The intelligence WAS communi-
Gated to the public in the following terms
from the office of the paper Of which he was
editor
WITNESS OFFICE, DEC. "a.
SUDDEN DEATH OF MIR. HUGH MILLER.
IL is our melancholy duty to announce
this sad event. Mr. Miller had been i'll for
some time-working hard and late Mt night.
IN completing his new work on Geology.
lie had become, in consequence, subject to
aggravated attacks of nj ght,mare, which
partook of the nature of somnambu
lism. Some time ago attempts had been
made to break into his museum: and he
IN consequence, had always slept with
loaded revolver on the table by his side.
Yesterday, on account of headache and un.
refreshing sleep, he had seen his medical
yh- l.a1 l..
and prescribed suitably. Last night, accor-
ding to their request, he had taken a warm
sponge bath, and retired early to rest.
Alter having slept some considerable time.
he had apparently awaked in a fit of night.
mare, and, taking up the pistol, had reach
ed the bedroom door, rs far rs the bath.
which had been left, aftor use, in the nd.
joining apartment. There the pistol had
exploded, the bullet passing Though the
chest, and death must have been instants.
neous. The sound not having been heard
al this hour of the night by any of the
household, Mr.. Miler's body was no, dis.
covered till this morning. Under existing
circumstances, we cannot at presen, dwell
further on this sad calamity"
10 the above distressing particulars the
Seotsmoa adds the following remarks:
However sadly this narrative may touch
Mr.. Miller's immediate friends, il will be 10
them less startling than to others unware
OF his peculiar temperament, and Of his re-
cent slate of health rs sufferer from ner.
vous depression and irritation Mr.. Miller
has falien victim TO oyerworll OF the brain
Tho peculiar malady of these DAYS, and of
men of his class. Such, We know, was and
had long been his own conviction. Years
ago, and again within these two or three
days, ne was pleased, in the goodness of his
heart, to warn the writer OF these few has.
ty and halting words against what he
thought dangers of that class, pointing to
his own case as an example lettering from
continuous efforts and anxieties. In this
respect, however, Mr.. Miller suffered, we
suspect, from a somewhat peculiar temper
ament-he did not work easy, but with
laborous special preparation and then with
throes that tortured him during the process,
and left him exhausted afterward. In saw.
ing this, however, we speak only of the
more recent years; aud il is at least six or
seven years since we heard him complain
that hard work had left him only Lalf
man, and that lie could do only half work
with double toll
although apparently man of physical
as well as moral courage lie had a curious
tendency 10 keep fire arms about his house
and person. When he lived at Sylvan
Place, TO the south of the Meadows, he was
accustomed, when going nome after night. |
tall, to carry loaded pistol, and, from
some illusions in his work, First Impres.
'ions OF England il appears that he follow
"a the same practice when travelling, or at
east when on his pedestrian excursions.
One OF his very oldest friends, ordinarily !
-esiding in distant part of the country, ioc |
nlarly surprised him one night two or three |
years ago in q wel.frequented Edinburoh
street,, and was amazed bv his suddenly |
-urning round and presenting pistol. We |
believe that the habit was acquired by Mr.. |
Miller when he was accountant in a bank |
1t Cromarty, and employed occasionally to |
larry specie 10 the other branches. To |
hat habit we have apparently in great
part to ascribe the event we to-day depIore
md which large proportion of the Scot
ISL people will hear with startling aud /
,ref.'
Inc principal incidents of Mr.. Miller's life .
lave heen made familiar to the public in
MS delightful autobiographicaI volume, ANY
schools and School masters" His first liz.
rary productions appeared in the columns
II the InVerneSs Courier, when Mr.. Miller
vas working as journeyman mason in
jromarty; and the accomplished editor Of
hat journal, Mr.. Carruthers, has told us, as
Illustrating his homely habits at that time,
md which never altogether forsook him
when he was placed in moro elevated
oelal position, that he was accustomed to
'alk up to Inverness with his communica.
IONS on the Saturday afternoons, always
Veanng his mason's leathern apron. His
elected papers, written between the years
s20 and 1882, Sin leisure hours snatched
rom laborious employment, or during
he storms OF winter, when the worker in
no open air has to seek shelter ct home"
ppeaTed i'm 831 under Tho t;tIa oC &C, -.