“Abner C. Farthing Dead” from
the June 7, 1900, issue of the Watauga Democrat
The sad intelligence has just been received by mail from the
Philippine Islands that Abner C. Farthing died there about six weeks ago. The
particulars of his death and the esteem in which he was held as a soldier will
be best conveyed by the following extracts from a letter written to his father
by the Captain of his company.
San
Pablo, P.I.
April
8, 1900
C.S. Farthing, Esq., Hattie, N.C.
Dear Sir:--It is with the deepest regret that I notify you
of the death of your son Abner. He died in the hospital here today of measles
and dysentery after an illness of nearly a month. He had been troubled with
dysentery for some time and when measles was added to that, it proved fatal. He
will be buried here tomorrow in the military cemetery with appropriate honors
by his company in which he was well liked, and in which he served faithfully
and will and to the credit of his country.”
Here follows the closing of the letter:
“It is impossible for me to find words in which to express
my sympathy for you and your family. Suffice it to say that ou have lost a good
son and I a faithful and courageous soldier.
Yours
respectfully,
C.H.
Hilton Jr., Capt. 29th Infty. U.S.V., Carndg, Co. B”
The young and old alike of this community have been saddened
and shocked by the news of Abner’s death, not having previously heard of his
illness.
The writer has had intimate relations with the deceased as a
schoolboy and had a high opinion of him as a thoughtful, studious youth. He was
open-hearted and frank and as a pupil I never knew him to be guilty of a really
mean act. Truly a noble youth has been sacrificed to an ignoble cause. May the
good Lord comfort the bereaved parents and bless this lesson of mortality to
the good of the deceased, are the heart-felt wishes of the writer.
--W.S.
Farthing
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