The Portland daily press., 1871-04-03

Tho death of our venerable citizen, Thomas
Hammond, ESQ.,, which occurred SATURDAY
i afternoon at the age of nearly eighty tive years
] was an event not unexpected in this communi-
| ty as 1t was generally known that be had Deen
suffering for long period with rheumatic
complaints, which entirely incapacitated him
from trapsactng business, or more than occa-
sionally making his appearance in our streets.
Mr.. Hammond has been one of our most ac-
tive business men, and was formerly engaged
| in the manufacture of cordage and twine He
| owned the "two storied" ropewalk situated on
Back Cove, near Tukey's bridge, which was
| destroyed by fire some twenty odd years ago
In his business he was eminently successful
and accumulated a handsome properly. for
many years past he has done nothing IN Inc
business line, his health forbiddirg active en-
ployment.
Before Portland was organized as city MIR.
Hammond was one of the Selectmen of the
town and at the first election under the city
charter he was chosen Alderman from Ward
1. Of the seven Aldermen elected at that time
only two now survive-Charles Massey, ESQ,
who was elected from Ward 4. and Nathan
Cummings, Esq who was elected from Ward 6.
In all the measures initiated for the benefit
of the city Mr.. Hammond took lively inter-
est and aided them with his influence and
means as TAR as possible. Especially was this
the case when the project of building the At
lantlc u st. Lawrence railroad was initiated.
he was one of its most active advocates and
was placed upon the Board of Directors He
was also for very long period, up to the pres
emit year, a Director of the Canal Bank.
He was man of firm and unflinching integ-
rity and true Christian He has been mem
Der of the First Baptist church in this city for
period of more than half century. Al
though Baptist in sentiment he was extreme
ly liberal in his Christian views, and his purse
was as freely opened to other denominations
almost as much as it was to his own. The
poor and needy of this city lose in him friend
whose ears were always open to their cry and
whose hands were ready to alleviate their
wants.
This true Christian and genial kind hearted
man has gone to his grave at ripe old age,
crowned with blessings Of all. His last hours
were peaceful and serene. The lamp of life
quietly died out in its socket and he goes to
the grave like "a shock of corn in its season
fully ripe"
His funeral will take place at the Free st.
Baptist Church, Tuesday afternoon, at halt
past two o'clock.
MAGGIE MrTcHELL.-It is simply astonishing
what power an actor or actress, who has achiev-
ed success in a character, possesses to draw
immense audiences night after night, and year
after year, to witness their performance Of their
special assumption. Their support may be
composed of the merest sticks, their theatre
mere barn, 1--WE intend no reflections on Port.
land Tbeatre) the play itself tissue of improb-
abilities, and the language trash, while the
actor has made their one character represen-
tation of human passion and pathos that stirs
the audience to anger or to tears at her will,
and sends them away with an impression of
her power that time cannot weaken. Thus it
is with Maggie Mitchell, and we do not won
der that the seats ara bought up almost as soon
as offered for sale, by an eager crowd. From
appearances we should say to our readers that
if you have any intention of going to see Mag
gle you must get your seats to-day or you won't
get any at all. Little Barefoot will be played
tomorrow night.
SEEKING FOR FoRTUNE.-Anong the pas
sengers in the steamer Moravian from this port
for Liverpool on Saturday last, was Mr.. David
E. Dunning of Harpswell. He goes to Eng
land in behalf of the families of Dunning in
Brunswick and Harpswell, to seek to recover
the title to a large estate in England as heirs
of Sir John Dunning the first Lore Ashburton,
who was created Baronet in 1888 Sir John
was the first Lord Ashburton of which title the
third, was the distinguished gentleman who
negotiated at Washington the famous Webster
Ashburton treaty which settled our vexed
North Eastern boundary question so amicably.
The last Lord Ashburton, in a direct line from
Sir John Dunning the first, died in 1928, and
of whom the above named diplomatist was
cousin. There are large estates in Devonshire
and the Isle of Wight, belonging to the Dun
ming family in their own right. to say nothing
of property or rights held by patent Of nobility.
1t is to secure the title if possible to this private
estate that Mr.. Dunning goes to England to
prosecute the claim.