The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-11
SANG SONG ON 1isS ,
HIS DEATH BED
Joined With Married Daughter In
Grooming a Little One to Sleep
Suffered Of Bright's Disease
and Asthma.

O11leCCOr TANK W. OunAhhS5 hSAA ~
and hushed for all the years to ne
come the music of this sympa- bc
thetic official, who in his time had SO
sung gratuitously at thousands OF
funerals. a.
The end came shortly after D ii
o'clock at his home, 1908 West c
Grace Street, with nearly all the a
members of his loving household e
at his bedside, and a neighbor- -
hood physician, DR.. w. B. Robin +
son, in attendance. DR.. Manfred 9
Cali. who had ministered to Cap
tain Cunningham during his last
illness, was also hastily summon
ed. but arrived at a time when
human assistance was useless.
While the news of the City Col
lector's death will come as a dis
tinct shock to thousands, those
who have kept in touch with him
for the last week or more Will not
be surprised. For several days |
past he has been desperately SICK, |
and Yesterday his symptoms
particularly his asthmatic breath
InQ-pecame alarming.
His end is attributed to a COM
plication of diseases, which were
much aggravated by intense ner-
vousness and greatly increased by
his unspeakable anguish at the
recent charges launched against
him in connection with the con-
duct of his office.
But for these charges and the
worry they caused him, Captain
Cunningham would be alive and
reasonably we'll today. 1t had
been an open secret for many
months past, however, that ne
suffered from Bright's disease
which at one time greatly wreck
ed his health, but within the las
wear or so he had noticeably raj
lied from this trouble.
CAPTAIN Cunningham's dissolu
ton was not without physical a
well as mental suffering, and n
probably realized that his en-
was near. A short while befor
his death, when the battle for III
was being waged against terrlbl
odds. he remarked to his son, Go
bert Cunningham: My bov,
believe am going this time. y
was the strange action of h
heart which doubtless prOmptt
this remark.
Sang to Grandchild Last Night
To the last, however, he w
apparently conscious and respo
sive to the gentle ministratlons
those who lowered about hi
And it will always be melodlo
memory to his daughter, M
Elijah Baker, that only last mig
he Joined with her in singh
hymns when she sought TO
her little child asleep. Some
the words of these deathbed lul
bvs will ever remain in her mi
and even now she can hear b
SINGING Down in the Val
With MY Saviour I Will Go.
CAPTAIN Cunningham loved
little child, and it delighted
to cuddle up infant ana CT
it to sleep.
The one GomInaung ch3r"cler
of the departed city Collector
his amiability and kindly atutuue
rwards his renow-men. lie abho
friction and controversy. but II L
exargeratiOn to say that ms soul
imbued with Il purpose 10 nSn'
finish the recent charges when
tIoned his method of handling
funds received in his official
pacity. Ill. y. Ia,
hts he'd too i'll almost TO lift his
10 axDreSsed his desire TO come
and meet his accusers. IL wa
source of the sorest regret 10
that he could not appear in p'
at the hearing before Mayor
ardson last Tuesday, and spe;
through his counsel, Messrs. ORE
~ a. Fulton and Kirk Mathew
announced in no uncertain term
purpose to face the issue squar'
Intended to Seek Another OH
To his pastor, the Rev. DR.. G
w. Mcdaniel. of the First Is
Church, he declared yesterday
he was perfectly willing, as So
he could honorably do so. to 81
the city collectOrship, but that !
his intention TO seek another el
nv this he meant that h
wearied of the grinding eXactlC
the collectorship. but intend
snow those hostile TO him IN
still had legions of friends VINO
support him at the polls.
SO far as the city collectors
Richmond Is concerned. 1t will
likelihood be decades before II
sitiOn Is mentioned without
thought of Frank w. Cunnin
He stamped it with his indvi'
and put on it the imprint of h
generous nature. The office
created by the Legislature of Is
and its first incumbent was J'
Regnault. He was succeeded
lett r. WOodson, who in tur
succeeded in 1888 by Captain
ningham.
Since then the departed offic
been repeatedly elected and OF
or three times did he encount
opposition. He was regarded a
tically invincible when he we
fore the people. Richmond co
forget the mans loVable qua