The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-16
DEATH OF JOHN HOEY.
REMARKABLE CAREER OF a BARE.
FOOT INNING FAINT.


Great Corporation-Person Traits
and Attractions.
In the dispatches OF the MORNING NEWS
yesterday the death of John hoey, ex-presi-
dent of Adams express, was announced.
Up to within two years ago Mr.. Hoey en-
joyed exceptionally good health. He was
then attacked by the grip. With charact err
istio adherence of anything approaching
invalidism he declined TO be called sick and
only kept to his bed day. Nevertheless,
the seeds Of disease were sown then, which
were greatly aggravated by business
troubles later.
The Press of Philadelphia says that al
though apparently in good health last sum
mer, Mr.. Hoey's close friends noticed that
he had lost his old time snap and energy in
the management of his great property at
Long Branch. When the season was over
there Mr.. Hoey came to town and took up
his residence in his rooms at Delmonico's,
which have been his city home ever since
he sold his house, No. els Fifth avenue.
He went about to the theaters as usual
greeted his old friends with that frank,
hearty manner which was all his own, and
tried to disguise from himself as we'll as
Others that there was anything wrong about
him.
mo purpose, however. he was obliged
to go to the doctors. He tried Turkish
baths and massage, but got no strength or
comfort. He complained of pains In the
legs and head. His firm, clear mind be-
came wavering and clouded. A week ago
Saturday he dined at Delmonco's with some
friends, but went to bed that night dan
gerously sick man.
he - l..
insidious advances; the whole machinery
of his being has collapsed. He has had no
longer the strength TO fight off the dread
conqueror, and for the past few days he lost
all CONSCIOUSNESS Of his surroundings.
HoEY's REMARKABLE CAREER.
John Hoey would be, il he could live till
next Valentines day, 50 years of age. He
was born in Drogheda, a small town on the
river Boyne, not far from Dublin His
father, Patrick, was a small farmer. He
ridiculed the story told so often that he was
born in the boot of coach. His mother
was passenger on the coach when she was
seized with the pains of childbirth, but was
taken to little inn, where John Hoey was
born. His mother was Miss Ievins, the
sister OF the parish priest of Drogheda, who
atterward came to America and made his
mark as a controvertialist, being mentioned
at one time in connection with the arch-
bisboprio Uf New York
Through his uncle John Hoey obtained
some rudiments of education, and used to
serve mass in the parish church. His other
duties were to tend sheep for his father,
and his great recreation was to watch the
erection OF a fine house which his grand
father, who was a mason, was building
in the vicinity for an English lord. In
company with Col. n. J. O'Brien, his
lifelong friend and business associate, Mr..
Hoey revisited Drogheda for the first time
in fifty years in the summer of 1890. When
they took jaunting car at the railway
station Mr.. Hoey gave the driver minute
directions as TO the road he was to take and
mentioned spring which used 30 come out
Of stone wall by the roadside
SOUGHT HIS FORTUNE IN AMERICA.
Young Hoey left home when only a Lad,
worked his way to Liverpool aud thence,
IN 1889, TO America, landing III New York
ragged, barefooted and without a shilling.
His first regular employment was in
newspaper folding room. 1t was part of
his duty to deliver papers to the New
Haven steamer, which left New York every
other day, and also at the office Of Adams
express, at No. Wall street. This express
had just been started by Alvin Adams TO
run IN opposition to Harnden's express, be-
tween New York and Boston, via steamer
to Norwich and thence by stage.
Every other day a trunk was dispatched
office as errand boy just at the time that
the late William b. Dlnsmore came on from
Vermont to associate himself with Adams.
They both took fancy to the little red
headed Irish boy and advanced him steadily
until he was earning 81 a week. At that
time the entire force of Adams express cons
sisted, besides Adams and Dlnsmore of
Stoddard the book-keeper, Addison Brasto,
clerk; johnson, agent, and John Hoey, label
boy.
SOME EARLY VENTURES OF HIS OWN.
In the meantime the California craze, the
building of the New York and New Haven
road and the establishment of a southern
line Of steamers had vastly increased the
bulk and profit of Adams Express aud the
formation Of a company was desirable. In
1852 Adams Express Company was incor-
porated and soon after moved into the fine
new buildings built for it at No. so Broad
way, which are to-day the Headquarters of
the company.
At that time John Hoey had been pro-
noted to have charge of the southern and
eastern steam line business About this
time Hoey started sort of adjunct to
Adams Express Company, called Hoey's
express, which covered the coastwise route
Of the new Savannah line Of steamers, aud
made considerable money by his venture.
HIS MARRIAGE TO MRS. RUSSELL.
By this time that Hoey had developed
from the raw Irish boy into the neat and
dapper young man about town and trusted
employee of rich company Mrs. Russell,
acharmlngly pretty young English widow,
was playing an engagement at Burton's
Old theater in Chambers street. Mrs. Rus
sell had been "a Miss Shaw of Liverpool
coming from a highly talented and re-
spected family of theatrical people. She
had married q William Russell, a near
relative Of the late Charles II. Russell of
New York. and had two little boys. Mr..
Hoey fell madly in love with her, and one
day married her without telling any one
about it. When the time came TO announce
the marriage it was decided to do so from
the stage OF Burton's theater, which was
also to be the announcement of Mrs. Hoey's
retirement
After Che final curtain had been rung
down and the house was still applauding,
John Lester Wallack and John BrouRham
were mustered on the stage aud Burton
himself advanced to the footlights aud am
nounced in a neat and witty speech that
MRS. Russell, if he might still call her SO,
hsd resolved to give up her part in the play
aud assume again the character of wife,"
and then naming John Hoey as the happy
man.
or course the funny incident was town
4 Talk for q nf 10 md fttia