The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-11
ANOTHER CHRISTIAN HERO
GONE.
Edito- of The Tribune.

Edito- of The Tribune.
Sir: The many friends in this and
other countries of Mrs. Mary II. Hunt,
the author and leader of the world
movement for scientific temperance ed
ucaton in public schools, will mourn
with her the death which has just oc-
CURED of her only child, Captain AL
fred Il, Hunt, of Pittsburg, Pennsyl-
vania, a chemist and metallurgical en-
stneer of worldwide reputation. The
closest of all ties, a common interest
in noble aims, bound together this
mother and her distinguished son. Be
sides his mother he leaves a wife and
son, Roy A. Hunt.
Although closed in the morning Of
his young manhood his has already
been an achieving life, not only for
himself, but for his country. In the
application of science to the construc-
tive arts, especially in the production
of aluminium by the Hall process, he
has not only won honorable distinc-
ton, but has helped to give the world
q new and valuable metal. For this
and other like discoveries and work,
he was made a fellow of the Ameri-
can society for the advancement of
science; the youngest man who ever
received that distinction. For his essay
contributed to the engineering congress
at the Worlds Columbian exposition,
| in competition with experts from all
! lands, he was awarded the highest
| honor in the gift of that conGress--the
| Norman gold medal.
Although born in Massachusetts and
| educated in her institutions, he early
| made PittsburG his home, where he
was identified with the development
| of some Of the important industries of
| that city. Love of country and the
military instinct matched his interest
| in science, and in addition to his
| crowded life of study and business as
a metallurgical engineer, he organized
| and commanded for nearly fifteen
years a division of the National guards
| of light artillery in his adopted state.
| When war with Spain was declared,
he, with his men, was among the first
| in the field. lie was a born leader of
men, with the unselfishness and per-
sonal magnetism that win for such
| leadership an affectionate and loyal
| following.
The following extract from one of
his letters tells the story that led to
the death of this Christian hero:
IF / only could have banished the
malaria microbes from our camp as !
| did the canteen and some other abuses
| we should have endured unhurt the
/ hardships of Mount Gretna, Chicka-
| mauga, the transport ships and Porto
! Rico, but no man in our surroundings
which we could not prevent, could
breathe and not inhale malaria germs
more To be dreaded than Mauser bul-
let's"
The city of Pittsburg, which went
wild with joy when he returned from
the war bringing all his men with
him, is now plunged in grief by his
death. their loved and honored citi.
zen, as are his many friends i'm this
country and Europe. both i'm and oU'
Of engineering circles. Numbers OF
young men said as they gazed upor
his face for the last time: He was
my best friend: he gave me my frs
start"
Only a few days before he died, il
reply to the question raised in hi'
presence, Were the CuhanS, Port,
Ricans and PHILIPPINES worth the sacri
flee of our noble American soldiers?'
Captain Hunt replied, Il do not lool
at the question from that standpoint
The verdict of history will show tina
the Spanish American war was for tn
advancement Of the principles OF hu
man freedom for which our natioI
stands. For sucn principles, every tru
American should he willing TO sacrifice
if need be, life itself"
= "He as assuredly died for his coun
try as he would have done had he beef
| shot in hattie" " said his Attending phV
sician.
That nation is not in its deCadenc
which can produce such men as Cap
tain Alfred Il. Hunt, and a citizen
shin capable OF appreclating his nobl
qualities and service.
A Comrade in Service.