The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-02
HONEST JOHN CAMERCI."
Death Of Captain John Cameron by an Apoplec-
tic Stroke on New Years Day, After
Forty Years Faithful Service.

O'CLOCK, one OF the bravest, most elnclcnt and
oldest police officers In New York died at the
ner OF Third avenue and Twenty-thlrd street.
"Hopest John Cameron" as he has been called for
over twenty years, while attempting to catch "a
Grand Central car gong south, at the upper
corner OF Twenty second street and Third avenue,
tripped and fell while running between the curb
stone and the inside car track, and lay in the
street on his lace gasping for breath. The pedcs-
TRANS and bystanders, noticing the brave
old gentleman lying prone and helpless,
ran to his assistance, and he was
carried into the drug store at the
same corner from which he started
to run for car. A crowd collected, and Captain
Leary, OF the Twenty-sixth precinct, who was just
going down town on the same errand on which
Captain Cameron had started from the Eighteenth
precinct station house-namey, to make mis- morn
ing returns at Police Headquarters-se
crowd gathered. plunged into the drug store
and took charge OF the dying Officer. Police Sur
geon White, of the Eighteenth precinct. and Drs.
Fersch and Lawson were summoned to the assist
ance OF the Captain, and as soon as they arrived
they applied restoratIves OF various knds-sal
volatile and ammOnia-but 1t was all in vain
There was . nervous twtching Of the eyelids, an
enusiOn OF blood to the face and head, and in less
than ten minutes after he had been
carried into the drug store Captain Cam.
in the Metropolitan Department, was dead-stone
dead. OfIicer La Rue, who has been for many
years under the command Of Captain Cameron
was the first man to go for DOCTOR and he called
on Dr. Belcher, In Twentieth street, and, telling
him the circumstances, asked Tor his immediate
assistance. DR.. Belcher informed him that he had
patient then under his charge and that he could
not attend Captain Cameron.
OfYlcer La Rue then ran to inform Warden Bren.
nan, at Bellevue Hospital, having asccrtained that
doctors had arrived to furnish assistance-that an
ambulance was needed to take the body OF Captain
Cameron TO his residence, at l19 Can.
non street, between Stanton and Houston
streets. Warden Brennan was thunder
struck at the news Of the sudden and
unexpected death OF Captain Cameron; but. act.
out f hse aRG ove i ns gG6 the the r
store. The body OF the old officer was carried out
carefully, his white hair and whskers looking pitt
fro, not giving a thought, perhaps, to the long
years OF faithful service given by the old man ii
driven by Warden Brennan to the late residence
OF Captain Cameron In Cannon street.
A reporter OF tue HERALD called at 1l9 Cannon
fashioned brick structure of three stories. with
green blinds, ahigh brown stone stoop with iron
ratings, and In front Of the house was huge snow
bank with Q large cutting made IN It, The door
handle was drapei with Grape. and plain and
well-worn brass plate bore the Inscription,
J. CAMERON.
The reporter Knocked at the door, aud tall |
notwithstanding lady appeared in answer to the
who wore large whiskers and seemed to be sea
captain from his appearance. The reporter stated
the object OF his call, and the lady said. ut would
Cameron In the back parlOr. She Is very much
broken about this sudden loss but she win tell you
and there saw an old and respectable looking lady
who wore spectacles and seemed bowed with sor.
row The room was plainly and neatly furnished,
old officer In uniform, taken some years ago.
over the mantelpiece also hung colored repre-
sentation OF the Chief of the Cameron clan, in the
Cameron tartan and plaid. In the 'front.' room, con.
ceaed by the rosewood folding doors, lay the corpse
made, Mrs. Cameron stated that her husband was
born September 80, 1907, and was consequently in
MS sixty,nftn year. Captain John Cameron was a
native OF Norwalk, Conn., OF Scottish descent. Mrs.
cameron Is In her sixty-eighth year, aud Is also y
native OF Connecticut Mrs. Cameron Is not In
stephen St John, OF the South Norwsk Iron Works.
me nee Captain has two brothers-one IN the tea and
,oUee business IN Bridgeport, ana the 0tner, VINO
esides IN Brooklyn, Is engaged In the iron railing
business In this city,
Captain Cameron's services as police man began
IS FAR back as 1884. He was one oil the OLD munci-
pal police force or city watch, known as the
,een police officer, and never during that long
period was he known to latter In his duty or do
sa s he ov e %
street, part OF the Costar property, and, except
nu the old homestead left him by his mother at
Sorwalk, he leaves nothing behind him. Captain
cameron was very distinguished member OF the
Masonic order, and was high In the Scottish de.
Knights Tcmplars. He was an active and
member Of Alma Lodge, ana this
BODY will take charge OF his funeral, which is to
AXE place at one o'clock on Sunday afternoon,
rom st. Pauls Methodist Episcopal church, In
Fourth avenue. The Masonic display will be very
IMPOSING one. Mr.. Senior, the undertaken, win
rave charge OF the obsequies. The doctors
hInk that Captain Cameron died either OF disease
" the heart or OF an apoplectic stroke. The sta.
ion house In East Twenty-second street was yes
erday heavily draped with mourning, and all the
policemen connected with the precinct seemed to
eel that they had lost a friend as well as SUI
)erior oflcer. He had been captain In the Eigh-
eenth precinct for nearly twelve years. Coroner
IocnaD VIII hold an INQUEST On tomorrow.