The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-09-01
GEORGE VIM. CURTIS.
His Death Yesterday Ended His Suffering
from Mysterious Illness.

NEW York, August 31.-George VIM.
Curtis, the well-known author and jour-
nalist, died at 2.3O o'clock this morning
as his residence at West Brighton, S. l.
Last July Mr.. Curtis's illness assumed a.
serious form. He had not been well
since the middle of June, but he contin-
ued to do his regular work until after the
Fourth of July. Just before the Fourth
change for the worse took place, and
soon DIR. Janeway and Mi. Curtis s
brother, DR.. Curtis, were called in to aid
the local physician. The trouble was in
the lower part of the stomach and con-
sisted of swelling, attended by inf1am-
nation. But the nature of his disease
has never been determined. 1t was aD-
nounced some time ago that he was suf-
fering from cancer in the stomach, butthe
physician, who attended him could not
agree that his disease was of a cancerous
nature, and it was the opinion of num-,
Der that he suffered from some abnor-
NAL growth on the abdomen, which be-
came very large. It is understood that
there will be an autopsy.
George William Curtis was born in
Providence. Feb. "a, 1914. One year OF
his early career was passed as clerk OF
New York mercantile house. In 1912 he
with an elder brother was placed in the
famous Brook Farm Socialistic institu-
ton at Roxbury. Mr.. Curtis soon be-
came known as man OF letters and ms
career as author and Journalist is familiar
to all Americans. Mr.. Curtis was dele
gate to the second Republican National
Convention. He declined offers of for
eign missions at various times. He OPP
posed Grants nomination for third
term, and when Blaine was nominated,
supported Cleveland, becoming practi-
cally the leader of the so-called Mug
wump'' faction. He has been prominent
ly identified with the movement for civil
service reform.
Mr.. Otis Kaler, the well known land
lord of the Kirkwood House at Scarboro,
and winter resident of Portland, died
at Scarboro suddenly on Tuesday at the
Kirkwood. Mr.. Kaler was rs years old,
a native of Waldoboro. When young
man he moved to Winterporta and for two
sessions represented that town in the
state legislature; and in 1861 represented
Waldo county in the Senate. At the out
break of the war he enlisted and was
promoted to be lieutenant in the Goth
Maine Regiment. He moved to Scarboro
23years ago and became proprietor of
the Kirkwood House, which he has re-
tanned ever since. He represented the
town of Scarboro in the Legislature at the
! two last sessions that the town had
representative there. He was appointed
by Governor Burleigh on the committee
| to audit the accounts of the state treas
| urer in 1891. He was a prominent Odd
Fellow, and was at one time Grand Mas
ter of the order in this state. He was a
member of the Second Parish church in
| this city. He leaves widow, who was
Miss Maria Thompson of Winterport.
| and three children, Mrs. F. d. Pullen of
| Bangor, James Otis Kaler of New Jersey,
an author of note, who writes over the
name "James Otis.'' and John M. Kaler,
| the proprietor of the Southgate House
| at Prout's Neck.
| In the legislature, "Uncle Otis" as he
was called familiarly, was very popular
| for his genial qualities. He tried once
! to get the legislature to buy snow SHOW
els in order that the members might
shovel their way to the capital. The city
| authorities took the hint, and after that
| also the originator of the ''stamp act''
which made so much fun four years ago.
The veterans of the Ninth Maine Regi-
ment at their reunion at Old Orchard
TueSdav alected tha fo1]owinU officers.