The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-07-06
HE DIED ON THE NATIONS BIRTHDAY.
Sudden End Of the llIustrIous Life
Of Hanniba al Han1IIn.
Stricken Down In the Comp any Of
Friends at His Club.
Sad Scenes During His Closing
Hours In the husned House,

1
death this evening of the venerable and be-
loved Hannibal Hamlin has thrown all Ban.
gor into mourning. The roaring caused by
the thousands engaged in celebrating gradu-
ally ceased, and even the young people on
the streets spoke In whispers.
| Mr.. Hamlin during the past few years has
been in perfect health, only showing, of
course, the effects of age, but far less than
most men of his years. This afternoon
about O'Clock. Mr.. Hamlin came down
town through the pouring rain and entered
the club house on Main street. AS is usual
upon the Fourth of July, there was jolly
gathering of business and professional men,
and the ex-vice president was given warm
greeting, to which he responded smillngly,
| chatting for time with various gentlemen
| who were in the rooms. There was no de-
lay, however. in starting a game of cards,
MIR. Hamlin being almost childishly fond of
| pedro, and he sat down at ia BILE with PhilO
A. Strickland, the timber land owner, as his
| partner. playing against F. W. Carr. general
| eastern superintendent of the Adams Ex
press Company. and Gilbert Howell of the
| firm Of Ross & Howell.
They had been playing but a short time
| when Mr.. Hamlin remarked: II feel a very
| sharp pain in my back. 1t came upon me
verp quickly"
Mr.. Carr Suggested that it might be an
attack of pleurisy, and called for a wa ter,
who brought Mr.. Hamlln some liquor. of
which he took a very. small quantity, and
made no further complaint. An hour later,
at $50 O'clock, Mr.. Hamlin suddenly fell for.
ward urOn the table, cards in his hand, and
with deathlike expression upon his face.
His companions sprang to his assistance,
and in few seconds DR.. d. A. Robinson,
who was In another room In the club house.
was at his side. The sick man was placed
on a low couch and a swallow of brandy
given him. He Immediately lost all con-
ammonia were hyp0dermically injected. AT
that time no beating of the heart could be
detected, and 1t was thought that he was
dying.
Messengers were sent for Mrs. Hamlin and
other members OF his family, who were
quickly at his side. When Mrs. Hamlin ar
rived, few minutes before O'Clock, the
work of the physicians had been so success
ful that the ex-Vice-President had revived
enough to recognize her. but it was not until
several minutes later that he muttered words
of greeting. faint and indistinct.
About the first distinct remark that the
sufferer made was when a hot cloth was
placed across his Chest. and he looked up at
the doctor and said: Take that hot thing
away, will yOu?"
Brandy. was slowly administered natural.
" and brandy and ammonia hypodermlcal.
ly, the effect being to make his heart beat
more strongly. Uutil about o'lock his
family physician, DIR. Mason, who had
as to the chances of recovery of his patient.
At that time his son, Charles Hamlin, and
his wife, were also with him, and the former
said that his father bad had slighter attacks
OF similar nature before, and he believed
ne would recover. 1t was decided danger
ons to move him, and bed was ordered
placed In the club parl0r for his use. While
1t was being arranged Mr. Hamlin seemed
very very imuch better, and. as be took more
doctor, If you Oblige me to take any more OF
this" A little later be said, complsiningly:
"Doctor, am very warm"
"You are not as warm as you feel" was
the reply; II am trying to make you more
"But you only succeed in making me very
uncomfortable" said Mr.. Hamlin.
Yes, understand, but that is the first
step towards making you feel great deal
feel its effects"
But the ex vice president never spoke
again. Almost instantly an alarming change
was noticed in his condition and DR.. Mason
who moment before had been all hope, said
very quietly, He is dying"
Mrs. Hamlin, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Ham
lin and Ned Hamln. grandson Of the ex-
vice president. gathered around the couch
with .he did Mt
every breath was uttering low moan which
brought tears to the eyes Of the little group
of club men at the other end of the parlOr
and who had caught the ominous words of
the attending physician. At S.15, only five
minutes after Mr.. Hamlln bad spoken with
what seemed to be considerable strength, he |
gasped once or twice and passed away in the |
unconscious state into which he had fallen.
There appeared to have been no suffering.
A touching scene occurred little later
when Hannibal K. Hamlin, Senator Hale's
law partner. arrived from Ellsworth. He
had received a telegram regarding his faith.
er's attack too late to come by train and had
driven to Bangor, covering the distance of 26
miles In two hours and quarter with pair
of horses. He entered the club covered with
mud from head to foot, and his first breath
less inquiry was for his father. When told
that he was dead the display Of grief was
perfectly overwhelming, and it was difficult
to console him.
DIR. Mason, when asked about the death,
said that Mr.. Hamlin had always suffered
from weak heart. but he knew Of no reason
why this fatal attack should have come upon
him. 1t Is a somewhat striking fact that Mr.
Hamlin has entertained for some time pre-
monition OF death. When he spoke at Nor
ombega Hall a month ago. at the Merchants
week reception, he said that 1t was probably
The last time that his voice would be heard
there, and his words proved prophetic.
Mr.. Hamlin leaves a widow and three sons,
Gen. Charles Hamlip, Reporter of Decisions,
Hannibal Z. Hamlin, Esq, lawyer Of Els
worth, and Frank Hamlin, now living in
Chicago.