Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-07
HIS DEATH SUDDEN.
MR.. GEORGE T.. PAYyTER Ex-
PIREs AT THE HOSPITAL.
TERRIBLE CASE OF APPENDICITIS.
Was Brought Up iu the rire-AIarm
service OF the City-A Popular and
Highiy-Esteemed Omcer-The Fu-
neral Arrangements.

Board OF Fire Commissioners and AS
sistant Superintendent Of the Fire-AIarr
Department Of the city. and ona ., th,
oest-known and most popular oe,c,ais %
'ne city dind at the Virginia Hospital
shortly after o'clock last night. while
suffering from an operation for appendI-
citis' performed on him Friday night
Ihe circumstances surrounding Mr.
Paynters death are most sorrowful. as-
pecially to those who knew and loved
nm best. His Illness was OF short du-
ration, but during it he underwent ons
OF tne most painful and tedious operations
Known IN surgical skill lie was an APP
parently well man on Wednesday and
had only begun to complain on the dav
previous. Tuesday morning he went to
ms once as usuai, and took up his du-
| ties Tor the day. About 10 o'clock an
alarm OF fire was turned IN from Box lg5
ana he responded on behalf OF the Fire.
Alarm Department. Tie returned 10 hIs
once out went on TO his home on west
Main street. lie complained OF teriifo
pans IN his stomach. and Drs Hoge and
hlilsman were called IN. These gentle
men were only short time in discover
| ing that Mr.. Paynter had that dreaded
trouble appendicitis, with, possibly. other
complications. Drs. Hunter and Stuart
| Mcguire were called In.
AN OPERATION PERFORMED
Mr.. Paynter was about O'clock on
Friday afternoon taken TO the Virginia
! Hospital. and at 1880 o'clock that evening
! Dr. stuart Mcclure operated upon tba
| young man, being assisted by his father
/ Inc case was most aggravated one.
pl,a,t,. r.i- ~ was round necessary to make
! te'ecuoh or the lntesunes. This was
| done and LEFT the patient In a fearfuuv
weak condition. Although Mr. Pavnter
rallied to some extent after the onera.
J tlon' there was no time that the doctors
had any hope that he could possibly re-
| cover.
The most ardent sollcltude OF the en-
] tire Fire Department went out 10 the
suirerer, and hundreds OF telephone mes
sases were received at the hospital and
al the departmental headquarters asking
| as 10 the condition of Mr.. Paynter after
1t was known that he was a desparateIy-
| III man. These inquiries came from all
classes and conditions. as the secre-
tary was widely known and greatly ad-
| mired and esteemed by every one with
whom he had ever come I'm contact. The
man on duty at the Fire-Alarm Office
could do little else but answer the phone
questions regarding Mr.. Paynter all Of
| A'N''9 AAbAN d4iA All QdV yesterday.
GREAT SORROW AMONG FIREMEN.
The news OF his death last night spread
| rapidly throughout the entire Fire De-
partment, and many Of the firemen who
were not on duty at the engine-houses
called In person at the hospital to pay
| their respect TO the dead secretary, they
having been denied the privilege OF seeing
him during his brief illness.
Several weeks ago. while at the fire
at the Richmond Chemical Works. MI.
| Paynter contracted a terrific cold and
was sick for several weeks. during
which time his physicians had all they
could do TO ward off a threatening at
tack OF pneumonia. He had lust re-
covered from this spell and returned
TO his post OF duty when seized with
appendicitis. only a few days ago hs
was met by Mr.. John H. Frischkorn.
president OF the Board OF Fire Commls-
sioners, who asked the secretary how
he was feeling. Mr. Paynter repIIed
that he was all right. but that he had
had everything but appendicitis. and he
supposed he would have that next Three
days later the operation was performed
at the Virginia Hospital
SKETCH or HIS LIFE.
MT Paynter was born In Richmond in
May, 1863 and lived here all his lie.
There was no young man In the city
who enjoyed the friendship OF moro peo-
pie OF all classes than he. He was ons
! or the most polite and most .affable OF
| men, and besides this combined the
faculties Of an expert electrician and
book-keeper. His place viii be a difn-
cult one for tho Board Of Fire Com
fhissioners TO mi. He had grown up In
the service, and was familiar with every
branch and detail Of IT,
Mr.. Paynter was educated In the schools
OF this city. and studied his profession az
an electrician under his flther, Mr.. II. j.
NJ Paynter, who was Superintendent ot
the Fire Alarm System hero from 1857
until the time of his death in 1852 He
was first connected with the department.
as assistant to his father In 1875. and suc-
ceeded TO the duties OF secretary OF the
department In 1893, upon the death OK Mr..
| u. II. Fisher When the BOapd OF Fire
| Commissioners was first established here
! Mr.. Paynter was given a place in ths
Fire Alarm Department, which, at that
time. only paid him SO per month. by his
| splendid service, his faithfuness 10 duty,
and mis- unbounded popularity, he was
steadily raised from that sum until his
salary reached slO5 per month. and hs
held one OF the most responsible positions
| In the whole department. He was tho
paymaster OF this entire branch OF tho
municipal government, and the excellent
condition OF his books was a source Of de-
| light 10 every accountant who looked over
them. Every postage stamp that went into
the hands OF Mr.. Paynter ss book-keeper
Of the department was accounted for.
HIS FAMILY.
Mr.. Paynter married Miss Kate Lyn-
ham, daughter OF Mr.. John A. Lynham.
who was at one time United States Mar
shal here The deceased leaves wife
and three children-two sons and one
daughter. Masters George r.. Jr., and
william Harrison Paynter, and little Miss
Lucille Paynter. The shock OF the death
OF her husband was terrible to Mrs. Payn-
ter. She and Messrs. Richard X. and VIII
liam H. Paynter. brothers OF the deceased,
were at Mr. Paynter's bedside when no
passed away.
The Board Of Fire Commissioners VIII
! assemble In the office Of Chief Puller at
! o'clock this afternoon 10 take suitable ac-
ton IN regard TO the death OF the Secre-
tary. Every member OF this body held
| Mr. Paynter i'm highest personal esteem.
and his death was sad blow TO each OF
them. To Chief Fuller, superintendent
Thompson, Assstant-Chief Shaw. and tho
other officers and members Of the DEPART
ment II a. 4 deep bereavement.
The funeral Will take place at IL o'clock
tomorrow morning from Holy Trinity
church, OF which the deceased was
jealous member. The pall-bearers nave
not vet been selected. The interment VIII