The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1916-11-29

The Hammond golf course thus loses
one or It's most picturesque figures
He studied the game closely and was
always seeking to improve his game
When his closest friend. A. NJ. Turner.
played golf 1t was a delight to get into
a foursome with them as 1t was Mr.
Gostlin's rare joy to kid" Mr. Turner
on mis- game if he could, and the golf
repartee between the two was as good
as any vaudeville show that ever hap
pened. It was great sorrow. indeed.
to Mr. Gostlin when his poor health of
two years ago forced him to give up
the game temporarily, and his WELL.
HoW's YOUR GAME TODAY" viii be
sorely missed on the local links.
In 1902 Mr.. Gostlin was one OF the
factors in giving banquet to celebrate
Hammond" day and the acquisition OF
thirteen factories. Distinguished guests
were present from all over the region.
Chicago and Indianapolis. Senator
Gostlin spoke on the past and future
of Hammond. That was fourteen years
ago. He depicted wonderful story of
growth and progress from the time
when twenty years before that evening
he mad come TO Hammond--a wilder
ness of pines. Hammond will have
100000 people before many years. 1t
will hum with industry and will be the
Pittsburgh of the west" he said as he
closed his speech amid tumultous APP
plause on that evening.
Mr.. Gostlin was Irisn and he was
proud of IT. He boosted of it and be-
lieved the Irish the greatest nationality
on earth. He could tell more Irish
out of every five Irishmen. Indeed, he
was born .story-teller, and he could
always illustrate his remarks with
would have done this or that He was
as good a "shillelah-swinger as ever
went to a Donnybrook fair.
When he was in the state senate in
1895 Mr.. Gostlin was the delight of
the caricaturists and cartoonists. He
was the cynosure of all eyes on tne
senate floor because he was the best
dressed man on it. He used to wear
striking hats. and the Indianapolis
News artist would draw Billy in a new
front every day. Billy Blodgett for
years would never mention Lake county
unless he mentioned Billy Gostlin. and
no one viii deplore Mr. Gostlin's death
more than his friend Blodgett
Billy Gostlin was a tighter The
blood of the ancient Celts flowed in mis-
veins and he loved nothing better than
good scrap. He took in some of the
big mills in Chicago when boxing was
in it's prime. and Bob F'itzsimmons was
a favorite of his. When Bob came to
Hammond Billy was one of the first to
lamp the spotted Australian. and wnen
he planted his fist in F1tzsimmons' the
worlds champion at that time knew he
had hold of mans hand. Mr.. Gostlin.
whenever there was big mill at any
point in the country. was always the
first to get the news.
For a man who was a much in the
public eye as was Mr. Gostlin, he never
sought publicity. The writer covered
beat in Hammond for fifteen years
and found Mr.. Gostlin reluctant to talk
about himself He mad nose for news
however. and while asking to have no
credit himself. was always ready 10
confide a good bit of news that con-
cerned some other mans good deed
other reporters have had the same ex-
perience WITH Mr.. Gostlin. The late
Tom Sigler called him the reporters
friend" and all the reporters respected
his wishes regarding his aversion tc
publicity The indianapolis reporters
however. discovered his aversion and
used TO delight in writing him up OF
account of II.