Daily Republican., 1879-11-01
DEATH OF GENERAL HOOKER
He In Stricken With Apopiexy-
circumstances or his Death "A
Sketch Of His nervices. I'd. q.


He IN Stricken with Apopiexy-
circumstances OF his Death "A
Sketch Of His services. ,..
General Joseph Hooker, commonly
known as.."Fightiug Joe" Hooker, died
yesterday at 5.45 p. m, at the hotel in
Garden City, l.. l. He had enjoyed
fair health for some time, his chief
trouble being from lameness. He was
stricken with apoplexy in his room and
died in few minutes.
He had been in his usual health un.
til an hour before his death, and in
tended to go to New York to-day to at
tend to business. He gave largs din
nsr party at the Garden City Hotel on
the 2jth, and seemed to be in the best
of spirits aud to enjoy social intercourse
with his many friends fully as much as
at any time in his life. His intellect
was unclouded, and, save for his
unfortunate lameness, he would
have been as active as ever. He
took his accustomed walk in the park
during the afternoon, and did not
complain of feeling i'll until about 4
O'Clock, when he retired to his own
apartments, on the second floor, and
summoned his valet, Thomas Lawler,
who assisted him to reclining position
upon couch. After an hour he arose
and busted himself about his rooms un-
til sap. m., when his valet, hearing
the General struggling for breath,
hastened to his side and assisted him
to lie down upon the bed, at the same
time ringing the bell for help. Mr.. Nick
erson, the hotel superintendent, hur-
ried to The room, but when he arrived
General Hooker was dead.
General Hooker, who was born at
IIadley, Mass, in 1918, came of honor
able ancestry. He was a lineal de-
sendant of Thomas Hooker, the Puri-
tan pioneer who led the small band of
settlers through the wilderness to found
the City OF Hartford and colony of Con-
necticut. In boyhood he was studiOus
and profted by the instruction given
at Hopkins Academy in his native
town. In 1888 he entered the Military
Academy, a. West Point. where four
years later he graduated, being second
in his class. He was promptly assign.
ed to a second-lieutenancy in the ar
tillery, and after campaign in Florida
against the Seminoles he was chiefly en-
gagged in frontier and garrison duty
until the war with Mexico, which he
entered with all the ardor of young
soldier determined to serve his country
with fidelity and honor. He won his
brevet as captain at Monterey in ls4C,
and the year following distinguished
himself in the engagement at National
Bridge. He took part also in the
brilliant victory of Chapultepec,
which opened to General Scott,
the gates of the Mexican capital.
For his service on this occasion he re-
osived the brevet of lieutenant Colonel.
The war over, he was sent after spell
of reposs, to California whittier ths
gold. seekers were then fastening in
great numbers. Here he served two
years, and in February 1858, he retired
from the army to engage in farming.
While resident of California he super
intended the National road which ex
tends through that State to Oregon.
Colonel Hooker promptly responded
to the call to arms at the outbreak of
the civil war. AS soon as the guns at
Sumpter had proclaimed the conflict,
he renounced the comforts of rural
life and hastened to New York, where
he Immediately offered his services to
the Government. In that hour of
gloom his aid was heartily welcome,
and on the 18th Of May he was ap-
pointed brigadier- general Of volunteers.
His skill and experience were first
called into use in completing the de-
fences of Washington, and from Decem-
Der, 1901, till the March following, he
was employed in guarding the Lower
Potomac. The career of General Hooker
all through the late war was brill
liant one and the sobriquet of Flight
ing Joe" Hooker was no empty compIi
ment. |