Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-11-16
CAPTAIN PORTER DEAD
VICTIM OF PNEUMONIA
Popular City Clerk Expired a
Home Last Night
ILL ONLY FOR A WEEK
llness Not Regarded As Serious AS
First, But Gods Finger Touched
Him And He Sleeps.

The cold hand OF death last night
claimed one of the most widely known
citizens, and perhaps the most pop
ular official ever in the city govern
ment, when Captain Philip E. Porter,
for many years clerk to the City
Council, Fire Marshal of the volun-
teer fire fighters. and a prominent
lodge man, died at his home on Ship
wright street. following a brief ill
ness of pneumonia, complicated with
heart trouble.
Captain Porter was 5S years old
and unmarried For many years he
had made his home with his niece, the
wife of Mr.. Louis Hopkins Captain
Porter was first taken sick on We'd
nesday week ago, when he suffered
a congestive chill while attending to
his regular duties at his office in the
Municipal Building. He was COM
PEELED to go to his home and take to
bed, although it was not thought at
first that his condition was serious.
He gradually became worse, however.
and finally his illness was diagnosed
as pneumonia by the attending
physician, although the attack was re-
garded as of a slight nature His con-
dition caused much alarm among his
friends, although they, as we'll as the
attending physicians fully felt that
he would be able to overcome the
ravages of the malady Yesterday
afternoon, however Captain Porter
suffered a severe sinking spell and
his condition grew worse rapidly
Finally, at $50 o'clock, Gods finger
touched him and he slept
The fatal illness of Captain Porter
is traced by his friends to a trip which
he made up the Severn river in his
new motor boat on Saturday. Novem-
ber g. With several of his friends
he made the trip to give the boat a
tryout. 1t was a mild day. and Cap
tain Porter made the journey with
out wearing his coat On the return
trip, however, it began to grow cold
and Captain Porter was urged to get
into his coat, which he did He suf-
fered no i'll effects on Monday, nor on
Tuesday. which was election day and,
according to his usual custom, he re-
manned out until an early hour We'd
nesday morning, until something
definite concerning the result of the
election in the State and county had
been received. He went to his Office
as usual, and along about noon he
suffered the chill above referred to,
and was conveyed to his home and
went to bed.
He was a member of Chesapeake
Masons. Knights of Pythias, and the
knights of the Golden Eagle, in all
of which he had taken an active and
prominent part, having held a number
of important Offices Mr. Porter
came into his title of Captain by rea-
son of his service as commanding Off
Ger of Company G, known as the old
Governors Guards" of the Maryland
State Militia He was always fond of
the military, and only recently he was
designated by Governor Harrington to
organize the Annapolis company of
the Second Maryland Regiment, more
commonly referred to as the Home
Guards" and he had manifested a
keen interest in securing members for
this organization.
| Captain Porter was a man beloved
by everyone who knew him. II was
never too much trouble for him to do
one favor, and he gave over much
of his time in looking after the wants
of others. He was a man of very
charitable disposition, and was ever
ready to help along this line AS
clerk to the municipal government he
was perhaps without peer in such a
position. He possessed a wonderful
fund of information pertaining to the
affairs of the city, and was remark
ably prompt in furnishing data to the
multitude of persons who besough:
him.
The whole city is plunged into sor-
row over the death of Captain Porter,
and host of friends in the State also
mourn his loss.
Captain Porter was brother of the
late Major James c. Porter. who also
/ was an officer of the Maryland Ma
tional Guard. His nearest relatives
are brother, Mr.. George Porter, who
lives al Roland Park, Baltimore, and
a sister. Mrs. Samuel Carr, of the First
District of this county
Out of respect to the memory OF
Captain Porter. the quarters of the
Independent Fire Company, Of which
he had long been member, have been
draped in mourning. and the national
flag is displayed at half-staff in front
of the building.
Announcement is made that the
funeral will take place from the First
| Methodist Episcopal Church on Sun
day afternoon at 230 o'clock. Repre-
sentatives Of the several lodges, tc
4 hfa1a 4fa Ia1oarx.I t,or1-~~0l -