Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-03-20
The Bridegroom Cam- Not.

MIR GEORGE II WATKINS of PORTLAND
POUND DEAD Ar THE HorR III MAS 10
HAVE BEEN MARRIED
Mr. George II Watkins. Of the publish
ng firm OF Brown Thur~ton 4 CO. Portland.
was found dead in h- bed n his room at
the United States Hotel. Thursday evening
He had been working very hard for some
time past frequently going down 10 hls
Office a. carls a. > o'clock in the morning
aud leaving ii for little more time than
WAS necessary to procure his meals. He
vas of small and extremely slight ply
,qur aud had been troubled for some time
past With cough. but did not feel troub-
led on that account as->O he stated to his
partner. Mr.. Thur>ton-he had been assur
ed by IN physician that his lungs were per
fectly sound. He had roOmed for a long
time at DR.. Whuden'> residence on Com
gre-s street. but, as he contemplated
marriage and was htting up the house at
No. Il Gray street for his future home, he
went To the United States aud took room
about fortnight ago.
He was seen to be- spoken to by Dr.
Whidden on Wednesday evening, and told
the doctor he was on the way To his hotel.
He evidently went to his oJm as he said
he should, and went TO bed. He did not ap-
pear, Thursday either at the office or the
house Of the lady To whom he was to be
married, Thursday evening-Miss Balm,
daughter of Capt. james Balm.
Friends went to the hotel about y. NJ.
to see what the trouble was. Knocking on
the door of hi, room failed to meet with
any response, and bell boy was sent in
through the trsn>om who unlocked the
door. and DIR. Whidden and Mr.. OConnor,
one Of the prOprietnrs of the house, enter
ed. Mr. Watkins was found living in the
bed with his limbs slightly drawn up, lying
on his side with the head partly buried in
the pillow. A profuse hemoIrnage, either
from the lungs or stomach. had deluged
the pillow and mattress with blood MIR.
Watkins had evidently been dead for some
time. 1t Is supposed that he was taken
with henorrhage in his sleep, and he must
have died with but little struggle.
The room presented just such an appear
ance as would be expected. The garments
Of the deceased We're laid upon a chair at
the foot of the bed the curtain drawn and
everything was in order. Coroner Gould
vas sent for, and with DIR. Whidden and
the undertaken, Mr. Martin, made an ex-
animation and decided death resulted from
natural causes and that no inquest would
be necessary.
As the hour approached for the wedding,
the intended bride, her family and friends,
who had gathered at the house No. II Gray
street became very uneasy. 1t had seem
ed strange that nothing had been heard all
day from Mr. Watkins and each moment
intensified the depression that such a
circumstance naturally created Eight
O'Clock struck and all was ready. When
DIR. Whidden appeared, at once there was
an eager movement to learn the news. As
quietly as possible DIR. Whldden stated
that Mr.. Watkins could not appear as he
was seriously i'll, and turning to Miss Bain's
brother, he privately told him that Mr..
Watkins could not possibly survive but a
few hours. Miss Balm would not accept
the statement. Instinct told her that she
had not heard all. Then her brother beg
ged Rev. DR.. Dunn to break the sad news.
Gently as possible it was told, but the
shock was q crushing one for the young
lady. Slowly and sadly the party departed
for their homes.
Mr. Watkins was born in New York and
| SO years old. He came to Paris. the native
town of his mother, to learn the printers
trade in the Oxford Democrat office. His
family shortly afterward removed to that
| town When Col. Shaw removed to New
Hampshire Mr.. Watkins purchased the
Democrat and published it till he arraDg
ed TO become a member of the firm of B.
Thurston & Co., publishers, in Portland.
He married, while in Paris, the youngest
daught' of the late Judge Cole, by whom
he had three children. She survived the
birth Of the last but a little time. He
afterward married daughter of w. H.
few months, of heart disease.
Mr. Watkins was the corresponding Sec.
retary and highly respected member Of
the Maine Press Associ tion. At the
meetings of the Association he took q
prominent part, and will be greatly missed
by his brethren as well as the general pub
lie.