Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-06
HANNIBAL HAMLIN's DEATH.
stricken Down While Playing Cards With
Old Friends-

THE UNIQUE AND HONORABLE CAREER OF THE
MAINE sTATEsNAN-HIs SUCCESSIVE ELECTIONS
To oFFICE-How NEAR NE CAME TO BEING
PRESIDESr-PARTICULARso OF THE FATAL ATTACK.
EX-Vice President Hannibal Hamlin died at
! SIS O'Clock Saturday night in Bangor, Ne.
Mr.. Hamlin. during the past few years, had
been in perfect health. showing the effects Of
age. but far less than most men of his years.
Nearly every week day found him a visitor at
the Tarratine Club. OF which he had been presi-
dealt since its organization. During the de-
hghtfnl weather of June Mr.. Hamlin had been
ne active ever in his life, going out into the
country and watching the farming operations
with the same interest in past years, the till
ing of the soil having always been one OF his
hobbies.
On Saturday afternoon about o'clock alr.
Hamlin went down town through pouring
rain and entered the club house on Main
street. As usual upon the Fourth OF July
| there was n jolly gathering Of business and
professional men celebrating in the old-tme
way. and the ex-Vice President receiveda warm
greeting, To which lac responded smilingly, and
chatied for a time with various gentlemen who
were in the rooms. MIR. Hamlin was almost
childi-hly fond Of pedro" and he sat down at
n table with Philo A. Strickland, the timber
land owner. as his partner. playing against L.
W. Carr. general eastern superintendent of the
American Company. and Gilbert Howell of the
firm of Ross Il Howell
They had been playing only a short time
when Mr.. Hamlin remarked Il feel very
sharp pain in my back. 1t came upon me very
suddenly"
Mr.. Carr suggested that it might be an at
tack of pleurisy and called for a waiter. who
brought Mr.. Hamlin some liquor. of which he
took very small quantity and then seemed
TO be relieved.
One hour later, at 5 o'clock. Mr.. Hamlin sud
denly fell forward upon the table. his cards In
his hand, death-like expression upon his face.
HIS companions sprang to his assistance and In
a few seconds DR.. ID. A. Robinson. who was In
another room in the club, at his side. The
sick man was placed upon low couch and
swallow of brandy given him, but he lost all
consciousness in a few minutes.
Messengers were sent for Mrs. Hamhn and
other members of his family. When Mrs. Ham
lin arrived. few minutes before o'clock. Mr..
Hsmlin had revived sufficiently to recognize
her. and several minutes later he muttered
few words of greeting.
HypOdermic injections Of brandy and ammo
mia strengthened the action of his heart, and at
. o'clock his family physician, DIR. Mason. ex-
pressed confidence that his patient would re-
cover. BY that time his son. Chas. Hamlin and
the latters wife had arrived and the former
| said that his father had had slighter attacks of
a similar nature before.
A bed was ordered and placed in the club
parlOr. and while 1t being arranged Mr..
Hamlin seemed very much better, and rs he
took more brandy he remarked, ''You will make
NE drunk. doctor, if you oblise me to take much
more OF this
A few moments later an alarming change was
noticed in his condition. and DIR. Mason, who
moment before had been all hope, said quietly,
He Is dying"
Mr.. and Mrs. Hamlin. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Hamlin and Ned Hamlin, the latter q grand
son of the ex-Vice President gathered around
the couch of the dying man. With every breath
came low moan. which brought tears to the
eyes OF the little group.
At SID, only five minutes after Mr.. Hamlin
had spoken with what seemed to be consider
able strength. he gasped once or twice and
passed away in the unconscious state into
which he had fallen.
The members of the family who were present
were very calm, displaying less emotion, per-
haps. than the club men. Mrs. Hamlin. after
making some request concerning the transfer
of the body to the family residence oil 9th
street, was driven directly home
A touching scene occurred little later when
Hannibal l.. Hamlin. Senator Hales law part
ner, arrived from Ellsworth. He had received
a telegram regarding his fathers attack too
late To come by train and had driven to Bangor
covering the distance of twenty-six miles in
two and half hours with a pair of horses
He entered the club covered with mud from
| head to foot and his first breathless inquiry
was regarding his father. When told that his
father was dead he was overwhelmed with
grief.
DIR. Mason said that Mr.. Hamlin had always
| suffered from "a weak heart When he spoke
| at Norombega Hall a month ago, at the mer-
chants reception. he said that il probably
the last time his voice would be heard
His last public appearance WAS on Saturday,
June 20. when he spoke to the full bench of the
Maine supreme court at the exercises held In
memory of his lifelong friend and neighbor.
81. L.. l..
trip out Of the state was in February, when he
WAS the guest of the evening at the Lincoln
birthday banquet III New York.
Mr.. HA,uIN's LIFE AND CAREER.
Hannibal Hamlin was born at Paris Oxford
county, Ne, August n. 1909. He began public
life in 1886. when he only twenty-five years
of age. by obtaining seat in the legislature of
his native state. Maine. He was reelected to
four successive legislatures, and during three
of them he was the speaker of the assembly.
This was rapid promotion His constituents
then sent him to the Twenty-eighth and Twen-
| ty-ninth Congresses, and when his last term
had expired they again sent him to the state
| legislature in lsi1. John Fairfield was then one
| of the Senators from Maine. He died in De-
| CT mber OF that year and Mr.. Hamlin was chosen
! To nil the vacancy. In 1851 he was reelected
| tor the full term Of six years.
He resigned in 1857 to be inaugurated COVER
I nor. having been elected to that Office a
/
| February 20. he resigned the governorship
having again been chosen United States Sena-
tor for the full term of six years. He served
4 until January. 1861. when he resigned. having
\ been elected Vice President on the ticket with
| Abraham Lincoln. He presided over the Sen
| ate from March 4. 1861. till March 3. 1865. In
the batter year he was appointed collector Of
the port of Boston, but resigned in 1866. From
/ 1861 till 1865 he had also acted regent of the
Smithsonian Institution, and was reappointed
! in 1870. continuing to act for the following
| twelve years. during which tine he became
dean of the board. He was again elected and
reelected 10 the United States Senate. serving
| from March 1. 1869, till March 8. 1881. In June
! of that year he was named minister to spain.
but gave up the office the year following and
/ returned to this country.
CONVERSION To REPUBLIcASIsN
] Up to June IL, 1856, he acted with the demo-
cratic party, but broke with it in u formal
speech IN the senate..one Of the very few he
ever made in that body-after the repeal Of the
| Missouri compromise.
| During nine years of service in the Senate
/ said he on that occasion. Il have preferred
rather to be working than talking member,
\ and so 1 have been almost a silent one. On the
subjects which have much agitated the coun-
4 try senators know that have rarely uttered a
word. love my country more than love my
party. I love my country above my love for