The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-12
First News of Death on Board
Baltic on Wednesday After
noon Comes in Form Of
Cablegram from Son
SEEMED IN PERFECT
HEALTH UP TO END
Was Found Sitting in Chair
by His Son Rufus. Who
Thought Him Asleep--WhoIe
City is Shocked by News

City Is Shocked by News
NEW YORK. Sept. 11,--Mayor Gaynoi
is dead.
His heart stopped beating at about
O clock last Wednesday afternoon an no
sat in a steamer chair on the promo
made deck of the White Star steam
ship Baltic. which was nearing the
Irish coast.
The oldest or his children. Rufus w.
Gaynor, sent wireless messages almost
Immediately to Robert Adamson, who
was the mayors secretary, and to Dock
Commissioner Robert A. c. Smith, but
delays prevented the news reaching
them until o'clock this morning.
The mayors friends. eagerly begin
ming n campaign which they felt GER
tain would continue him independently
in office, were stunned. The whole city
was shocked by the death. Men who
had been determined opponents of Mr..
Gaynor Joined his friends in rraisinE
his splendid abilities and his services
to the city.
Takes Oath of once.
Colonel Ardolph L. Kline, president
of the board of aldermen. having taken
the oath OF office before Supreme Court
Justice Delaney at 43e o'clock this
rule this city since Seth Lows admins
istration. Mayor Kline at once issued
proclamation, intimated that he
would continue Mr.. Gaynor's policies
and retain Mr.. Gaynors department
heads, and ordered the City hall to be
draped in mourning and the flags on
city buildings to be lowered to half
mast. -----.-----=----------
The frst news of Mayor Gaynor's
death was contained in a wireless mes
sage from Rufus w. Gaynor. Robert
Adamson received II at his hcme In
Brooklyn just before o'clock this
morning. The message was as fol-
lows:
ION board s. s. Baltic, at sea, Thurs
day. by wireless via Crookhaven.
Robert Adamason. New York:
Father died Wednesday afternoon,
one o'clock Death due heart failure.
Notify mother. r. w. GAYNOR."
Late this afternoon. after Mr.. Adam
SON. Dock Commissioner r.. A. c. Smith.
and others OF Mr.. Gaynor's friends and
associates. had arranged to have the
body returned To New York on the
Cunard steamship Lusitania, which
sails Friday morning, and which is due
to arrive here on the morning of Fri
day September 18th, second and a
longer message was received from the
mayors son. which told of the circum-
stances of his fathers death. The mes
sage was as follows;
Rufus Gaynor's Message.
ION board the s S. Baltic. September
IL tBy wireless via London.1- My
father william j. Gaynor. died on the
Baltic at :o7 o'clock Wednesday after
noon Death was due to heart failure.
He was sitting In chair when the
end came deck steward had visited
him few minutes before the mayors
death, and had taken his order for
luncheon. The mayor marked the menu
to indicate the dishes he desired.
II was on the boat deck, When
the luncheon cali was heard I went
below to tell father that his lunch was
ready, as he had been taking his meals
in one OF the staterooms.
He was seated in his chair apparent-
iy asleep. l shook him gently, but he
did not respond. His trained nurse.
who had been with him ten minutes be-
fore, was summoned. and the ships
surgeon. Or. Hopper, was summoned
Immediately. Or. Hopper made a hy-
podermie injection. Then artificial
respiration was restored to. but was
quickly apparent that father was be-
You'd aid The stethoscope showed that
the heart was no longer beating.
THE ships officers took charge Of
the body. IT was en,balmed and
placed In a sealed coffin.
Ate Hearty Breakfast.
"On the morning of the day he
died, the mayor arose about o'clock.
After hearty breakfast he went on
deck and walked about the boat deck
at frequent intervals, keeping in the
sun. He watched the men go through
their fire drill. At about ten min
utes of | o'clock he descended TO the
promenade deck, and went to his
chair He remarked that he felt
very well.
During the voyage his health had
steadily improved and his nervous
ness decreased noticeably. He had
been greatly interested in the ships
daily run, and was particularly eager
10 know fust where the Baltic was +
when the chart in the panionway
was pointed out each noon.
t'On behalf of my mother and my
self, wish to express publicly deep
gratitude TO Captain Ransom and hin
officers fcr Kindness. courtesy, and /
thoughtfulness. / also ac-
Knowledge my debt to the passengers
for their most courteous consider1-
ton at all times in respecting tho
mayors desire for privacy.
RUFUS w. GAYNOR."
Captain Ransom, of the Baltic. the
same Captain Ransom who rescued
the passengers OF the sinking Repub-
lie. several years ago, took charge OK
MIR Gaynor's body. Rufus GayuOrsa
message said that the body had been
embalmed and placed in steel
casket The son expressed hts deep
gratitude to Captain Ransom and the
officers Of the Baltic for their cour~
tesy and helpfuiness.
Coming on Lusitania.
1t was the original intention a. II
Mrs Gaynor and of the mayors
friends, 20 ask the White Star Lane III "
place the mayors body ON the steAM
ship Cedric. which sails from Queene
town this morning. 1t was ascertMtn-
ed, though. that the Baltic 01N1&sfa
hardly make Queenstown before fAo3
Departure OF the Cedric There&QN& y
after = conference. Mr.. 49, Il