Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-11
Mayor of New York Ex.
pires Suddenly Near
ing Queenstown.
UP FOR ANOTHER TERM
Planned to Enter Fight on Re-
turn as Opponent of Tam
many Hall Forces.

New York, Sept. 11.-WiIliam ].
Gaynor, mayor of New York City,
died yesterday in mid-ocean aboard
the steamship Baltic, on which he was
passenger for Europe on a vacation
trip.
News Of the death was received
here in wireless and a cable to Rob
ertson Adamson, the mayors secre-
tary, from Rufus w. Gaynor, his son,
who sailed with him. The message
read: Father died Wednesday at l
O'Clock of heart failure. Notify
mother"
Mayor Gaynor sailed from New
York, fast failing man, the morning
Of Sept. 4. An hour before he sailed
but one man, his secretary, knew his
plans outside of members of his i'm
mediate family. The mayors announc-
ed purpose was a brief vacation on
the ocean. He felt the tonic effect of
the salt air would restore him in some
measure to health. The Baltic is due
in Queenstown today. The mayor
died as it was nearing the other side.
COUGHING FIT FATAL.
Lacking details of the manner of
Gaynor's death, his friends believe
the heart attack was brought on by
a return S coughing fits that recurred
ct intervals since he was shot. The
mayor used to speak of the irritation
in his throat as a fish hook" 1t
was the fish hook" probably that
caused death. James Gallagher, who
shot Gsynor- because the latter re-
fused to reinstate him in the New
York dock department, was sentenced
to 12 years. After serving a year he
was taken to the New Jersey state
hospital for the insane, and died last
February. The shooting Of Gaynor
occurred at Hoboken as Gayror was
about to take boat for Europe.
TO run As INDEPENDENT.
Gaynor left New York at a tine
when the city was seething with one
Of the strangest municipal political
campaigns in its history. The day
before his departure he was notified
on the city hall steps by representa-
tives of Independent political organiza-
tions that they had chosen him as
campaign. A throng crowded City Hall
park to hear him accept. He had pre-
pared a speech, but was so weak he
was unable to deliver 1t and his sec
retary read il. The mayor was stand
ing beside him.
The recent attack OF old throat
trouble, due to wound inflicted Aug.
10, 1910, by James Gallagher, just as
he was about to leave the city for
Europe had entirely disappeared. &C
cording to Secretary Adamson, and
the mayor expected to return and en-
ter the campaign with his old time
yigor.
on FIRST VACATION.
The mayor himself, before leaving,
spoke Of his condition as follows: 81
have been nearly four years mayor
and have not had any vacation. !
suppose almost everybody comedies l
may have one now. / was laid up a
few days with sharp attacks | occa-
sioRally have from my mishap few
years ago, but am over it. ! hope
never TO have another" He was ex-
pected to attack Tammany hall sharp
~ politically as soon as he returned
20 the city Before his departure he
issued a statement in which he re-
ferred tC Tammany leaders as mis-
cradle scamps." seeking his moral
assassination" The bullet lodged in
his throat three years ago has never
been removed. His sudden death
leaves only the democratic and fusion
tickets in the field.
MAY NOT FILL VACANCY.
1t is expected his followers will
make no attempt to nominate a can
didate in his place. No other places
on the Gaynor ticket have yet been
filled. Gaynor was placed at the head
Of the independent ticket after Tam
many Hall refused him renomina-
ton. He was TO lead those opposed
TO the regular democratic organization
and yet unwilling to join fusion OF
republicans and progressives. His
standard was the shovel, reminding
the voters of his efforts TO hasten the
building of new subways. The mayor
said ii was also emblematic of his
intention to clean tho grafters out
The passing of Gaynor recalled the
sudden death Of Henry George OF sin
gle tax fame. a third party candidate
almost on the eve OF the mayoralty
election 16 years ago. Acting Mayor
Kline will be chief executive until the
Inauguration of Gayno's successor in
November
BORN ON FARM.
William Jay Gaynor was born on {
farm near Whitestown, n. y, in 1851