The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-03
PNEUMONIA
CAUSES
DEATH.
Congressman Cummings Expires
in Baltimore Hospital After a
Surgical Operation.

Baltimore. May 3-Congressman Amos
j. Cummings Of New York died at 1915
o'clock last night at the Church Home
and Infirmary in this city. The cause of
death was pneumonia, incident 10 an
operation.
The Congressmans wife and cousin.
Charles II. Cummings, were at his bed
side when death came.
Congressman Cummings came 10 Balti-
more on April II to undergo treatment
for kidney trouble.
Four days later an operation was per-
formed by DIR. Hugh n. Young and Mr..
Cummings seemed to be on a fair way 10
recovery. A week later. however, pleuri-
sy developed and on April % IL was an
nounced THAT Mr.. Cummings was suffer-
ing from pneumonia In one lung.
Last Tuesday the malady had extended
10 both lungs, since which time Mr..
Cummings has been lowering between
life and death.
Amos jay Cummings was born at Conk-
ling. Broome county, ~. Y, May 15 1888.
His grandfather William, and his father,
Moses. were pious clergymen of the
Christian sect the former being found
er OF his church I'm New England, and the
latter editor of the Christian Herald and
Messenger and the Palladium.
The lad received an academic education.
began 10 earn a living very early by set
ting type In his fathers office at the age
OF l2 and became a journeyman printer
at Is. Starting in New York city. he
worked at the case i'm nearly every city
in the Union, also visiting Canada, Mex
leo. Central America and Europe. In 1857
he was with the Walker expedition at Mo-
bile, and was captured by Commodore
Davis on the Quaker City.
Just before the war broke out he be-
came a Sub" on the New York Tribune.
In 1861 he was sergeant major of the
Twenty-sixth New Jersey Infantry, in
which regiment he served with gallantry.
being officially mentioned for his bravery
in assauting Fredericksburg Heights. His
service ending in 1863. he returned to his
profession and helped defend the Tribune
office during the riot, barricading the
type room with three others and defying
the mob. He was editor of the Weekly
Tribune in 1865, under Gay; night editor
under J. r. Young and afterward city
and political editor.
In 1868 he became managing editor OF
the New York Sun. but resigned in 1873
because OF ill-health and spent several
winters In Florida and California, whence
he wrote 10 the Sun over the name of
"Ziska"
In 1876 he became managing editor Of
request. but resigned after building II up,
because of Kellys hostility to Tilden, and
returned 10 the Sun, whose weekly edi-
ton he edited after 1884 He was chosen
president OF the New York Press club for
two years and then declined reelection.
In 1886 Mr.. Cummings was elected 10
the Fifeth congress from the Sixth, or
Wall street, district. In 1887 he started
the Evening Sun and ran its circulation
up to 600 In a short time. In 1855 he
declined a denomination 10 the Fifty-nrst
congress, because OF inability TO afford
the campaign assessments. but on the
death OF Samuel S. Cox he accepted the
nomination for the vacancy i'm the Ninth
district was elected and has been In con-
gress ever since.
Mr.. Cummings won a national reputa-
ton as a newspaper correspondent and
was useful congressman. AS jour
nalist he was as fearless as he was gall
liant while he wore the Federal uniform.
His reports OF famous murder trials and
other stirring events were vivid pieces
OF work. and greatly increased his fame: {:
while his Washington letters" written
for a newspaper syndicate. have been
printed in nearly every state in the
Union
In congress he held important commit
tee positions. notably on the election OF
president and az the head of the Demo
cratic minority I'm the Fifty-first congress
ON the committee on merchant marinc
and fisheries. He was "A champion OF la
Dor measures. strove actively 10 improve
tho American marine; was opposed 10 the
measure To abolish compulsory pilotage
for coastwise sailing vessels, and actively
supported the life saving bureau and also
measures for the benefit OF postal clerks.