Letter From Hugh C. Scott
This letter was written by Hugh Scott to his brother George Scott and the family in Ashland regarding the death of their brother, Frank Hall Scott.
Atlanta, Ga.
Dec 7th, 12
Dear George:
I have been intending to write to you for several days but have been rather busy. However, I should have strained a point and written before as it occurred to me yesterday that you all in Ashland probably knew nothing of the particulars of Frank’s death.The immediate cause of Frank’s death was Angina or Angina Pictoris. This is some sort of trouble the symptoms of which are very severe pains in the chest and fore arms; and I imagine it must be some sort of pressure on the heart and in some cases causes death. I did not have much opportunity to question any one about the disease. Frank had been in a poor condition physically for two years or more. The trouble seemed to be his nerves.
After his return from China he felt quite well for a time but when he had settled down to business his nerves bothered him again.
He had been home for about two weeks previous to his death but whatever that particular ailment was, it had nothing to do with his death which was entirely unexpected and unlooked for, but owing to his general poor condition he was not able to live through the attack of Angina. He had one attack of this about nine o’clock Monday morning and the doctor pulled him through that but in about an hour or perhaps less he had another attack and died before the doctor could reach him a second time. The attack came instantaneously, he threw his head and arms back, cried “my God!” and was dead in a short time without speaking again. It was very sad indeed and a tremendous shock to the family since as I said they were not anticipating his death or even a second attack of the trouble – at least not any time soon.
Of course it was impossible for either mother or Hattie to attempt to go on to the funeral but fortunately I was able to leave and I have felt very thankful that I could be with the family since no other member of the family was there. The funeral could not well have been put off longer than Wednesday as the next day was Thanksgiving day and the church was to be used for services, and the boys felt that to wait until Friday would be too great a strain on their mother. I bought some flowers after arriving Wednesday morning and Julia appreciated them so much. A card was attached reading “from mother Hattie and Hugh.” Julia referred more than once to mother’s flowers and place one of them in Frank’s hand. She also took one from those Annie had sent and placed that in the casket. All of the family were as kind to me as possible and I was continually thinking how almost Providential it was that I could be with them as my presence was very consoling to them all.
Julia and the others bore up well and Thanksgiving morning, the day after the funeral, kept up remarkably well until the afternoon when her brothers and her sister came and also when I came to leave when she had quite a crying spell. However, I think she will get along all right. I could not stay with them long and in fact did not feel that it was a time for a visit, and left for home Thursday afternoon at 4. 30.
I was anxious to get back also as I was worried about mother and Hattie but they are bearing up well. George, we have a wonderful mother and we must now do all we can to make her life as cheerful as possible. She will miss Frank very much; he was the pride of the family and a man who had made a large place for himself and which he filled nobly. The New York Post published a long review of his life and if we can get some more copies of the paper I will send you one.
Please show this letter to Will and the others as I may not have time to write at such length to any of them soon.
With much love to all of you,
Your affect. brother,
Hugh
