The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-02-23
DEATH OF PRESIDENT
JOHN A. MCCALL
LAST HOURS OF EX-PRESIDENT
N. Y. INSURANCE COMPANY.
He Passes Away at Lakewood, N. j.
Whittier He Had Been Taken in
Hope Of Restoring Health
His Faithful Wife at his
Bedside when he Died.

the New York Life Insurance compa-
nv. died at 5:35 o'clock this after
noon, at the Laurel House, in Lake
wood. n. J., where he had been taken
three weeks ago, in the hope that the
change might benefit his health, which
had suffered a breakdown two
months ago. Then Mr.. McCall's son,
John C. Mccall, briefly announced:
'sThe end has come. My father has
passed away
Mr.. Mccall had been unconscious
since about: one o'clock this morning,
except possibly for one brief minute
this afternoon, when his eyes opened,
and he looked into the, face Of his
wife, who was bending over him: He
smiled, and as he did So his eyes
closed again. and he remained in the
coma until the end.
One Of the last persons he talked
to was his old friend: and pastor. the
Rev. Father Matthew Taylor, Of the
Church Of the Blessed. Sacrament, in
West list street, this city. He went
to Lakewood yesterday to see Mr..
Mccall at. the. latter request. Bishop
James A. McFaul, Of the diocese OF
Trenton, arrived, in Lakewood last
evening, but did not see. Mr.. Mccall,
who had long been his friend. This
morning at o'clock tie Bishop
said Mass in the Church Of Our Lady
Of the Lake, at Lakewood, offering
prayers for the recovery of the
stricken man.
Ten days ago MI. Mccall suffered
the first sinking spell of his illness,
and was very low for several days.
Then hei improved slightly. One week
ago today, however, he suffered Sec
ond sinking spell, and his life was de-
SPARED of, but he rallied temporarily.
The report of the Fowler investiga-
ting committee censured Mr.. Mccall
severely for certain acts Of his in
connection with the legislative bu-
reau established by him with Andrew
Hamilton at its head.
An effort was made to keep the con-
. tents Of the report from the sick man,
but learning the statement had been
fled, be worried so much over the
matter that it was decided early last
week to permit him to see it. The
recommendations in the report de-
manding. Of him a fuller accounting
Of the legislative work, than he had
made. are said to have been a crush
ing blow to the company's former
president. He e-declared to his family
and to intimate friends who saw him
that he was determined to get we'll,
that he wanted to live to get himself
right before the American people.
The strain was too much, however,
and from that time Mr.. McCall's de-
cline was rapid.
Mr. McCan's Career.
John A. Mccall was born in Albany
on March 2, 1S49. His parents were
Of Irish extraction, His father kept
~aIittle corner grocery store IN the
district known as Ganier Bay and
was the democratic supervisor for his
ward.
Young Mccall went to the public
school in Gander Bay and served tor
a while as butchers boy in a mar
4 while as butchers boy>in market
in Pearl street. He played first base
on the old semi-professional Live
Oaks base ball team.
He entered business school in
ALBANY and was graduated in 1865.
Two wears later he got place as
clerk in the old Albany State Curren-
cv Asserting House at a salary OF
$50 month. A few years later
friend cot him a job as bookkeeper
in the Connecticut Life Insurance
Company agency at Albany. There
he got his first knowledge Of lnsur-
anee affairs.
In 1869 Mr.. Mccall, then 20 years
old, obtained a clerkship in the ac-
tuarial department of the state lnsur-
ance department under superintend-
ent George ". Miller, a democrat
with salary of 5000 year. In two
years he had. served his apprentice
ship in this department and was put
in charge of statistical work. In
1872 John F. Smyth was made head
Of the state insurance department. he
was a republican and was called upon