The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-04-06
CHAPLAIN
BLAKE IS
SUDDENLY
SUMMONED
TO BEYOND
POPULAR PENITENTIAY OFFICIAL
WHO MINIsTERED TO The sPIR.
ITUAL WANTS OF UNFoRTuN-
ATES STRICKEN WITH ACUTE
INDIGESTION ON WEDNESDAY
EVENING
HELD POST FOR TEN YEARS

The community was greatly shocked
this morning TO learn of the death of
Chaplain John G. Blake, which took
place at his apartments in the admin
istration building at the penitentiary
a little before O'Clock "Wednesday
nj hit from acute in i sestion followed
by an attack of asthma. after an ill
ness of less than fifteen minutes dura-
tion. Although the chaplain had not
been feel ng quite as well as usual
for several days his condition was not
at all alarming, either to himself or
his friends, and 1t was exre tied that
he would be in his usual health in the
course of few days.
Chaplain Blake's failing eyesight
having deprived him OF the compan.
ionship of looks and newspapers he
was accustomed to have some friend
visit him at his rooms ey,1y evening
and read to him; his especial protese
in this RESPECT being Oscar Swan.
son. The latter. however, was not
with him Wednesday evening, his
place on that particular occasion hav-
ing been taken by Carroll Whalen.
After he had listeled to the reading
for some time the chaplain suddenly
became i'll and the boy offered to call
a physician, but the former would
not consent, remark ns that he wouli
be all ri sht in a short time His
suffering increased, rather than di-
minished, and the varlen and prison
n ght CAPITA were call Owe the
l2in's condition The warden respond
ed TO the summons and sent for the
hospital steward to assist in taking
care OF the unfortunate man. The lat
tc- hurried TO tie chapIain's rooms.
and, after getting the patient into bed,
gave him hypcdermic injection of
a sol -tiCn of ssrychnIne to quiet his
condition and then called doctor
The oh Him re marked on being put
into bed ''i hope this is the last"
and few seconds later the eld came
and the spiritual LIE vim ed itself
into the eternity leyond.
Tie phy1ie an arrived a short time
after the chapla ms death and said
that the steward and his assistants
had done everything that could be
done for the unfortunate man and Il at
be would have rr- sc bed and adm n
is e ed the same hyHndermic treat
ment had lie been there at the time.
The body was tiken to Wilson's un-
dertaking tablshn ept TO be pre-
pared for burial and viii remain in
the ch pal there until O'Clock next
Sunday afternoon when 1t i'll lie cen.
veyed to the First p. P.esbyteran church
where the + neral win lie held. The
o sequ es VIII he concu ted ty Rev.
c. T. llsley OF the BAPTIST church, an
int mate COMPANION and associate OF
the deceased. The chaplain had ex-
expressed tie wi to a number of
his friends III in the event OF his
death his funeral service should be
carried out Under Rev. Ilsley's direc-
ton
The deceased had fe"n chaplain of
the Colorado State pen tentiary here
for more than ten years and was very
popular with the officials as well as
the inmltes of the institution. Both
as spiritual advisor and as a teacher
Chaplain Blake's services at the pris-
on were of devoted. con cientious
and appreciated character and he will
be keenly missed by all with whom
he has been brought in contact there
in the roun1 of duty. A man of kind
ly impulses, fine instincts and chari-
table disposition Chaplain Blake
was a favorite with all who knew
him and his death will be mourned
as that of a sincere and interested
friend.
Chaplain Pllke had lived in Colora-
do about Ell hteen years. coming TO
this state from the east to take the
pastorate of the Presbyterian church
at Silver cliT. position he held for
five or six years. He came to Canon
City tep or eleven years ago to ac-
cept the appointment of chaplain of
the reni entilry, an Office in which
he was retained until his death.
Chapla Blake was born at india
n1polis. Ind. Aug. 10. 1877. and re-
ceIved his education in the public
schools OF that city, at Hanover col
lege in Indiana and at a Presbyterian