The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-24
Jno. H. O'Rourke, Former Baseball
 Star, Passes Away
Brother of James H. O'Rourke and Formerly a Resident of This City Mourned by Many Friends Here = Had Been B Years in Railroad
 Service

" ears In RallfOdu
 Service
 John William O'Rourke, brother of James H. O'Rourke, and like his broth | CT one of the former great stellar t! lights in the baseball Armament, died suddenly yesterday at the South Ter minal station in Boston. Having been | a sufferer, but in mild form. with l indigestion, he was seized with an acute attack of the malady while at work yesterday, succumblng almost | immediately.
 MT. O'Rourke who for the past 50 | years had been baggagemaSter of the i Bay State Limited'', left his boarding house in Boston at g o'clock in the morning. His train was due to leave Boston for New York at 10:03 a. m The last piece of baggage had been placed in the car, when he was noticed to grow weak and fall backward. Eel low workmen rushed to his side pre- venting his fall A physician who was about to board the train noting the ex- citement came to his aid. He pro- nounced the case hopeless, MT. O'Rourke expiring almost immediately: EInformation of his death was sent at once to his brother in this city, who went to Boston and returned with the
 
 ing.
 MT. eORourke was in Bridgeport for the last time on last Monday, stopping at the home of his brother in Penn broke street. The next day from Bos- ton he wrote that a physician who was treating him for indigestion, pro- nounced that he had a mild attack Of ptomaine poisoning. He wrote that he would not come to Bridgeport on Wednesday, but if he felt well would come here on Friday, yesterday.
 News of his death was received ln this city yesterday afternoon With m tense regret Especially well known to the older residents of the city, he made friends with whenever he came in contact. He was beloved by his relatives and looked upon as brother by railroad men. He was a memper of the Brotherhood of Railroad Tram men and on many occasions had rep resented that body in their annual ses- sions, being chosen among all others because of his true manlineSS and ,in- tegrity
 The life of baggaemaster had pe- culiar fascination to him. He had followed the life of a railroad man for over 45 years, starting at the work when but a young man. So satisfied was he with his work as baggagemas- ter that he had declined offers to work as conductor and also as master of the South Terminal Station in Bos- ton.
 He was a native of Bridgeport, a son of the late Hugh apd Catherine O'Rourke, being born in East Main street about 62 years ago. His early education was received in the old Waltersville school and in the pri- vate@ schools of MT. Day and of MT. Selleck. Being of robust physique, his mind turned to athletics, where, |, Of tional repute as a. baseball player. When a young man he was a mem Der of the old "Pembrokes" which had such men as Jack Delehanty, Jack Cleary, William Hickey and Jim Casey, the last two still living. The "Pembrokes" played about Bridge port, at the time when baseball was in it's infancy. Then MT. O'Rourke joined a stronger local club, the sT B. F. U. s.. The Bridgeport Friendly United Social' club, which had such cracks as Matty Ward, Jim Sullivan came famous as pitcher with the Chicago Nationals. His first out-of- town engagement was with the Man. chester, N- H., team which was in the New England league. He played with that club in centerfeld for two seasons, 1877 and 1878, his. work at tracted the attention of greater base ball managers. In 1879 he joined the Boston Nationals under the leader ship of Harry Wright. In 1880 the Bostons presented one of the most unique combinations ever seen in baseball, two brothers playing on the same big league club. Jim ORourlle joined the Bostons in 1880 and played left field beside his brother in cen ter. In 1881, John joined the Metro American Association. Jim went to Buffalo which was in the National league, managing that club for two seasons, 18S1-S2. Both the National league and the American association played at the old 10th street grounds. In game on Athletic field in Philadelphia against the Athletics, John O'Rourke drove a ball over the center. field fence striking a steeple on the opposite side of the street. It is said that the drive was the longest hit ever made in baseball. John quit baseball in 1882. He met with a series of accidents that season, and rather than have permanent injufias lett the game, ending a baseball career which was to win for him con- t1nued national fame.
 While a ball player he was employ ed with the railroad. He was a close personal friend of the late Col. Twill liam stevenson, president of the old Housatonic road, and every summer obtained leave of absence to play
 
 He never married His home has always been at the old O'Rourke homestead at 666 Pembroke street with his mother until her death about three years ago, since which time ne has resided with his brother.
 MT. ORourke was a clever politi- clan. He was a believer in Jeffer- sonian policies and was close per- sonal friend of former Judge of Pro- bate Morris B. Beardsley. His party honored him with an election to the Board of Aldermen from the Old Sixth Ward. He served under Mayor P. T. Barnum. Barnum always re- ferred to his council, as his menagerie, being composed of unruly members, most of whom differed politically
 He was powerful man standing just half an inch short of six feet in heighth and weighed about 225 pounds He was splendid type of manhood, looked up to and admired He was a good liver never touching a drop of liquor since early in his teens. Strong, healthy and robust he was the last man one would expect to be taken off so soon.
 The dead man had been planning to take three months vacation, to be spent in travel about the year. He had often spoken about retiring at the end of this year and to take up his permanent residence in this city. It is estimated that he was worth at least half a hundred thousand most