The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-07
JUDGE SCREvEN DEAD
DIED FROM CONGESTION OF THE
BRAIN AND MENINGITIS.
HIS ILLNESS WAS BRIEF.
BECAME IRRATIONAL SOON AFTER
BEING TAKEN I'LL.

ever, WithstoOd the Ravages OF
Disease Longer Than Had Been
Expected-seriOus Alarm Felt by
Friends and Relatives Day Before
Yesterday for the First Time.
Sketch of Judge Screven-His
Business, military and Political
Carcer-FuneraI at $3.50 This At
ternOon From Christ Church.
Hon. Thomas Screven died yesterday af-
ternoon at 1880 o'clock at the
residence of Col. william Gar
day before his life hung by a 'hread.
and constant inquiry was made on the
streets and at the residence by anxious
friends. Frequent reports of his death
were circulated, and the telephone was in
constant use by those who sought to as
certain if the intelligence were true.
Those about the bedside saw that 1t was
but a question of time before the grim
destroyer would take away one of the
most popular of savannah's citizens.
Early in the morning. before dawn, 1t
was thought more than once that
Maj. Soreven had breathed his
last. Each time, however. he re-
vived and It was not until after
noon that the end, which had seemed
Inevitable, came He died peacefully, not
having regained consciousness.
Judge sereven was taken Ill wednes-
day of last week. He was out driving
that day with Mrs. Screven, and evidence
of stomach trouble, from which he had
suffered from time to time. appeared.
Returning home, he secured a prescription
FROM DR.. T. j. Charlton, who first
thought the trouble not so serious as
developments showed it to be- Rapidly
1t grew worse, and Saturday Judge Screw
en- lapsed into Inconsistencies. Never,
it is said, was ne rational after that day.
although he seemed. at times to recog-
nize some of the friends and relatives
who visited him.
Not until Thursday was there
serious apprehension for Judge Sore
ven's recovery. Until then 1t was
thought that a vigorous constitution
would assert itself and that the patient
would soon be himself again. That night
congestion of the brain set in. Early day
before yesterday morning even more
alarming symptoms developed, and menin-
gifts was apparent. The complication was
more than the patient could Withstand,
and during the forenoon 1t was given out
that his survival was regarded but
matter of hours. With strong, robust ma
ture struggling against death and the dis
ease that sought to bring an untimely
end, however, Judge Screven made a
brave fight, and time passed slowly with
out his yielding. At last though, his vi
tally was spent, and death claimed him.
When the news OF his death was con-
flrmed, Acting Mayor James M. Dixon
ordered the flag on the City Exchange
at half-mast IN recognition of the serv-
ices that Judge Screven had rendered
Savannah in official capacities. Maj. w.
w. Williamson gave a similar order for
the flag on the Guards Armory to be
f1oated at half-mast, and, at the police
barracks, the flag was also flown from
half way up the pole.
In the death of Thomas Screven, Sa-
vannah loses one who might have been
named by many as the most popular of
dts citizens. Generous to the few enemies
ne had and true to his friends, he was
abe ideal good fellow With a genial
word and a smile for all, his was a dispo-
sition that could not but win friends.
Judge Screven was born in Savannah
Oct 90, 1857. He was a son of che
late Cob and Mrs. John Screven, the for
mer Of whom died Jan. 8. 1900, being sur
vived only a few months by his daughter
Miss Georgia Soreven. The death of Judge
Sereven is the third in the family within
less than eighteen months.
The early education of Judge Screven
was received in Savannah. Upon COM
plotting his High School course, he went
to the Virginia Military Institute. Upon
his being graduated from that institution.
he returned to Savannah, and soon after
wards entered the employ of the then
firm of Il. r. Bond & Co. In business
he was best known as a fire insurance
man. His first connection with insurance
was through the tariff association then
in vogue, for which he was compact
agent. He formed partnership with
Mr. John +. Kollock in 1892, and the firm
remained unchanged under the name OF
Kollock & Screven, until two years ago,
when Judge Screven's political office rem
dertd is impossible for him to devote his
time and attention to his insurance bust
ness.
For times OF peace. rather a brilliant
military record was Judge Screven's. The
love for arms that was, instilled during
his stay at the Virginia Military Institute,
smpelled him to join Company b, of tho
Savannah Volunteer Guards an organiza-
fiou that his father commanded. Through
all the grades, corporal, sergeant,
lieutenant and captain, he rose
gradually At the outbreak OF the
Spanish war he was captain of Com
pany b. The members of that company
enlisted under him in greater strength
than was shown by any other company
Of the Guards. and Company b, in the
Second Georgia Regiment was the best in
the entire command. After the return
Of the Guards from the volunteer service
of the United States. Capt Screven was
elected major of the battalion, a posi-
ton he held up to the time OF his resig-
nation some months ago. He was always
highly regarded in the corps.
Politically. Judge Screven held many
positions in Savannah. In 1893 he was
elected member of the Board Of AL
dermen that served during the second ad-
ministration OF Mayor John J. Melon
ough He had been elected from the can
didates who ran on the ticket headed by
Col. r.. r. Harmon. He served the term
OF 1S93-1s95. and was reelected upon the
hoard that went in for the term OF 1885,
1887, with Mayor Herman Myers. Prior
10 that. however. he was elected 70 the
state Legislature. representing Chatham
county IN 1s4-1S95. In 1887, Judge Screv-
en- was ON the aldermanic ticket, headed
by Mayor Myers for reelection. Mayor
Peter w. Meldrim was the choice OF the
people. however. and Judge Screyen did
not get IN. In 1899 however, he was again