1883

The Class of 1883 entered the last chapter of its history at the last Commencement in June when it celebrated the 65th anniversary of its graduation from college.

The ravages of time had left but a very small number of survivors remaining. There were present William F. Carter, president, accompanied by his daughter and husband, of Garrett Park, Maryland, and the secretary Alfred E. Watson of Hartford, Vermont, graduates; and Judge Joseph S. Matthews of Concord, N. H., non-graduate, who matriculated with the class and has generally loyally joined in our class functions, but was forced to drop back to graduate with the class of 1884 because of sickness.

Warren A. Bennett of Gloucester, Mass., and Edgar H. Sinkey of Seattle, Wash., could not attend the reunion on account of physical disabilities and distance, the latter having died since Commencement, his obituary appearing in this issue of the MAGAZINE.

The secretary provided a sumptuous, social lobster dinner which was served at the Hanover Inn, Saturday evening, as the final event of the reunion. '83 was the oldest class represented at Commencement and your secretary was introduced by Sidney C. Hayward, Secretary of the College at the meeting of the alumni and seniors, Saturday noon, as the oldest alumnus present.

It is a doleful fact to relate that of the '83 graduates ten members met with accidental deaths out of a class total of 71.

As a matter of record I will report here the several events according to the best advices obtained.

Rush Chellis in pursuit of his straying cattle sought to cross the Sugar river at Claremont, N. H., while driving in a buggy, was swept away by the swirling waters and drowned.

Sheriff Holman A. Drew, then president of the class, brother of Irwin W. Drew '70, while driving an automobile, was thrown over a steep bank in Dixville, N. H. The bank had been created as a dumping place on the edge of a deep bluff alongside a ravine and the road leading to it was mistaken as the regular highway by Drew. The dump gave away and he was thrown over the bluff in his car, the accident leading to his death.

Thomas M. Edmands, serving as a minister in the locality, broke through the ice on a pond at Wahpeton, N. D., and was drowned.

Dr. Irving B. Hayes, returning from a trip to Point Lomas, Cal., where he took his daughter to enter Tingley School of Theosophy, jumped from a fast moving passenger train at El Paso, Texas and was instantly killed.

Henry B. Johnson, Esq., the youngest member of our class and at the time president, in attempting to shield a woman from being hit by an automobile on a street in New York City was himself struck and died from the effects of the accident.

Edward H. McLachlin, who had chosen teaching and superintendence of schools for his life work, was remaining on the home farm in Peacham, after graduation, was gored by a bull and died from injuries sustained.

Joseph F. Moore in visiting his bank in Minneapolis, Minn., in anticipation of attending a reunion of the class, was run into by a bicyclist and thrown violently down, sustaining injuries which resulted in his death.

Hon. William W. Niles, chairman of the Bronx Parkway Commission, New York, in attempting to protect a woman on a turn on one of the streets of New York City from being hit by an automobile, was himself struck and received injuries from which he died.

Samuel W. Robertson fell down stairs in his home in Santa Barbara, Calif., and sustained injuries from which he died.

Champion Waring, returning to his home in Chicago from an alumni gathering in Wisconsin, was involved in an automobile accident in which he was killed.

Secretary and Treasurer, Hartford, Vt.