Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-30
FRANK HATTON DYING
The Change for the Worse Game This
Morning.
He IL Suffering From Urea POISONING
In It's Worst Form and IL Past
the Stage Of Pain.

At late hour this afternoon Mr.. Frank
Hatton. the editor of the Washington Post.
was reported to be dying. 1t was not
thought that he could live more than few
hours at most.
Mr. Hatton suffered a stroke of PARALYSIS
last Tuesday afternoon while at his desk in
the Post building, and though his family
and friends have tried to see some hope In
his condition, they have realized from the
first that there was very little chance of his
ever getting better. At times a slight i'm
provement has been noted in his condition,
but there has been little reason to think
that these changes were more than temper
airy.
On several occasions since he was stricken
Mr.. Hatton has been conscious, and yester-
day 1t was thought that there were more
signs Of life than had been noted before,
but this condition did not last long.
The Change for the Worse.
The change for the worse came this morn
Ing about O'Clock, and since then the sick
man has sunk rapidly. He Is suffering from
urea poisoning in its worst form, and the
trouble is rapidly and steadily approaching
the heart. He is far beyond the point where
he suffers any pain, however, and the end,
when IT comes, Will be quite painless. Those
about the bedside have given up all hope.
Mrs. Hatton and her son Richard are by
the side OF the stricken man, waiting for
the end. DR.. Sewers and DR.. w. w. John
ston are In constant attendance, and doing
all that medical skill can accomplish. From
the time he was stricken they have known
that, even IL he should partially recover
from the paralysis, vital organs were
seriously impaired, and they have never
held out the hope that Mr.. Hatton would
ever be a well man again.
Numerous Anxious Inquiries Made.
Numerous friends have called during the
day TO express their sympathy and to prof
fer their services II they were needed in
any way. The news Of the fatal turn that
his illness has taken will come as a severe
shock to the community. To all those who
called this afternoon to inquire as to Mr.
Hatton's condition, the answer has been
made that there was little or no hope OF
any Improvement, but about o'clock the
statement was made that there was some
slight hope that the doctors might be able
to cope with the progress and restore his
bladder to the performance of its duty; a
condition which has not existed in the past
twenty-four hours. This is only one hope
In a thousand. however.
sketch of His Career.
Frank Hatton was born in Cambridge
Ohio. April 2S 1876. From his earliest DAYS
ne was intimately connected with newspa-
per work. his father, Richard Hatton, be-
ing. while Frank was yet a little boy, en-
gagged in the publication of the Cadiz
(Ohio) Republican. When but eleven years
OF age Frank was given a place in the
ONCE Of the Republican. and there he
learned the printers art to the extent OF
becoming foreman, a position which after
time he forsook to take UP the duties
OF local editor. At the outbreak Of the wal
Of the rebellion he enlisted in the ninety
eighth Ohio infantry. served faithfully
throughout the great struggle as member
OF the Army Of the Cumberland, and In
1854 was commissioned first lieutenant
When the war came to a close Mr.. Hatton
naturally returned to the profession which
he had temporarily forsaken to serve his
country as a soldier, and in the town OF
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, edited the Journal
from 1869 to 1874. and then removed to
Burlington, Iowa, where he purchased a
controlling interest in the Hawk-Eye, his
PARTNER being Robt. j. Burdette, the world
renowned humorist.
Mr. Hatton's first federal office was that
of postmaster at Burlington, for some years
prior to 1881, when President Arthur APP
pointed him assistant postmaster general
In that capacity he served from October
1881. until October. 1854, when the retire
Tent of Judge Gresham from the Office OF
Postmaster General brought about MIR. Hat
tons promotion to a seat in the cabinet.
He continued to be Postmaster General
until the close of Gen. Arthur's admins
tration. and was properly proud of the fact
that with the exception of Alexander Ham
iltcn he was the youngest cabinet officer
in the history of the United States gov
eminent. For two years. from 1882 to
1884, Mr.. Hatton had much to do with the
National Republican of this city, but in the
summer of the latter year severed his con-
nection Herewith and removed to Chicago
to become editor-in-chief Of the Chicago
Mall In 1883 Mr.. Hatton returned to this
city. and In partnership with Mr.. Beriah
wilkins purchased the Washington Post
~ xxht oh ha hos hoa AItf .pt,t exf
sir ce. Mr.. Hatton has always been one OF
the most alert and brainy members Of the
journalistic profession. and his death will
be sincerely deplored.