The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-08
DEATH Of THE
WAR GOVERNOR
Andrew G. Curtin is Summoned by The Dark
Reaper.
SINKS PEACEFULLY TO sleep

Dreams Surrounded by Loving
Friends Governor Pattison's Proc
lamation-Arrangements for Fun
eral-Bref History of Life OF
Activity and Interest.
BELLEFoNTE, Pa. Oct. @
n TON. ANDREW CURTIN, the old
III war governor of Pennsylvania,
lTll died this morning at o'clock
u u His death was not only painless,
lut calm; the last vital spark going
out after sleep of twelve hours;
peaceful ending to the long, useful and
even turbulent public life of this great
and distinguished man. 1t was too ap-
parent from the first that, stalwart and
and strong though Mr.. Curtin was. ne
could not rally from an attack that
would have proved quicker death to
a much younger man than he.
His family and friends knew yester-
day that 1t was only a question of hours
and nervsd themselves to be resigned
TO the inevitable. During part OF
yesterday the governor would at, times
become quite delirious, imagining there
was something he had promised to do
and had not yet done, and begged to be
allowed to get up and do it, as he had
never yet broken promise made. To
quiet his nervous system it was neces-
sary to administer an opiate, and un'
der its influence be sank into quiet
sleep in the afternoon. losing all
consciousness and from which he never
woke. His wonderful vitality, how
ever, prolonged the final dissolution
until o'clock this morning, when he
breathed his last, surrounded only by
the immediate members of the family,
consisting of his aged wife, his daugh-
ters, Mary W. wife Of DR.. George F.
Harris; Marie j., widow of Captain
K. R. Breeze and Kate W., wife Of M.
d. Burpet. of Syracuse, N. Y, and his
Bon, w. W. Curtin, OF Philadelphia.
The direct cause of the ex-governor 3
death was a general breaking down of
his nervous system. Always healthy
man, when the final attack came he
was not able to Withstand it, 1t can
be truly said that there is more genuine
sorrow in Bellefonte today over the
death Of Governor Curtin than was
ever before known.
The funeral has been set for Wednes-
day afternoon at 2 o'clock, interment
to be made in the Union cemetery in
this place. The final arrangement for
the obsequies have not yet been COM
pleted, and probably will not be until
late tomorrow. kilograms of condo
lence have been received from Governor
Pattison and Colonel A. G. Mcclure,
editor of the Philadelphia Times, both
of whom have signified their intention
of attending the funeral.
HISTORY OF HIS CAREER.
Andrew Gregg Curtin was horn al
Bellefonte. Pa, on April %, 1917. His
father, Roland Curtin, who came from
Ireland, and who bull: one of the frs
iron foundries in Pennsylvania. mar
ried the daughter of Andrew Gregg
who had been o United States senator
congressman and secretary Of state
Young Curtin began his school life il
private institutions in Bellefonte ant
jfter term of school at Harrisburg
.le ended his academic education a.
Milton.
Curtin began the study Of law ant
began to practice in 1887. He took {
leading position in his profession an(
soon identified himself with the Whil
party. From 1854 to 1860. when thu
Republican party was springing into
life as result Of the agitation Of tn,
slavery question, Mr.. Curtin took {
leading position in the stirring events
which attended the birth of the new
party, and In 1860 was made its candi
date for governor. He was elected b,
good majority and was reelected fol
second term, serving during The en-
tire war.
1t followed close upon his first inaug
alton as chief executive of the state
when the first gun of the Civil war wa
fred and he sprang to the duty OF ris
ing troops for the general government
with an energy and spirit unequallet
In any other state executive. He en-
couraged enlistments In every possibl
way, and in an eloquent war speecl
just after the fall Of Sumster, h
kindled camp fires upon almost ever
hearth in Pennsylvania, and calle
more men into service than was aske
for by the general government.
It was the aspiration Of Governo
Curtin's friends that he should be mad
United States senator at the end of hi
second gubernatorial term. but II
fiuences which had been hostile to hin
prevented. In 1868 he was a promineu
candidate for nomination for weep
dent with General Grant. but wa
defeated. Soon after the latter's elet
tion Governor Curtin was nominate
and confirmed as minister to Russii
and spent nearly four years lat S
Petersburg.
A LIBERAL REPUBLICAN.
He returned home in 1879 and too
part In the Liberal Republican move
ment which nominated Horace Greeley
He was prominently spoken of for ii
second place on that ticket, and WI
the choice Of the Pennsylvania del,
CATION in the Greedy convention II
president. His connection with IL
Liberal Republican movement. and th
fact that his powers and influence
the Republican party which was en-
inent while he remained in the couu
try but which had been broken dul
ing his absence carried him into Il
Democratic party.
he was chosen ty the Democrats
represent the Twentieth Pennsylvan
district In the Forty-seventh, Forty
eighth and forty-ninth sessions
congress. For many years he W
chairman Of the foreign affairs con
mittee.
He married Miss Catharins Wilso