Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-15
United States consul general at London
from 1893 to 1897.

United States consul general at London
from 1893 to 1897
The news of the sudden t.cath of their
mayor came as Il trem .ndous shock to
| the citizens of Boston. Mayor Collins
WIS regarded as one of the last mem
bers Of the so-called "Oll school," in
| national life. The general respect in
| which he was held as Ii national figure
was enhanced by the election in which
he was held by the people in Boston
1t is not too much to say that among
Republicans and Democrats alike the
| mayor was esteemed as one of the
greatest men III the civic life of Boston.
Mayor Collins was elected to this Of
fee for two successive terms for two
years each receiving on each occasion
a large plurality Of votes, and it was
generally expected he would again be a
candidate for reelection next Decem-
Der.
AS soon as the fact of the mayors
death was received at City hall. Daniel
a. Whcltor, chairman of the board of
aldermen, and acting mayor. officially
notified Ill the city departments. Soon
afterwird flags were flying at half staff
from all the city buildings and the flags
on many private buildings also denoted
the loss to the city. a special meeting
of the city council has been called for
tomorrow when official action will be
taken.
While the mayors health had not
been Of the best, his only complaint at
times was that he suffered from rheu-
lnatism, but he always looked forward
to his trip to Hot Springs to relieve
him from pain and upon his return to
City hall was again ready TO take up
the rcins of Office.
As he boarded the train ut the south
station the day he started for Virginia
he replied upon inquiry as to how long
he intended to stay away:
81 an going away for brief rest
and will return fully equipped to de-
vote many hours 4 day to the interests
Of the city in which l have lived for
so many years. and which l love so
dearly"
This was the last utterance of the
mayor i'm Boston.
Mayor Collins was born in Fermoy.
ireland. March II. 1874. and was
brought to the United States by his
parents four years later. When he was
l. years OF age he went to work. de-
voting his evenings to study. prepar-
ing for the study Of law. He was grad
uated from the Harvard Law School in
1871. He was member of the state
Legislature in 1863, and the two fol-
lowing years was in the state Senate.
Following his legislative experience in
l., "~1t
cessful candidacy for election to the
national House of Representatives
where he served from 1889 to 1889. In
1892. he was appointed consul general
at London. where he served for four
years. Upon his return to this country
Mr.. Collins resumed his practice OF
law, which he once more abandoned to
become candidate for mayor. He was
elected mayor in 1902 and served sue
cessively from that time until his
death.
For many years Mayor Collins was
active in the Democratic party and was
several times a delegate to the nation
al conventions. He was the presiding
officer at the convention of 1888.
Since the mayor left Boston the only
word that is known to have come from
him was a letter received by friend.
Yesterday. In that letter the mayor
rave no intimation of being seriously
m hut said that he was still suffering
somewhat from stomach trouble.
A widow. two daughters. Miss Marie
and Mrs. Charles Roy Stevenson. and
one son. Paul. survive.
Continued on Page Three.y