Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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THE INSTRUCTORS.

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S cu uyyi Smithy SPh. On the morning of Tuesday, May 3, both instructors and students were startled and shocked by the tidings which rapidly spread that Dr. Smith was dead. On Monday he had attended to his duties as usual, hearing the Senior class in the morning, the French of the Middle class in the afternoon, was present at a Faculty meeting later, and in the evening was at the meeting of the Society of Mechanical Engineers at Salisbury Laboratories. About nine o’clock he was seized with a sharp pain in his chest, became very pale and faint. After a few minutes, he rose and left the room. His nephew, Mr. Louis C. Smith, followed and assisted him—indeed, for the last of the way quite carried him to his house. A physician was quickly summoned, the remedies tried eased the pain, and he was for a time cheerful and apparently comfortable. No serious issue was apprehended. But about half-past eleven the sharp pain returned, the physician was again called, but before the latter could reach his bedside he suddenly threw up his arms and almost instantly expired. A disease of the heart which must have been making progress for months, if not years, cut him off thus suddenly. The funeral service at his late residence on Thursday, May 5, at 3.30 P. M., was conducted by Rev. Wm. V. W. Davis, D. D., of the Union Church, assisted by Pres. H. T. Fuller of the Institute, who spoke briefly of some of the salient points of Dr. Smith’s character. Besides family friends, there were present from the Institute the Trustees and Faculty, and members of the Senior class, and a delegation from the Middle class. Beautiful floral tributes were sent by the upper classes, the Alumni Association and the Faculty. The burial was on Friday at Middlefield, Dr. Smith’s early home. Prof. Smith was the youngest of nine children, and of four brothers who were college graduates. He received his diploma from Amherst College in 1865, taught a year in Hinsdale Academy, then spent a 7