The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-11-19
CAPT. JOHN DUCKETT.


Great Shock to Friends
Here and Throughout the
State-Formerly Principal of
Robson Institute-Funeral
Yesterday at Raleigh and Re-
mains Inferred at Apex.
The sad intelligence Monday
afternoon of the sudden death
at Raleigh of Capt. John Duckett
caused universal sorrow in Lum-
berton, where the deceased was
we'll known and loved. For
eight years he was principal of
Robson Institute, and after he
went to Raleigh to accept a
position with the State Depart
ment of Public instruction he
continued to call this place home
and was a frequent visitor here
at the home of his son-in-law
and daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. KIM.
Biggs. The following account
of his death appear in Tuesdays
Raleigh News and Observer:
I'm a moment, apparently in
good health, in the midst of a
group of friends, and with pleas
ant talk going on, Capt. John
Duckett, one of the best-knoWn
educators of the State, connected
with the Department of Public
Instruction, passed away jester
day afternoon.
His unexpected death took
place in the hall on the first floor
of the Supreme Court building,
where he was seated in a chair
near the telephone booth at the
end of the hall opposite the door
leading into the Supreme Court
Library. He had entered it just
a few minutes before a quarter
of three o'clock, and had joined
a group of friends for a moment
of talk before going to the office
of the State Superintendent OF
Public Instruction on the floor
above.
Captain Duckett had just
finished an entertaining reminis.
cence when he suddenly began
gasping. Mr.. Seawell called at.
tention to it pleasantly, when tt
the surprise of all Captain Duck.
EFT pressed his hands about his
heart and moaned: What is
the matter with me?" falling
backwards with his chair. One
of the gentlemen caught him ii
his arms, and with another muir
muir death had claimed him.
DIR. C. A. Shore, who was
near at hand, was the first t.
reach him, and a few minutes
later DR.. ]. R. Rogers, but death
had come instantaneously. It i!
said that the cause was an attach
of acute indigestion and that hls
heart gave way under the strair
upon his system. He had lief
home Immediately after eating
his dinner, and friends whC
walked down the street with hin
say that he was in fine Do rits
and seemingly in the best o.
health.
Today's News and Observer
gives the following account Of
the funeral:
THE funeral services over the
remains of Capt John Duckett
of the Department of Public In
struction, were conducted yester
day afternoon at the residence
218 North East street, and Later
the body was taken to Apex
where the interment was made.
The services at the house were
conducted by DR.. w. c.. Tyree,
pastor eff theFirstBaptist church,
and the choir of that church rem
dered Nearer My God to Thee
and abide With Me-" two ia
vorite hymns of Captain Duckett
There was a large attendance oil
friends, and en- the casket were
beautiful floral designs, mute to-
kens OF respect, love and grief.
There were at the funeral {
large number of Masons upon in,
vitation of Hiram Lodge of thi:
city which acted as an escort t.
the depot. Captain Duckett was
a member of st. Adams Lodge o.
Lumberton.
The pall-bearers who wen
with the remains to Apex were
Messrs. Geo. w. Norwood, B. R.
Lacy, n. B. Broughton, T. W
Blake, T. B. Moseley, A. B. For,
rest, A. T. Horton and John W.
Thompson, the honorary pail
bearers being DR.. C. F. Meserve
I. H. Briggs, E. P. Maynard anc
Z. H. Mebane. In the funera
party were also Hon. J. Y. Jov
ner, State Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction; Mrs. E. R. Car.
roll, the Misses Woodall and 9th.
ers of this city.
Captain Duckett's daughters
Mrs. K. M. Biggs, of Lumberton
and Mrs. j. A. Miller, of Bre.
ward, with their husbands, reach.
ed here yesterday, and were
with the family, all the mem.
bers of which went to Apex,
Mrs. ]. H. Wishart and Miss
Matte Lee Pittman, of Lumber
ton, were here to attend the flu
neral services.
AT Apex the services at the
grave were conducted by Rev. A
d. Hunter, of Cary, a former
pastor of Captain Duckett's, as.
sisted by Rev. L. M. Hobbs, OF
Apex, pastor of the Baptist
church at that place. The ser.
! II