National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-15
OBITUARY.


The Late Ntortinier M. Lcaaett.
on Saturday morning last the shocking intelii-
gence was received at the Patent once that
Mortimer NJ. Leggett, the youngest son Of tho
Commissioner, had been Killed the evening pre-
vious by an accident. The sad news fell like a
pail, casting sorrow and gloom upon the whole
once. II Is only few weeks since, full Of life
and In the buoysnt joyousness of happy youth,
he took leave Of hts associates here. anil many q
God speed" and "God bless you, Mort, accom-
pauicd him as he departed, filled with hope and
ssnguine anticipatioas and boyish ardor, 10 be-
gin his college life. The grief felt ut his death
Ii universal, for none knew him but to love him.
ne was OF s,nsuariy amsoie an cheerful dis,
who knew him longest aud most intimately can
not recall one word or single action which hsd
better been left unsaid or undone. His very
presehce was cheering, for In robust health, with
the beautiful nush OF youth upon sinRuarly
handsome and impressive countenancc, q sm,le
was ever upon his lips, aud from his eyes
heart. For a young man OF his age his judy
ment was remarkably sound, and his discrlni-
nation OF men aud things unusually acute. All
The the yiaor Of his Intellect, 10 Keen sense Of
wit and large appreciation Of humor, he united
gentieuess Of manner and that Just considera-
lion for the feeling, Of others which never al.
lowed him to innct paiu.
Though but seventeen years Of age he had
finished course OF legal study and had gradu-
ated from the Columbian College Law School, In
literature and scientific knowledge, however. he
entered Cornell Universlty, at Ithaca, N. Y, and
here he met sudden death. Upon entering the
became favorite, and was elected to member.
ship In one OF the Oldest and most prominent
literary societies, having It's chapters In various
he u praescs IN ts society q
| the obligation Of secrecy, preliminary TO initia.
ton, by night and IN the solemnity and silence
Of forest or grove, on Friday evening about
mates, Lee and wason, also candldates,) were
proceeding TO the place appointed for the meet
| ing OF the society, to which place members were
| also going. and by twos and inrees. The three
young men named left tho highway to cros3
| 1eld which descends TO the valley OF creci
| below.
Rraduasand regular, but under the branches Of /
tree, beneath which the young men sportiycll
| ran, opened one OF those deep chasms so CON
mon IN the limestone region, aud over rs per
moments warning. The three were immedlatel!
discovered nv others OF the party, who SUDDEN!
missed them from view; but poor Mort. wa
fatally injured, and died soon after The tw'
others were too seriously hurt to appear at tn
inquest held the following day. AL the test
m0ny at this inquest showed that there had beel
kscription, but there seem, to have been sinpi
an accident, AMI neither blame nor reproach cal
attach TO any person. o.. -
All who knew Mortimer N. Leggett, and cspe
whom he had associated for two years and
half, felt for him more than ordinary friendship
Upon the mirror Of his life there Is not on
breath 10 dim It In the memory Of those VIII
knew him. One who knew him well, and love
him well, says: "Mort. was singularly pure an
happy, and, what you may regard rs strange, h
never IN q single instance caused hts father 0
mother single pang. No member Of the famil
can recall single word or act Of his life tina
could be attributed to q wrong or an lmpur
motive"
His body was brought here for burial, and a
long as life lasts we shall remember that sorrow
full autumn afternoon, with the yellow ligh
sadly tlnting the dying leaves, when, amid 3,
rene quiet and impressive stiffness, In q mo,
beautiful spot In Oak Hill cemetery, we left a
that remains earthly Of our beloved friend. Ma
God bless him.