Category Archive: Obituary

McCORMICK, Jack – Killed a Policeman. Tampa, Fla., September 26 – Policeman Jack McCORMICK was shot and killed about three o’clock this morning by Harry SINGLETON a notorious negro. The policeman went to the “Three Acres of Hell,” a negro suburb to quell a disturbance and while there arrested Ella FELTON for disorderly conduct. SINGLETON then grabbed the officer around the waist and shot him in the abdomen causing instant death. The murderer escaped. Policeman McCORMICK leaves a wife and five small children. – From the Columbus Daily Enquirer of Georgia, April 4, 1895.

HAZEN, W.P. – General W.P. Hazen Dead. Tampa, Fla., July 18. – General W.P. HAZEN is dead at Thonotosassa after an illness of several weeks. General HAZEN was born in Marion, O., and had reached the advanced age of 84. He was a man of much wealth and the owner of large estates all over the country. – From the Trenton Evening Times of New Jersey, July 18, 1900.

HARVELL, Anna – Death of a Woman Hermit. The death of Mrs. Anna HARVELL at St. Petersburg, Fla., a town on the peninsula between Tampa bay and the gulf, closed a most remarkable career. For twenty years she had been known as the “Female Hermit of the West Coast,” and during all these years she lived alone, save for the companionship of a dog. She shunned everybody, and until two days before her death never gave a hint as to her past. Persons who settled there twenty years ago found the woman then about 35 years old, living in deserted fish camps along the coast, her food being shell fish and other products of the sea. She continued to live thus until two months ago, when she was found helpless on the beach, having been stricken with paralysis. Charitable people bore her to her hut and cared for her. Two days before her death she seemed to be better, and began to talk of her past life. She said that she was the daughter of a prominent Mississippi family but refused to give the name. When about 18 she became the wife of the captain on one of the palatial steamboats that plied the Mississippi in those days. They made their home in St. Louis, and six years after marriage, and when she was the mother of two children, her husband unjustly accused her of infidelity. Maddened and half-crazed by the charge, she deserted her home, her desire being to get away from her husband. She drifted to Florida and led the life of a recluse. – From the Herald Weekly newspaper of Mississippi, September 14, 1895.

CHRISTOPHER, M.J. – Negro Editor Killed – He had Criticised a Police Officer in His Paper. Tampa, Fla., June 24 – M.J. CHRISTOPHER, a negro, who ran a newspaper here, was killed today in a scuffle with Police Officer WOODWARD. WOODWARD last week forcibly vaccinated a negro woman, and CHRISOTPHER caustically criticised the officer in his paper. Today the men met by appointment in a negro restaurant and a fight ensued, the officer beating the negro’s head almost to a jelly with his pistol. The negro pulled his pistol when the officer made his approach, but by some manner it was discharged, the ball taking effect in his abdomen and lodging in his spinal column. The negro population had been notified of the meeting of the two, and a large number of them were on the spot ready for any emergency but when their principal was killed they weakend. – From the Dallas Morning News newspaper of Texas, June 26, 1899.

CATCHINGS, Thomas C. – Young Catchings Dead. Washington, D.C., July 29 – A telegram has been received in this city announcing the death at Tampa, Fla., of Thomas C. CATCHINGS, son of Representative T.C. CATCHINGS of Mississippi. Young CATCHINGS was appointed a commissary of subsistence in the army, with the rank of captain, and left for Tampa some weeks ago. – From the Trenton Evening Times newspaper of New Jersey, July 29, 1898.

CASEY, Capt. – Death of Capt. Casey – This officer of the army, long Indian Agent for South Florida, died at Tampa on the 25^th ultimo. Capt. CASEY graduated at West Point in 1827, and entered the second regiment of artillery. He was appointed commissary of subsistence the 7^th of July, 1838, and served under Gen. TAYLOR in Mexico; but the elevated position of Monterey being very unfavoragle to his disease, he was compelled to seek a residence nearer the level of the sea, and selected Tampa. In 1849 he was appointed United States Agent for removing the Seminole Indians, the duties of which post he continued to perform with the exception of a short interval, until his death, with the strictest fidelity. – From the Daily National Intelligencer of Washington DC, January 12, 1857

BUTLER, Liet. C.R. P. – Death. At Fort Brooke, Tampa, Florida, on the 1st ultimo, of yellow fever, Liet. C.R.P. BUTLER, of the 2nd artillery, a native of South Carolina, and a young officer highly esteemed and of great promise. Upon the death of Gen. Childs and Lieut. Cook at Tampa the headquarters of the troops in Florida was left without an officer, and Lieut. BUTLER was ordered to repair to that post and take charge of the public property there. Followed by much solitude, on the 19th of October he left Charleston. A high sense of duty constrained him to devote himself with diligence to the task, looking after the effects of the two officers who had preceded him, as well as the public property, removing the soldiers from the garrison into camp, and visiting the hospital to see that the sick received proper attention, thus exosing himself to the contagion. On the 22d of October he received a long-looked-for and well-deserved leave of absence, and on the 26th an officer relieved him. The next day he was to take the stage for Pilatka, and in a week would have been with those he dearly loved. Man proposes, but God disposes. During the night he was seized, and notwithstanding the skill and attention of his two physicians, he struggled in vain. – From the Daily National Intelligencer newspaper of the District of Columbia, December 7, 1853.

ATWOOD, Nat – An Unsuccessful Gambler Kills Himself at Tampa. Tampa, Fla., Feb. 1 – Nat ATWOOD committed suicide in a pawnshop this afternoon, shooting himself through the heart. Letters found on Atwood showed that he was under bond for cattle stealing in Texas. He has a brother in Belton, Tex., and anohter at Leader, Indian Territory. With the latter ATWOOD’s wife and three children were staying ATWOOD came here three children were staying ATWOOD came here two weeks ago with $3.00 in cash. He has been drinking heavily and gambling unsuccessfully. Last night he went broke, in a game and it is supposed this caused him to suicide. – From the State newspaper of South Carolina, February 2, 1896.

ARMSTRONG, Dr. Gaston – Death of Dr. Armstrong. It Occurred in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday Last. – Dr. Gaston ARMSTRONG, formerly of this city, a son of the late Gen. James W. ARMSTRONG, died in Tampa, Fla., where he has recently practiced medicine, Wednesday afternoon about 4:30 o’clock of la gripped. He was sick only a few days. Mrs. M.W. VILLEPIGUE, a sister of the deceased, received a telegram Tuesday afternoon saying that he was dangerously ill. She left immediately for his bedside, but arrived only a few moments after he had breathed his last. Dr. ARMSTRONG was about 45 years of age and unmarried. He leaves several brothers and sisters who deeply mourn his loss. The remains will arrive tonight and will be interred in Rose Hill cemetery. The funeral notice will appear in the TELEGRAPH tomorrow morning. – From the Macon Telegraph newspaper of Georgia, January 8, 1892.