The sun., 1918-07-07

1921 street DIR. Martin Dwyer Of $500
Broadway, a friend OF the family, was
called to attend the Majors mother, but
his services were not necessary.
Mrs. James Mitchell received a letter
from her son at / o'clock yesterday.
after she had been notified of his death.
The letter was dated July l and said
he did not know when he would go to
Frame. He added that he was in
excellent health and in good shape,
Mrs. Mitchell. through Mr.. Bell. said
II was one Of his beautiful boyish let
ters to her, such as he always wrote,
and he mentioned having met Arthur
Woods at Lake Charles June 80 and
how well he had found him.
Within half an hour after Mr.. Hardy.
at the office Of Stanchfield G. Levy, at
1870 Broadway. had set himself to the
task, he began 70 hear from scores of
men that admired the former Mayor
and that expressed the hope New York
would properly honor Mr.. Mitchers
memory.
Mr.. Hardy. therefore. sought at once
to get into communication with Mrs.
Mitchell. but his efforts were unavailing.
The telegraph and telephone companies
reported that a storm in the South had
disarranged and interrupted service. and
Mr.. Hardy's attempts to reach Mrs.
Mitchell either by long distance tele-
phone or by wire had produced no result
up to a late hour. He believed. though.
that he would be able to reach her ear
soon and that she would consent to a
civic ceremony.
In this belief he sent out call to all
former heads OF departments and close
associates who had served during John
Purroy Mitchels administration as
Mayor These men will meet at the Of
flee of Stanchfeld & Levy at 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning for the purpose OF
arranging details OF the public funeral.
Mayor HyIan Approves Plan.
Mayor Hylan made IT plain instantly
he was informed OF Major Mitchcrs
death that the city administration will
be at pains to honor Mr. Mitchels mem
Dry in every way befttin; the late
Mayors character and standing He
approved of the suggestion for public
funeral and of the desire that Major
Mtichels body should lie in state in the
rotunda of the City Hail. where Mayor
Gaynor's lay not so long ago. and he
added
Proper steps will be taken by the
officials of the city and the public gen
orally to pay every respect TO the late
Mayor"
To the five Borough Presidents Mayor
Hylan sent the following message:
II am profoundly sorry to hear of the
death of Major Mitchell. He came of
! fighting stock that did not fear to die.
l differed with him as to the manner Of
administering public affairs. but GER
tainly admired his fighting qualities AS
mark of respect direct that the flag
for which he gave his life be at half staff
on every public building in the city"
To Mrs. Mitchell at Lake Charles, La.
Mayor Hylan sent this telegram:
In this hour OF your great bereave-
ment permit me to extend to you In the
name of the people OF the city over
whom your husband presided the sin
cere sympathy we all feel for you. Major
Mitchel's life was sacrificed in the most
hallowed cause, one for which his fore
bears fought with the valor of their
race. His countrymen will not forget
| him"
And to Mrs. Mitchell. also, went this
telegram from the Association OF City
Hall Reporters. most OF whom had
worked with Mr.. Mitchell for years and
were his personal friends:
Except yourself and John Mitchel's
mother. no one can feel more deeply
what has happened than the reporters at
| the city Hall. who worked with him day
| by day and who came to love as we'll as
! TO admire him, We were proud under
! all circumstances TO be numbered among
his friends. and we are especially proud
that 1t was In the service of the country
he loved that he died Each OF US feels
a sense Of deep personal loss and each
wishes to express to you his heartfelt
| sympathy"
A similar message was sent by the
association TO Mrs. James Mitchell, the
late Mayors mother. who lives at 447
West 1921 street George II. Bell, for
mer Commissioner OF Licenses and num-
bered among Mr. Mitchers closest
| friends. was with the mother most of the
day. He went to her side in response
to a telegram from the widow, a mes
sage which requested him to call at Mrs.
James Mitchers house and to do what
he could toward reconciling her to her
great loss.
DIR. Martin Dwyer OF $500 Broadway
was called to attend the mother, who
suffered from a weak heart. He said
death had been a terrible shock. but that
she was getting along as well as could
BIO expected.
Mr. Bell telegraphed to Mrs. Mitchell
at Lake Charles that he would do all in
his power to alleviate the mothers an
guish, Those that knew OF the fondness
that existed between John Purroy
Mitchell and his mother understood what