New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-13
OBITUARY.
HUGH J. HASTINGS.

u
the result of injuries received by being thrown
out of his carriage at Long Branch on September 3.
He was run into by an express wagon. While hurt
in tie hip and shoulders 1T was not thought that he
would die from the effects OF the injuries. lie was
confined to his bed, however. and recently had
suffered greatly from nausea violently vomiting at
times. Mr.. Hastings did well until Monday ght,
when he passed restless night and complained OF
great weakness. On Tuesday morning pneumonia
of the left lung developed itself During the Gay
he was extremely weak. but toward evening ne
rallied His spirits at all times were cheerful Ills
family physician. Dr. s. o. Vanderpoel saw him IN
the evening. He was then bright His respiration
was 20. His temperature and pulse were 100 re-
spectyoly. Yesterday morning he had no fever
whatever. and his respiration fell. AT 4:3O p. IN.
his condition was better than at any time since
pneumonia set in. At O'Clock. after partaking OF
some stimulant he suddenly expired without
word. He was conscious to the last. DR.. Hughes
pronounced death to be due 10 paralysis of the
heart. The members OF the family in this city had
received word only yesterday afternoon that Mr.
Hastings's condition unchanged He was
attended by his unmarried daughter, Miss Kate
Hastings.
MI. Hastings was born on August 90 1918, In
County Fermanagh Ireland. He was brought to
this country by his father in 1881 landing at Que
bee, and after a short stay there, removed to Al
bany, NY He entered a large retail dry goods
store, kept by James Whitney, clerk, Ooon after
removing to Albany. In 1885 Mr. Hastings came
to New-York and was clerk In the book
store of Mr.. O'Hara. His stay here was
short; he went to Lansingburg, In Sara
toga County, where ho was a clerk in drysgoods
house. In the course of year or two Mr.. Hastings
went to live at Albany again, and for short time
was in the grocery business for himself In 1910 his
newspaper career was begun by his dong general
reporting work The albany Daily atlas. On
this paper be introduced the feature of short local
items which afterward became favorte style
with the newspapers. Three years afterward he
started The albany Weekly Stotch, running it about
a wear on his own capital and then selling out to
John New.
Next Mr.. Hastings started The albany Daily Knick-
crbocker which is still in existence. His capital was
small at the outset but in less than two the
paper had attained q larger circulation than any
newspaper outside of New York City. The Knicker
booker was the first daily journal In the State
outside of this city to use the telegraph Tor
news The first complete Presidential me sage
that went over The wires from New-YOrk to Albany
was sent IN 1S46. The custom then was 10 bring
the message from Washington to NewYork by
locomotive which left Washington at noon, on the
delivery of the message to Congress, and reached
then sent to Albany by special steamer. In De-
cember 1916 the editors of The A(6aRy Journal
and The Albany Argus had a special
vessel chartered for the purpose of bringing the
message ou,and they declined to admit MI Hastings
into their enterprise. after consulting WIN
of the telegraph company. to send the entire mes,
sage over the wires. Mr. Faxon had expressed
Tile hHclerdOCkCr able TO bring out an extra
containing the document IN full before
the special steamer % ENGAGED by ,hoG the
In every way Mr. Hastings displayed energy and
enterprise IN building up his paper
take the management of The Commercial advertiser.
Tburlow Weed the Editor at that time, but his
i'll health induced him to turn the chef editorship
over 10 Mr.. Hastings The latter bought out Mr.
Weeds interest in the stock company which ran the
paper The, circulation of lie Commercial was then
only ZOO, but Mr.. Hastings soon increased 1t by
his management. About SIX or eight years ago he
secured control of the stock of The Commercial Pub
fishing Company.
In pohtIcs Mr. Hastings took an active interest.
although he held few political Offices Ho was
strong adherent Of Henry Clay in 1874
tor of the Port at Albany lie held
the place two years, being removed when me flil-
more Administration assumed power us Oh!y
other service IN office was from 800 TO 1901 when
be was Clerk OF the State Sena'e at the time when
Henry J. Williams was Lcuten nt-G0vernor lie
was the last Wing Clerk Of that body. Mr. Hastings
wasa member of the Republican party from me
date OF It's organization lie declined several
foreign appointnen rendered to him IN
aSf5sTeG wam H. soM a5y amsns BE: s
friends As delegate 20 The National Wing |
Convention held IN 1882 the last one ever held by
that party, he voted steadily against Willard Fill
more and IN lavorof General Scott In the previous
year he had worked actively for the election OF |
Hamilton Fish to the United States Senate lie |
was a warm Aboiiilonl,t. and always friend
of the c0oIed people. In 1872 his newspaper |
criticisms Of the late James Brooks, when the |
latter was a candidate for Congress in the With !
N nal
to the bar of the House of Representatives. MT |
Hastings defended himself on the ground that he
was one OF Mr. BFoOks's constituents. and as a |
citizen and journalist has n perfect night TO |
question the fitness of a candidate The |
House took the same view OF the mailer |
and dismissed the complaint. Mr. Hastings |
has always been supporter OF !
Senator Conkling and the branch Of the Republican
party OF which he was leader. When Senator'S |
Conkiing and Patt resigned their seats he |
vigorously and untiringy upheld their course.
lie was also an ardent advocate OF the NOMINATION
of General Gram for a third term. In politics Mr.
Hastings had positive convictions, and he pressed |
his views and supported his friends and their policy
Mr. Hastin Is was married in 1915 to Miss Mary
KcoeT, OF Albany. Sine IS nov dead lie had -FOUR
children, three girls and a boy. HIS son died when
a baby. HIS eldest daughter married DE- MOTIFS |
Henry, OF tins city. but she died year and hali
after her marriage HIS second daughter
is alsl dead; she welded b. Ward, vino
is the business manager Of The. Commercial
Advertiser. HIS youngest daughter, Kate, is an
married and lived with him at Monmouth Beacn;
Mt. Hastings WAS "a HlclHDci VI w iOiikl'u'
nomination. but he attended the Roman CathOnc
Church lie was genial III ms manners, and won
large crc6of friends. In personal appearance he was
OF medium height and rather stoutiy punt, WIN a
ford complexion and eyes that generally twlnksd
with hunOr lie was OF a quick, nervous habit;
Few figures better known az pc iltcai
GATHERINGS lie attended all of the Republican
conventions in ihs State since the party was
organIzed. Previous to that time he was Wing.
He was an encyclopedia of political knowledge
Ills remembrance OF political events extended back
more tban forty years. and Of hisreninIscences
were extremely interesting. lie was "a gooI a1ters
dinner speaker abound g in wit and anecdoie His
tri,, hnnrn xo. 10 De sern al lArge COnYIYlaI