The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-10-25
The Sudden Death of Hon. JnO. Y
Mason,

MI S0ns
The sudden death of Hon. Jno. Y. Mason,
u. S. Minister to France, has been noticed
a correspondent Of the New York Express,
writing from Paris, on Monday, Oct. Sd,
gives the following particulars of the sad
event:
Ii Aas long been the custom of many of our
eountrymen, resident or transient sojourners
in Paris, to present their respects to the Min
iater of the United States on Sunday even
lug. A large company of ladies aud gentle
men dined at Judge Mason's house Yesterday
AND never had the hospitable hest appeared
more gay or in better spirits. At about 10
O'Clock in the evening, the Judge retired, in
accordance with his almost invariable habit.
at about O'clock inths NOR ming, Mrs. Ma
son, bearing means 10 her husbands room,
rose and went to see what had happened.
She found the unfortunate man laboring un-
ger s-i.iJls est. . Of apoplexy, and entire
! = iasensible to what was gving vu arouud
hin.-The alarm was given and the nearest
medical aid Instantly summoned. DR.. Bige-
low, the family physician. was also soon in
attendance, and every means in mortal pow
er was employed to stay the progress of the
disease. All was, hswever, in vain. After
eight hours dreadful suffering, accompanied
by incessant vomisings OF blood, death Put an
end to the struggle.
The funeral ser vices of the distinguished
deceased took place on the 9Th inst, at the
American Chapel ia the Rue de Berri. The
same correspondent says:
The church was very tail. Never have l
seen here so large an assemb,age of Ameri-
cans as Assembled on that occasion to paw a
last trlbate OF sorrow AL respect to the
memor7 o; the Departed statesman. Among
those present was large number of ladies.
Such members OF tae Dipio matte Corps as
are IN Paris aeteded, aud the person of the
emperor was represented by one of the Mas
ters OF Ceremonies belonging to his Males
ty's household, The court is at Biorritz far
from tne capital, and intelligence of the
death OF the Minister Of tae United States
did not reach the Emperor until late hour.
A. Geographic message was received from
him shortly before tae ceremony was to take
pace. ordering military honors to be paid
the deceased, and battalion Of infantry &C
cerdlngiy appeared at the church, one COM
pany forming ia tae aisles, aad the remain
der being drawn up facing the edi6ce OUT
side. batsalioL Of cavalry was also to
have assisted, but the order came too late.
The body Vt the deceased was embalmed on
Wednesday, aai enclosed ia ,eaden coffin.
IN the church i6 was placed under the pulpit
the head beneath the sacred desk, and cover
ed with the American flag and garlands OF
ao %e - !: =. IN ~ -s - -.
ofhci15sd. The beautifu! and impressive
service OF the Episcopal Church for the
Buaial OF the Dead was read by Rev. Mr..
Lanpson, after which thu Rev. Mr.. Seely
pronounced a brief funeral discourse, and
The ceremonies terminated. None of the
female members Of Judge Masun's family
were present,
Last evening th3 body OF tae deceased left
Pagis for havre, under charge of Mr.. John
Is. Wihor, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Lee
gatioo. IL will be deposited in Havre until
Arrangement can be mad4 for its transpor-
,atton to the Ua,ted States, either by the
Ocean Queen, next Wednesday, the 18th in
slant, or by The Argo, on the following Tues
cay.
another letter abiding the funeral GER
enemies, says:
The Government sent to the funeral de-
tacament OF 250 soldiers of the Twenty
elglth Regiment Of the Line, commanded BY
a Chief OF battalion. Soldiers were placed
up aad dowo the aiseS of the church during
The service, and each time the congrega ton
rose to sing, the captains voice was heard
over all, shouting to his men, "Shoulder
arms!" Aud again as the hymn ceased,
and the congregation sat down, "Ground
arms !" was heard, and the muskets came
down on the stone floor with simultaneous
clang that startled the audience, and rang
through the Vaulted roof with more effect
than the deer notes of the organ. This
novel nethod of increasing the solemnities
vi a funeral occasion broke in singularly
upon the previous habits of the American
part OF the congregation, or at least that
part of it not accustomed to seeing funerals
of high official persons in France. This is,
however, the French method of showing
honar to the dead, and must be received as
compliment, incongruous and inappropriate
as it appears.
NJ. Mason leaves widow and ten child
rem. Or the latter four are married. A
narred and unmarried son, and two mar
rieA daughters live in Virginia. Mrs. An
dersons three unmarried daughters between
the ages of sixteen and tweaty, and two sons
under sftsen, are in Paris.
IL D.T.s