The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-20
LIEUTENANT wooTTEN DEAD.
Remains Will Leave Havana We'd
aesday and VIII Arrive Here FRI
day Night-BriIIiant Career of the
tie More Than Three Months Ago.

tie more Than Three Months Ago.
Once more the dying year of 1901
which has brought sorrow to SO many
homes in Wilmington sends the pangs
Of grief to all hearts in our city. This
time it is the death of Lieutenant Brad
ley Jewett Wootten. whose death Will
mington is called upon TO mourn. The
tidings OF the past few days, however,
had prepared his relatives and friends
to expect the sad end but nevertheless,
his death is a great shock to our en-
tire community. A cablegram received
at 8 O'Clock Sunday night from Havana,
Cuba. announced that he died at the
hospital at Columbia barracks. several
miles from that city. on Sunday morn
ing at 10 o'clock. which corresponds ID
Q. m. of the time Of day in Whining
tnn. His father. Rev. Edward Wootten.
of the Episcopal church, left here sat
urday to go to his son. but he had
hardly reached Tampa. Wnen MS son
died. A telegram sent to Tampa yes
teIday, failed to reach him but 1t is eX-
peCted that another dispatch will catch
him at Kew West. Otherwise he viii
sail from there today and reach Ha-
yana this afternoon. in time to come
back with the remains.
A cable message received by the fam
lily here last night from Mrs. Lieuten-
ant Wootten announced that Colonel
Edgerly. L. s. A.. would accompany
her from Havana. and that they would
leave there with the remains on We'd
nesday. They are accordingly expected
here Friday night. The notice of the
funeral will therefore be given later.
The death of Lieutenant Wootten is
s-.--@1l -r;tL -an,,I;1- -nIna-g Ernr tho
fact that his bride of q few months will
lay aside her white robes for the en-
blem of mourning, and the death cuts
ShOrt the career of an ambitious and
promising young officer who had hardly
passed the threshold of manhood. His
death touches all hearts with sadness
and the tenderest sympathy is felt for
his bride widow and the bereaved
family.
Lieutenant Wootten died OF a fourth
recurrence OF appendicitis which first
came on him in the Philippines nearly
two years ago while he was in the mill
itary service of the United States in
that far away land. While on the
transport which brought him from Ma
Mia last spring, he had Il second attack
and after he reached home he suffered
a third attack during the early summer.
It was thought he had recovered. but
eight weeks ago at Columbia barracks.
after he had hardly reached his COM
mand, the fourth and fatal attack came
upon inn An operation was performed
and there were prospects of his recov-
cry but his liver and kidneys became
affected, necessitating a second and
third operation. In the meantime his
wife left Wilmington several weeks ago
and was with him when the end came.
All Wilmington grieves with her in this
tying ordeal and there are painful ex-
pressions of sympathy from all lips.
Tio1tonnnf IVnnttnn Wa the oldest
son of the Reverend Edward and Mrs.
Eliza YOnge WOotten, of Wilmington.
He had just entered the 26th year OF
his age. having been born October 18th.
1876, at Woodville, BERTHE county. North
Carolina. His bOyhood days were spent
at S~tatesville, n. c.. Seaford. Del, and
Bofiver. Tenn, at which places his
father spent some time in his minis
seriaI duties. Ten years g the family
removed TO Wilmington and reside at
No. IL South Third street next door to
st. James church. Shortly after COM
Ing here, Lieutenant Wootten became a
pupil of Professor Washington C3tlett
IN Cape Fear Academy. He hen at
tended a year at HOrner's Military
school, Oxford, N. c., where he made a
Creditable record as a student and was
CndOwed with the military spirit which
leo him fnally into the United States
Army. From Horner's school he went
TO the North Carolina College OF Ag-
rICulture and Mechanic Arts, Raleigh N
c., where, after q course of four years,
he graduated with distinction in 1897.
While at the latter institution he had
the honor OF being cadet major of the
battalion. was president of his class
and was a leading OF the Sigma
M fraternity. While at college he took
i conspicuous part in athletics. and was
highly esteemed and popular with both
the faculty and students
When the United States declared war
With SDain in 1898. Governor Daniel L.
Russell appointed Lieutenant Wootten
sdjutant with rank of lieutenanO of
the Third battalion. Second North Caro-
lima regiment, United States volunteers,
which battalion was commanded by
MSjor John W. Gotten. OF Tarboro,
formerly brigadier general commanding
the North Carolina State Guard. With
some of the companies Of the regiment
lie was assigned to duty al st. Angus
tine. Fla and while there he cotrac-ed
a case of malignant typhoid fever which
came very nearly proving fatal. He
never recovered until his regiment was
mustered out OF service after the close
OF the war.
After being mustered out of service,
he returned to Wilmington. and in jan
ucry, 1899, was made military instructor
at the North Carolina College OF Agri-
culture and Mechanic Arts at Ra-
leigh. In July of hat year, while still
at the a. n NJ. college, the lnSurrec-
lion having broken ont In the Philip
pines, he was appointed to first lieuten-
ant of United States volunteers and was
assigned to the Twenty-eighth infantry
United States volunteers, which was
sent To the Philippines. While there he
saw active service and acquitted him
self with such gallantry and ability in
numerous engagements in he island
OF Luzon that in July, 1900, he was bre-
vttted captain for his distinguished
and meritorious conduct. He was placed
at the head of a hundred mounted
scouts in General Kobbe's brigade. ard
these he led with daring and marked
success. He served in the Philippines
two years and when the Twenty
eighth regiment sailed from Manila fol
home March 18th, OF this year he cam
home and was mustered out Of service
at San Francisco last May. His dis.
charge papers contain a record Of the
nn+iona In urhinh ha n rficinatad an