The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-07
CAPT. aAMMoNp,s DEATH.
One OF Ssvannah's Most Prominent
Citizens Gone.

SltlLcuh GOnos
The death Of Capt. John L. Hammond,
announced in yesterdays MORNING NEWS,
was a shock to the entire city.
The deceased was held in the
highest esteem by all who knew him. His
death was entirely unexpected. Although
he had been i'll fer several days, there was
no expectation Of the final dissolution.
Capt. Hammond had been confined TO
his room since Wednesday morning, when
he was seized in the superior court room
with q sudden attack Of heart trouble which
for time appeared serious. Physicians were
summoned and gave prompt attention, and
by night he appeared to be relieved.
Since that time he had appeared TO improve
slowly. Wednesday and Thursday nights
following the attack, members Of the family
sat up with him, but Friday night he APP
peared 50 much improved that this was not
thought necessary, and only Mrs Ham
mond remained in the room with him.
About o'clock Capt Hammond awoke
and said he felt as il be had the nightmare.
Mrs. Hammond became alarmed
and sent for Drs. Boyd and Read.
DR.. Read did not arrive, however, until
after his patients death. Dr. Boyd did not
think the attack was of a serious nature,
and small dose Of paregorio was admin
istered as sedative. About ten minutes
after taking the medicine Capt.
Hammond gave gasp and
breath leaving his body almost in a second.
| So unexpected was his death that no one
was In the house except the family and the
| physicians Capt. Hammond's brother.in-
law, Mr.. W. II. Baker, and others were
sent for Immediately. The physicians pro-
nounced the cause Of his death heart failure
As president Of the Merchants National
| Bank Capt. Hammond had been under
great strain since the defalcation of Cashier
Gadsden was made known by his suicide
| and the trouble in which be had involved
the bank. There Is little doubt that the
worry caused by the trouble of the bank,
and the,late suits against IL, aggravated the
disease aud fastened Capt Hammond's
death. IL Ia the sad sequel of O course Of
| events which have been lamentable q rough
out.
Capt. Hammond was AZ years of age. He
was born in Midway, near Milledgeville, in
1874. He received his early education at
Midway, which, though only a small wills
lage, was before the war a center Of
graduate OF Oglethorpe University of
fSs' !. 0 K. TAlm .SU M 1~ss''u't tbe
honored president. At the breaking out of
| hostiities between the north and the south
he at once enlisted in the confederate army
| anG served as adjutant Of the Sixty-third
Georgia regiment, Of which the late Col.
George A. Gordon OF Savannah was
| colonel.
At the close of the war Capt Hammond
came to Savannah and secured q clerkship
| Ia the Central railroad Office under Presi-
dent Wadley. He afterward became a
bookkeeper In the Merchants National
Bank, aud when the Southern Bank of
the State of Georgia was organized later he
ala cd fail xuhi he
cepted. He resigned this position to become
the partner OF Mr.. Henry Hull in the bank
ing business under the firm name Of Henry
Hull a. Co., and some time efterward en-
tered the brokerage business Some time
later he entered into the fertilizer business
with the firm Of Hammond, Hull & Co., of
which he was the senior member. He
was for several years a director of the
Merchants National Bank, and also vice
president, and succeeded the late Col.
George L. Cope as president two years ago.
His business dealings were upon q large
scale. The firm of Hammond, Hull & Co.
probably does a larger fertilizer business
than any firm In the south, manufacturing
Carolina phosphates upon a large scale.
The firm is also probably the largest holder
Of Florida phosphate lands in the country,
on which investments they have realized
handsomely.
Capt. Hammond married Miss E. NJ.
Morrell, youngest daughter Of the late
j. w. Morrell of Savannah. His wife
survives him, and also three small chill
dren. two boys and girl, the Oldest about
10 years.
In Capt. Hammond's death Savannah
sustains a loss which will be deeply felt
Though possessing large wealth, he was a
man whose value could not be esti-
mated in dollars. Having achieved
success by his own efforts he was ever ready
fa nd In,
| the same path. By the young men Of the
city he was held in especially high regard
for his kindness and affability in dealing
with them, and the interest which he took
in their affairs. both OF pleasure and of
business. He was liberal in his charities,
but transformations, and there are not few
who have cause to regret his death. 1t is
hardly necessary to say that he ranked
| among the highest for the integrity and up-
rightness of his business dealings, and that
| he was esteemed as such by his associates In
the financial and commercial world.
Capt. Hammond was for several years
| captain of Company B of the Savannah
Volunteer Guards battalion. The corps
would attend his funeral as a military body
but for the request by the members of the
| family, who prefer not to have a military
| funeral It was thought that the deceased
| would have preferred not to have any dis
| play in connection with the funeral cere-
monies. The Guards, however, will pay their
respects by attending in a body in citizens
dress, for which purpose they
| will assemble at their armory at
8 o'clock this afternoon. The funeral
will take place from the late residence Of
the deceased on CASTOR street at 4:30 o'clock.
The interment will be in Laurel Grove
cemetery. DR.. j. E. L. Holmes of the
First Baptist church will officials at the
ceremonies, and the following gentlemen
will act as pallbearers: +. G. duBignon,
a. A. Crane, II. P. Richmond, Clavius
Phillips, r. III. Dsmere, Malcolm Maclean,
j. II. Hunter, w. s. Rockwell, J. N. John
son and p. D. DaffIn.