The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-13

CHIEF FOWLER DEAD.
Head of the City's Engineer
ing Bureau a Martyr
to Duty.
UNIVERSAL SORROW IN TIE CITY
Public Officials Say That II Will
Be Difficult to Fill His
Place.
UNIVERSAL SORROW IN TIE CITY

morning, at his home, No. 62 Clifton place.
The announcement of his sudden death
was shock to everybody who knew him.
Business men, professional men and poll
ticians alike received the news with pro-
found sorrow, and such expressions as
s'Too bad too. bad" were heard on every
side. 1T will be difficult to fill his place
was a sentiment given expression to al
most universally. His death is the re-
suit of sacrifice he made in the per-
formance of his duty. The breaking OF
one of the East Jersey Company's water
pipes, above Little Falls, on Christmas
Eve, causing water famine in part
of the section, necessitated his pres
ence at the break during the work of
repair on Christmas Day. He was oblig-
ed to expose himself greatly, remaining
out all night in the snow. The result
was the contraction of a cold which
brought on a worse attack of muscular
rheumatism, to which he had been sus-
ceptible for some years.
He was confined to his house for over
a week. but returned to his post of duty
on January q He suffered a relapse and
was again confined to his home Against
the advice of friends he ventured out
Adjustment Commissioners. called to take
action on an important case affecting the
Erie Railroads taxation Reaching his
Office he felt much worse and was obhged
to rethrn home without attending the
meeting, which subsequently was post
poned Yesterday morning he felt much
better, and it was only on the urging of
his family that he remained at home AT
four clock in the afternoon he was sud
denly attacked by a severe pain about
the heart. He suffered intense agony Tor
a few moments and then became un-
conscious. In this state he remained until
within a moment of his death. He then
raised his head from his pillow and called
for his wife, who had but a moment be-
fore left the room to get a cup of coffee.
AS he pronounced her name he fell back
dead.
DR.. G.. D. Dickinson, who was called
after the afternoon attack, remained by
the bedside until one O'Clock this morning.
Early in the evening DR.. Janeway, OF
New York, who had been summoned, ar
rived, and the two doctors held consulta-
ton, and decided that the patient had
little if any chance of recovery. Dr..
Janeway left at nine o'clock. Though not
recovering consciousness, Mr.. Fowler rail-
lied between ten and twelve O'Clock.
The watchers at the bedside, besides the
devoted wife and children, were City Col
lector Simeon Smith, brother-ln-laW
of Mr.. Fowler; Charles Van Keuren, OF
the Engineering Bureau, and Mr.. FoW-
lers secretary, e. F. Grower.
Mr. Fowler was appointed Chief Eng1-
neer on the first Monday of last Novem-
ber Though a Democrat, he was the
choice of both political parties. He had
the confidence OF everybody, and was rap
idly building up that department, and
evolving order out of the chaos which had
been brought about by loose methods:
As soon as the death Of on, Mrc ~ rowier pc
ers ordered the flag on the building placed
at half mast. Throughout the building,
in every office Democrats and Repubn-
cans alike gave expression of their sor-
row. Mr. Fowler was respected and ad-
mired by everyone. In speaking of his
death Mayor Hoos said:-
Jersey City has lost an official OF whom
she was proud. He knew only duty, and
had he lived our city would have been
a large gamer. Public work would have
been done according to speclncatlonsS;; ms;
and our city would have shown the effect
of his work. Where we will be able to
find a suitable successor DO not Know
He took pride in his office and it is with
regret that I know his illness was con-
tracted while serving the city. He caught
cold at Little Falls when the East Jersey
Companys water ~ PIPE fet sF,ee e raorfed FOR for
duty against the advice and wishes OF al
the city officials. His death is great
loss to the city
said Robert Davis. He was a manly
man and an intelligent one ie was
thoroughly. competent and from Wnat 81. /
can learn had inaugurated system Tor
the doing of public work which would
have been beneficial to the city. His
death was a great surprise TO me. he
died through serving. the city too well.
To find a man equally competent IS, to
nv mind out of the question The mem
bers of his family have my entire SYM
pathy. The city will mourn nt with ,neint men,
man. said President BoltWood OF the
Street and Water Board "As an official
he had no equal. he thougnt o. Oily ms rs
has worked day and night to formulate
plans for the doing of public work. He
was a competent man, ana one WI WHO Would
in good shape The bureau, before he
took charge, was in fearful state, and
he was just now getting it in shipshape.
we have lost great adviser and the city
has lost it's best public servant
s'The death of Mr.. Fowler is a great
blow to the city, said Commissioner
Heintze. ssHe had made great plans for
carrying out public improvements this
sprirls. He worked day and night He
had surrounded himself with competent
assistants and had adopted new rules for
the management of public affairs He
had a thorough system and one which
would have benefited the city greatly.
IT am afraid that we will not be able
TO find a man who will be capable of car
rying out Mr.. Fowler's plans. He served
the city too we'll His death resulted from
a cold contracted while performing his
duty. The city has suffered great loss"
The Street and Water Commissioners
will hold special meeting tomorrow
morning and pass resolutions OF con-
dolence.
Engineer Edlow Harrison. speaking of
Mr. Fowler's career this morning, said:-
Il have known him since about 1871 He
was then assessment clerk under one of
the old Boards of Works. He was the
best clerk the city ever had He was
Thoroughly posted on the duties Of his
office and no man better understood the
relation of JERSEY City improvements to
the property owned by its citizens. He
was an excellent engineer, and had ac-
uuired a thorough knowledge of the class
Of improvements that should be made.
His Judgment was excellent. He was al
ways honest and fair.
Lucien D. Fowler was born in Norris
Vile New York, forty-eight years ago.
He came to this city thirty years ago.
then a young man of eighteen years. His
first position was that of surveyor for the
he was made an assessment clerk under
one of the old Boards of Works. This
was hack in the seventies. He was made
clerk of the Adjustment Commissioners
when they first organized under the Mar
tin Act In 1885, In 1874 he married Miss
lector Simeon H Smith She and two
children, one a grown son. Kenneth, who
iss In sthe law office Of McGee & Bedle,
and Miss Adele, an eighteen year-old