The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-02-19
ALcsS TO THE STATE.
Death Of I; Most Excellent Young Man
Ia Columbia.

! faculty OF the South Carolina col
lege received great shock when it
was announced that Mr.. P. :. Hamer,
of the senior class. had died at O'Clock.
Mr.. Hamer had been sick only about d
week and it was thought that his i'll
ness was only Slight attack Of the
grip. About a week ago he was feeling
! indisposed and went to the intirmar..
He was getting along nicely Gntila few
DAYS ago when lie became very III, his
! left lung being affected. It was then
known that he had pneumonia. yester-
day morning ali hope Of his recovery
was given up. He fingered until |
O'clock yesterday when he quietly and
peacefully breathed his last.
| Mr.. Hamer was d prominent member
OF the senior class and was one Of its
most deserving members. He stood at
! the head Of his class last year and has
always taken Il high stand in his
studies. In the class room he always
exhibited the manifest conduct and
was ever prompt in answering the ques-
tions put to him. When any hard
question was to be answered the pro-
| fessors turned towards .Ir. Hamer and
they were seldom disappointed. On ac-
count Of diligent siudyand meritorious
scholarship hewas awarded the !lalnp-
ton scholarship in his junior year.
| Besides being d splendid student. he
was an excellent college man. He t0oH
| interest in all the student body did
and was prominent in carrying out
projects for the benefit OF the students.
The students. reconiZing his abilities
and sterling worth, elected him to the
highest office in the college, that OF
editor in chief Of the annual, The
Garnet and Black" He held this honor
when death claimed him.
The Clariosophic Literary society, OF
which he was d member, has suffered
an irreparable loss. He was their most
prominent member and took an active
bart in the work. When work OF any
kind was to be done, when any project
was being contemplated, Mr.. Hrmer
was always consulted. He was the
! leading man in his society, which. re-
cogniZing his services, elected him to
! the highest honor, the junior preSi-
dency. He has held numerous other
Offices in the society and represented it
at the celebration Of the college cen
tennial at Charleston. The members Of
this society elected him as an editor OF
the college periodical, The Carolinian,
and for several terms he held this po-
sition.
Mr.. Hamer was also a prominent
member Of the Young Mems Christian
association, having identified himself
with this body as soon as he entered
college. He has held several offices in
this association, and was. elected as q
delegate to the convention which has
| just closed its session here.
AS to his worth, a thorough man, a
| faithful student and perfect gentle
man each and every student OF the
college will testify. His Christian char
acter is shown by his conduct the day
before his death. He having asked con-
cerning his sickness, the matron OF the
infrmary hesitated about telling him.
"You need not hesitate" he said, ''for
my peace is settled. l am prepared to
die, if it is the Lords will. l an young
and love the world, but | am ready, ii
it is Gods will" A few minutes be-
fore his death he shook hands with
those at his bedside, and extending
his hands in an attitude of prayer, ne
said: 20, Christ, receive me into Thy
dingdom.': He immediytely closed his
eyes and breathed his last.
His brother J. \. Hamer. and his
mother, Mrs. J. N. Barrentine, are
the only members OF his family who
are in the city.
Mr. Halner was 20 years OF age the
4th day of December last. He was
born in Clio, Marlboro county, and en-
tered college with the present senior
class the middle term OF their fresh
man year. He has been honoreI and
respected throughout his college
career. both by the students and facul-
ty.
The entire student body met at the
chapel shortly before o'clock, with
most of the professors on the rosrrum.
President Woodward aenounced that
the chaplain, Prof. J. W. Finn, would
take charge Of the services. DR.. Finn
read appropriate lines and subsequent
" offered a most touching prayer in
memory Of the beloved followstudent
just deceased.
President Woodward then in his
most touching style said few words in
reference to the deceased which haG
the effect of dampening every pair Of
eyes and swelling the already full
hearts Of the students.
! DR.. Woodward said, in brief: We
have met here, as professors and stu
dents, Us a college community to do
Our last service as friends OF the de-
ceased. We all feel grief and sadness
on such occasions and at such times
there is little to be said. Only word
| have to say to you. ! went down to
the intirnary this morning to see how
Mr.. Hamer was and found him dying.
BY an effort and no doubt with much
pain to himself he asked, How about
examinations / told him that he had
done we'll on all he had stood. He had
gotten out Of sick bed under an un-
bounded sense Of duty. He has not
Jared worse by it though he is no longer
with us. When he spoke to me knew
that he was passing his last eXamina-
tion and l thought TO myself, Let me
die the death OF the righteous. Peace
to his ashes and to us blessed be his
memory.
DR.. Woodward then explained that
owing to circumstances which delayed
in the preparation of the funeral the
body of the deceased could not be taken
away until this morning: that there
would be no college exercises today and
that he Hoped every student would be
ii the intirmary in time to escort the
body to the depot and thus perform
their last service to their late fellow
student. The senior class was especial
ly requested to be present on this sad
mission.
And then it was announced that the
following students had been appointed
to accompany the body to Clio, where
they could there ''testify to the towns
people OF the deceased Of his worth and
character as noble and true young
man OF the best morals" NeSsrs. j. W.
Brawley and J. \. Stoddard for the
senior class: Mr. Ralph NcLendOn for