The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06

he Was for Thirtysthres Years Porter at
the Firth Avenue Hotel.

ne NNhN " AhNENNaNuEge AehNH AoENrE -
the Firth Avenue Hotel.
Albert Lovejoy, who for thirty-threo years
was the head porter of the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
committed suicide in the Putnam House. Fourth
avenue and Twenty-sixth street, yesterday
morning. He had often threatened to kill him
self In the last two or three years, and last sum
mer he got up an elaborate hoax, by which he
led his friends TO believe that he had jumped of
one OF tho South Brooklyn ferry boats. LoveJoy
was \ character in his way. and his acquaint-
ance among noted men was remarkably large.
He was endowed abundantly with discretion,
and IN the long years OF his service In the Fifth
Avenue Hotel the big men who came there. es-
peclally those OF the Republican party. came to
know him we'll nnd like him, and many a deli
cate mission Was entrusted to him by them.
He was born In Massachusetts about sixty-four
years ago. and A. a boy went to work for PAran
Stevens, who was then the proprietor of the
Revere House in Boston. When Mir. Stevens
came to this city In 1860 to open the Fifth
Avenue Hotel no brought Lovejoy with him
and made him porter and stage driver. Love-
Joy held this job for two or three years, and
then was made head porter, which place he con-
tinued to hold until two or three years ago,
when ho was discharged on account of his
drinking habits.
Lovejoy was an ardent Republican and could
see nothing good in other parties. His ardent
craftsmanship was undoubtedly due in part to
his intense admiration for James q. Blaine.
Blaine to him was a paragon, and any one who
ventured to criticise the Maine statesman in
Loyejoy's presence was likely to- se, into
town, Lovejoy dropped everything else and be.
came a sort of bodSgyard TO him. lie would
the railroad station and he accompanied him
on his walks, sometimes at his side, sometimes
following a little behind, but ever watcl.ful
that M harm should coma 10 his idol
50 far did Lovejoy's admiration go that he
tried to look as much like Blaine as. possible.
He was a big man. ak feet two inches in height.
and did resemble Mr.. Blaine a little. He strove
TO helghlen this resem blance bv wearing his
hair aud beard and clothes ns Blame did.
Nothing pleased HIN more than to have .oine
one speak of this resemblance to the Maine
statesman. In I'll" campaign OF 1874 he DID
when the result Of the election faally became
known ~i.oveioy was broken hearted. ylcre-
FOR him. Tor aside from hi, natural grief al
Blaine's, defeat NJ hated Cleveland roundly.
The reason OF this was that Cleveland was the
only man who ever doubted his honesty. Nh!le
Tifth Avenue Hotel. As lie was leaving to re-
said. insInuatcd that LoveJnS might know some
tnlns abont j.. The 3vercoat was found where
Az M instance OF Lovejoy's devotion TO Mr..
left Washington in June 1892. on his way to
Bar ilarbnr in search OF health. it WAS reported
that he was to stop over night In THIS city.
Lo, eioy did not know what train. the former
Secretary Of state would take ana he spent the
whole day in the Pennsylvania Railway station
waiting FOR HIM. He didn't leave until tho
evening. when he learned that Mr.. Blaine had
taken the through train to Boston, the ono that
is ferriel around the city.
After Baine. Gen. Grant stood highest in
Loveioy's affections. and he was always proud
to tell how he had acted as hodyguard Tor the
General in 1872. when he was in this city for a
long time. Lovejuy knew Garfield and Conk-
ling well. and President Arthur offered him a
place worth $40 IA day. which he declined. lie
counted Mr.. Piatt among Iii, friends.
Blaine's defeat for the nomination in 1892,
followed SO shortly after by his death. seemed
TO affect Lovejoy deeply. He took to drink. and
drank so hard that he finally lost his place at
the hotel. He had considerable money saved,
several thousand dollars. but ut the rate he went
II did not last long. 4 year ago he ran FOR As
semplyman In the Twenty-hfth district on an
Independent Republican ticket, but was beaten.
and for the asst year he has lived largely on tho
bounty OF his friend. Every now and then.
when in liquor. he threatened to commit suicide.
but nobody supposed that he would keep his
threat. One evening last July n man went
ashore from the ferry at Thirty-ninth street,
south, Brooklyn. and as he passed through the
gates he told the guard that a man had jumped
overheard in the Erie Basin. In the cabin
a hat was found in which was q
note written by Lovejoy,, in which he said that
any more use for him. Lovejoy's friends were
notified. and the iowa was searched for him.
Later in the evening he was found sleeping
that he had written the note and left the hat
for a joke.
Avenue Hotel n great deal. until on Friday.
when detective Forget told him that he couldn't
come In there any more, He went OUT aud began
to drink. About O'Clock in the evening he vent
to the Putnam House and got u room. He filled
up the cracks and crevices with paper. then
turned on the gas. and went to bed. y cham Der.
summoned the hall man. who burst open the
door and found Lovejoy dead.