The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-08
JOHN L. RAPIER DEAD
MOBILE AND ALABAMA LOSE PROM
 INVENT CITIZEN.
President of The Register Publishing Company Passes to the Great Beyond After Long and
 Notable career.
Advertiser Bureau,
 Mohila May


 Advertiser Bureau,
 Mobile, May '.
 At 2:45 o'clock this morning Col John L. Rapier, President of The Mobile Reg ister Company, passed away. his family and relatives being at his bedside. White it was known for two days ka' had taken a turn for the worse, 1t was not then thought the end was so near, as he had repeatedly in the past thirty days had sinking spells and then ral- lied. His family. except Mrs Rapier. had retired. and when the nurse dis covered that dissolution was near, she notified Mrs. Rapier and she. in turn, summoned the other members of the family hastily to the bedside.
 In the passing of Colonel Rapier, Mo bile loses a staunch friend and progress sive citizen. He counted his friends, not on his fingers. but by hundreds and thousands, not only in this city and county. but in the State and over the country. No enterprise was offered to this city but that Colonel Rapier en- couraged 1t. He thought of the up- building of the city, and when he went out to lend a hand in an industrial movement it meant much for the suc- cess of the enterprise.
 Colonel Rapier married Miss Regina Demouy. who survives him. The chill dren of the issue are Paul w., John B., Rex G., James G.. and Miss Regina Rapier besides other relatives. A brother, Thomas G. Rapier of New Or leans, was present at the bedside when death came.
 Colonel Rapier was member of Henry St. Paul Camp, U. c! V., New Or leans; Camp Raphael Semmes, U. c. ". Mobile; Council Catholic Knights of America; a trustee of McGll Institute and some time member of the Strikers and the Order of Myths.
 The funeral will take place Tuesday morning from the Cathedral of the Inn maculate Conception with solemn re- quiem mass.
 John Lawrence Rapier. President of The Mobile Register Publishing Com pany, has had an interesting career, both in war and peace. His father Thomas G. Rapier, was born near Bardstown, Ky. and married Evalina, daughter of Pierre and Agnes (Krebb) Senac of Pensacola, Fla. He was one of the children of this union. He was born at Spring Hill. Mobile County, Ala, June IS, 1872, and after the usual educational routine decided to Identify himself with commercial interests.
 He was a clerk in New Orleans when the war broke out. He was at this time not l9 years old, but enlisted in the Chasseurs- a-pied under command of Henry St Paul and proceeded ,tc Pensacola, going from there to the scene of hostilities in Virginia. After the battle of Seven Pines MT. Rapier was made Sergeant Major of his bat talion and a month later was promoted to Adjutant. He participated in the battles of Second Manassas, Sharpsburg and Fredericksburg. after which he was transferred to Southeastern Virginia. He took part in the siege of Suffolk and taI in other ments.
 In December. 1863, he was ordered 70 Richmond for examination to enter the regular service of the Confectionery and was commissioned. He was assigned to service at Drewrys Bluff, below Richmond. and afterward at Mobile. He was captured at Fort Gaines in the Federal attack of August 5. 1864. He was sent to Imprisonment at New Or leans and on the night of October IS, he. together with twelve others, made a sensational escape. After experience ing great hardships he finally reached Mobile, to which place he walked, where he was given command of two guns on the gunboat of Captain Fry, the famous Confederate naval officer. who in years after lost his life at the hands of Spaniards at Santiago. He served in this capacity until the boat surrendered on the TOmbigbee River, April 21. 1865. just four years after the date of his enlistment.
 MT Rapler was never struck by bullet during his service. but there were twenty-six bullet holes in his clothing and he was twice captured. being once rescued by Confederate cav airy and once making his escape, as related.
 After the war MT. Rapier entered the newspaper business at Mobile. where he achieved a conspicuous success.
 During President Clevelands second administration MT. Rapier was appoint ed postmaster at Mobile and rendered service in that capacity notably effi- cints