Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-17
MAI. GARDNER DIES
At CAMP WHEELER
Former Massachusetts, Congress.
man in Military Service
Has Short Illness.
100 PER CENT. PATRIOT.
Fought for Preparedness for Years.
Gave UP CoIoners Rank to he
Major So He Could Go Abroad.

macon, "a, Jan. 1f.-MdJOT augustus
Peabody Gardner of the 121st (second
Georgia) Infantry. for many years con-
gresham from the sixth Massachusetts,
district, died at the base hospital at
Camp Wheeler late to-day of pneumonia.
He had been i'll only few days.
Mrs. Gardner arrived yesterday from
her home in Hamilton, Mass, and had
been almost continuously at her husbands
bedside until late to-day when she COL
lapsed after the major became uncon-
scious. Her condition was such that she
was moved to her hotel, where she re-
ceived the news Of the DEATH She is to-
night under the care Of a physician.
Major Gardner contracted a severe cold
two weeks ago. when he accompanied his
battalion to the rifle range and pneu-
monia developed.
The body will be sent to the majors
former home at Hamilton, but probably
not until after the arrival from WASH
ington of Senator Lodge, father of Mrs
Gardner.
When Major Gardner resigned his
seat in Congress soon after the out
break Of the war to offer his services
In the nations fighting forces he was
commissioned a colonel and assigned to
staff duty. but several weeks ago he
applied to the war department for a
place In the line with reduction in rank
so that he might see actual service
among the men. His request for an
appointment as major in the 121st IN
fantry was granted. Before given that
assignment Major Gardner was adult
ant of the 31st (Dixie) division at Camp
Wheeler.
The former representative was pop
,yor mi hnth ho NJ
While at camp he attended several
he discussed war problems and urged
the fullest support for President vii.
son and the government
Mayor Toole Of Macon tonight Is
sued a proclamation ordering all flags
on public buildings placed at half mast
and requesting all business houses to
lower their flags at half mast out of
respect to the dead officer
Major Gardner was the second Of
ficer to die at the Camp Wheeler hos
pital. The other was Major Well of
New York head Of the hospital medical
department.
Boston, Jan. 14-After continuous serv-
ice OF Is years as representative from the
fifth congressional district OF Massachu-
sets, Augustus p. Gardner resigned last
year when war was declared, to enter
the United States army. For years he
had fought for national preparedness. for
a bigger army and bigger navy and when
this country became involved In HOSTILE
ties he gave prompt and practical demon
stration of his patriotism. In the Spanish
American War he served as captain and
assistant Acknowledgement on the staff
of General James II. Wilson. and there
after waged a determined fight In and out
of Congress for the development OF Amer
lean military and naval forces.
Since his graduation from Harvard In
1886 Major Gardner had devoted the
greater part of his time to politics. Elected
10 Congress- in 1902 to Ill vacancy caused
! Inv tbe retirement of William II. Moody
he was nominated to succeed himself In
each succeeding campaign and was elected
by large majorities over his democratic
onnonents Only once was his political
program varied, that being In 1913 when
Pho was the republican nominee for gov
ernor against Eugene Noble Foss. Foss
was elected. but the campaign did not
,ntorr,,nt cardners term In the national
House of Representatives,
Af,ar toininc the army last year Major
40 rdnar WAS commissioned a colonel, but
at his own request ne was reduced to
major In order that ne might ne sent to
France for active service III .he heid' This,
his friends said. was characteristic or the
man and In keeping with the doctrine he
long had preached In favor OF universal
military service without thousht OF per-
sonal reward or favor