New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-05
DEATH OF PETER COOPER,
A FATAL ATTACK OF PNEUMONIA.

| FATAL AlTACk OF fNEUMONIA. ~
HIS SICKNESS ONLY THREE DAYS IN LENGTH-A
REVIEW OF HIS LIFE.
Peter Cooper died yesterday morning soon af;
ter 3 o'clock at his home, No. Lexington-av
He had been i'll three days with pneumonis&
His children, ex-Mayor Cooper and Mrs. Abram
S. Hewitt were at his bedside, and. after cons
versing with them until within half ON hour Of
| his death, and retaining his consciousness al>
most to the last, he died peacefully. Marks Of
respect to his memory were displayed on public
buildings, the Supreme Court, Part H., was ad-
journed and several bodies, including both
houses of the Legislature, adopted resolutions
in his honor. The funeral will lie held on Sat.
urday at 1890 a. M, at All Souls Church.
| HIS SICKNESS AND LAST HOURS.
The announcement Of Peter Coopers death posted
upon the bulletin boards Of the newspaper oflces,'
confronted business men and laborers, they went
to their places of occupation and to all II came with
| shock OF sad surprise. Few persons beyond Tho
circle of his family knew of his sickness until after
his death, for the frst public information concern
ing il was given by The TRIBUNE and other morning
papers. These though printed before, did notresch
the eyes Of their readers until after the venerable
| phantbropist was dead. The disease winch
caused his death was pneumonia, to which SD many,
eminent men have fallen victims this year, and
from Its beginning to Its fatal close only three
| days
Mr.. Cooper contracted cold on last Saturday.
when he went, according to his custom. to look
after the interests of his great phianthropic work
at the institution that bears his name. At first no
more apprehension felt than was
natural in view of his great age, for in tho
| course of the winter he had repeatedly
suffered from colds An unguarded exposure or an
| oyertaxing of his strength usually resulted In
an attack of sickness, which, however hal always
! heretofore yielded readily to medical treatment.
| He was entirely free from organic disease and in
! spite of his ninety-twO years required much less
| attention from his physician than hundreds OK
| younger men.
| About si1 years ago. and again three years ago.
Mr.. Cooper was brought low by diarrheal trouble.
and several times before aud since then bronchitis
attacked him, but in every instance he rallied with
| surprising Quickness, exhibiting o recuperativs
energy of which his physician, DIR. J.
| J. Hull. has always spoken with admiration.
The cold which first showed itself on last Saturday
| did not develop any alarming symptoms
| until the next day, and 1t was not till
| then that Dr. Hull was summoned. Even then no
| apprehension was felt though 1t was deemed wise
to summon also in consultation DIR. Rufus Z. Ltn-
coin, who has made lung diseases special study.
The first apprehension that the sickness might
suit fatally was felt on Monday night, when pneu-
| monia being plainly developed and congestion Of
the lungs having shown itself, the great danger
which these facts implied to so far advanced in
| life was admitted by the physicians and Mr.. and
! Mrs. Hewitt. Ex-Mayor Edward Cooper was in
| Albany on business and he was telegraphed for.
Dr. Hull remained with his patient all night, aud
| 4 -. L.
| less the disease became extended and the
fever increased until the patient prostrated He
| began tuesday very much weaker than he was on
Monday morning The fever became more consnm-
| ing, the action Of the lungs more oppressive,
| Towards evening there was slight ameoration OF
the symptoms OF the disease, but it was only tempo
Ex-Mayor Cooper returned from Albany and
with Mr. and Mrs Hewitt and their family. aud
| Dr. Hull watched at the bedside during Tuesday
| night About o'clock there came a very sudden
| and decided change for the worse. Breathing be.
came more difficult the prostration more general
| ceased. Mr. Coopers voice. too, began
| TO fail him and there no longer any doubt that
| the end was approaching rapidly, even in his own
mind. . ~ 49, =,
Mr. Cooper had realized the possibility OF bis death
from the first serious symptoms OF his sickness bne
this did not disturb his composure In the least lie
| spoke several times Of q desire to live, because
bis great benevolent work was so much to live Tor,
| but he was uncomplainDg. lie talked great deal.
fact nearly all the time except when s6ssv rs S;,
children about the interests OF Cooper Institute aud
expressed the wish that his plan, for conducting
that Institution should be faithfully
carried out About II o'clock. before the final re-
lapse came he calmly admitted that he expected to
| die. and from that time on he bravely and peace
| fully waited for the end His mind was never
! cIouded for an instant, and he continued giving
| messages 10 his children until he could no longer
whisper. This up to within half an hour OF his
| death. Consciousness remained with him until
nearly o'clock and about three minutes after that
| hour he died. "a,
At the request of Mr.. Cooper's family DR.. Hull
| has prepared the following statements: Ar.
| Cooper contracted cold on Saturday which ne
| suited in Pneumonia when he visited the Cooper
| Institute. He had been troubled with sore throas
| for some Ewecks previous, but was otherwise IN
| fair health. On Sunday afternoon, u thorough ex-
| animation of hls chest revealed very slight CIR
cumscribed pneumonia in the lower portion OF the
| disturbance. He passed comfortable n'ght, and
remained almost entirely free from fever
until Monday evening r,rE.S Leen 0s wts sy"p
decided rise of temperature and telegram was sens
to ex-Mayor Cooper at Albany, apprising him OF ms
fathers condition. l remained with nm on Slon-
day night Towards morning he became mucn
weaker, owing to his inability to retain nouyish-
mcnt. but although during the entire Gay oil lues-
day he retained all the food and remedies adminis-
tered, the disease extended. accompanied by con-
stantly increasing fever. Early on Tuesday even
ing he rallied somewhat, but only for short time,
after which he became very mneh worse growing
o'clock. when he peacefully died; ,o..o
The funeral Will be held on saturday at 1890
Twenticth-st. The Rev. Robert Collyer and the
Rev. Dr. Howard Crosby will conduct the services
The lnterment will be IN Greenwood Cemetery.
The pail bearers will be Hamilton Fish, Cyrus w.
Field, Jackson :. Schultz, A. A. Low, William IL.
Appleton Judge c. p. DAILY, General Alexander 5.
Webb, John Z. Agnew, John Z. Parsons. H. l.. Pier
son and H. NJ. Schietfen.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER