Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-24

GORDON BURTON SMITH.
Popular young Atlanta man whose
tragic death IL reported in the Chagres
river on the Isthmus OF Panama.
Gordon Burton Smith, stalwart hand
some young son of Burton Smith, the At
lunta lawyer, nephew of former Gov
IIoke Smith, and grandson of Gen. John
B. Gordon, dead Confederate chieftain and
once governor of the state-Gordon Burton
Smith, aged q, lies drowned at the bot
tom of the Chagres river, in Panama.
The tragic news was received in Atlanta
Saturday morning by telegraph from
New York, where the cablegram had come
from Panama just few hours earlier.
How horrible a blow this will be to the
young mans parents can only be realized
by those who know the family and know
how completely his mother and father
were wrapped up in their promising SON
BY a strange twist of fate both Mr..
Smith and Mrs. Smith are in Battle
Creek, Mich, and very probably have not
heard the dire tiding even when these
lines are written.
NEWS REACHES ATLANTA.
The cablegram was received at Mr.. Dur
ton Smiths Offices in the Frank E. Block
building at Alabama and Pryor streets,
been tapped off the wire four minutes be-
fore. 1t was addressed to Mr.. Smith
himself. Mercifully for him, it was des-
tined that he should not receive the blow
so directly. He was out of the city. His
stenographer opened the message;
NEW YORKy-Ns-Ya Aug. H.-Burton
Smith, SO4 Temple court, Atlanta, Ga;
Regret to advise cablegram from isthmus
saying Gordon B. Smith was drowned yes
10, ~
not yet recovered. Please telegraph
whether you desire his remains, IL recov-
cred, buried on isthmus or brought TO
New York and delivered to you at Allan
ia.
PANAMA RAILROAD COMPANY"
Stunned at first, the young lady telc-
phoned to the office of Smith, Hastings
& Ransom, to reach Gov. Hoke Smith.
the young mans uncle, with the news.
Later she carried the telegram up there
and found the wires busy to New York
end Battle Creek. Mich, those to the for
mer destination bearing the address or
the Panama Railroad company and def
nitey directing that the remains be
brought to Atlanta. II they are recovered.
The dispatch to Battle Creek was d.
rected to the head of the sanitarium in
that city, requesting him to break the
news to the boys parents, using all the
circumspection possible on the under
standing beforehand that it would be q
dreadful blow to them.
Mrs. Smith has been at the sanitarium
for some days. Mr.. Smith, on his way
to the meeting of the American Bar as
sociation in Detroit. had stopped over
there for day or so to visit his wife.
Miss Hildreth Burton Smith. a talented
young lady of is years, is visiting Mr..
and Mrs. orion Brown, at Berlin. y. H.
Mrs Brown is Mrs. Smiths sister. Both
are daughters of the late Gen. John B.
Gordon.
The fact that Gordon Smith was the
only son of his parents. and that there
were but two children in the family,
makes the shock doubly hard upon Mr.
and Mrs. Smith.
WAS GOVERNMENT ENGINEER.
For just about year Gordon Smith had
been in Panama, with the engineering
corps of the Panama Railroad company,
constructing the railway upon the 18TH
mus Until recently he had been located
at San Pablo, but recently he was
changed to the Gatun station Of the COM
pany.
Last Christmas he was at home, spend
ing the holidays with his family. While
here then ne was greeted by scores Of his
parents and his own friends and class
mates.
His father had expected him home again
for short visit last month. but the trip
had to be deferred for a few weeks &c
meet the demands of the company's serv-
Ice He would have been in Atlanta again
for a short stay before the summer was
over, IL the tragedy of Friday had not
cut short his life.
WAS NOTED ATHLETE.
Young Smith was graduated from the
Boys High school in Atlanta a few years
ago. and passed from there to the Tech
biological school. At the latter his stall
wart frame and magnificent physique made
him the handsome idol OF feminine hearts
around football season, when he showed
up at Ills oest on tne gridiron. He was
one of the best athletes the institution
has ever known. But athletics did not in
terfere with his studies. and he acquitted
himself we'll in his engineering course.
Friends predicted brilliant career fol
him. He was regarded as an exception
ally bright and promising young man.
All Of young Smiths life had been spent
in Atlanta, until he left for Panama. In
his childhood days he was one of the
handsomest and sturdiest little fellows IN
St Luke's Sunday school, i'm which
church his parents were prominent work
ers Hundreds knew him, and the SYM
pathy Of a multitude Of friends goes out
to his bereaved parents and sister.