Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-07
DEATH OF CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE
Particulars Of His Death, and q Sketch
Of His Life and Public Services.

fdItI9UIdGs OI - WCoBus anu u SA6tG0
Of His Life and Public Services.
Although the fact that Chief Justice Chase
has been in failing health for several years past
has been generally known, the country was un-
prepared for the announcement Of his sudden
death in New York this morning, and express
SONS of sorrow are as universal the grief at
the news Of his death is profound. The Chief
Justice lett Washington for New York last Sat-
urday on the a. m. train, accompanied by his
body servant, VIM. Joyce, a colored man, who
has been with him for several years past. He
intended to remain at the residence of his
daughter, Mrs. Hoyt, No. SD street, until to-
day or to- morrow, when he expected to leave
for Boston, where he proposed staying for a
couple of weeks. Thence he intended to 60 to
Colorado, touching at Washington and Cincin-
natl en- route), where he intended to spend the
summer, probably with an old and intimate
friend Mr.. W. p. Mellen, who was formerly a
special agent of the Treasury Department.
Judge II. b. Worden, private secretary to the
Chief Justice, who has been engaged for some
time past writing a biography of Judge Chase,
under his personal supervision, this morning
received a letter from Mr.. Huntington, vice
president Of the Central Pacific railroad, en-
closing an annual pass for the Chief Justice,
and expressing the hope that he would be able
TO avail himself of its use.
On the occasion Of his departure from the city
on Saturday morning last, little breakfast
party was assembled at the Sprague mansion,
corner of 9Th and E streets, where the Chief
Justice has resided for year past, consisting
of Judge Chase, Judge Worden, his private sec
Rotary and biOgrapher, Miss Walker, sister of
Judge Walker, Of Ohio, Miss Carrie Moulton,
and Miss Amy Aud, a niece of the Chief JUS
tice. Mrs Sprague had left Washington two
days before, and was not present, nor was SEN
atOr Sprague, who left for the east soon after
the adjournment of Congress. The breakfast
passed off pleasantly, although it was noticed
that the Chief Justice was not in his usual
spirits. His leave-taking OF everybody was I'M
usually affectionate, which fact was remarked
by all present.
On Monday last Judge worden received a
letter from him. He wrote from the residence
ofMr. Hoyt in pencil, because, he said, it was
handler than ink, and Judge w. saws tina the
letter bore more of the characteristics of his
former chirography than any he had seen for
some time past He was also encouraged to be-
lieve, from its cheerful tone, that his health
had considerably improved since leaving Wash
ington. He wrote that he had a cold and bleak
ride to New York, but escaped much discom-
fort as he rode in compartment car, or rather
Sin box" as he would call it; that he had been
greatly relieved on seeing his children and some
OF his grandchildren, and felt better than when
he left. He then sent by Judge w. a kind mes
sage OF sympathy to Colonel Dom Piatt and
Mrs. Piatt on their misfortune in being burned
out, and, finally. requested Judge WOrden to
forward him letter which he received while i'm
Washington from DR.. Brown Sequard, his ply
stefan, relative to his treatment. The following
is a copy vi the letter referred to:
NEW YORK, April %, 1873.
aoment on hand prevents my sending you the
full information 1 had intended to convey as
regards your mode of living and your treat
ment. have TO leave New York to- day to 90
to Boston to deliver lectures at the Lowell In
stitutes. On my return next week will write
to you again, but as consider that it is essen
tlal that you should begin to be treated at once,
send you prescription for medicine which /
hope will have great power i'll diminishing one
land the principally OF the morbid states OF your
brains. Any great looseness of the bowels
M lln nr fh.,r .tsrl.r ~
medicine; SO that If any cause acted upon you
to produce disorder of the bowels, you should
stop the use of this remedy prescribe. But
you should resume it as soon as the bowels have
become normal again. Believe, me. with great
c. G. BRowN SEoUAED.
Hon. Salmon r. Chase
He received DIR. Sequard's letter and prescrip-
ton and had the latter filed at once. He began
taking the medicine and in a few days after
wards one of its peculiar results was shown in
the disordered state of the bowels, which
Dr. Sequard predicted might ensue. He be-
came considerably weakened and exhibited
much concern at his condition, showing for
the first time signs of mental depression
Judge W. reminded him OF the letter of DIR. Sc
guard, and told him that his diarrh9a and con-
sequent weakness was doubtless the effect of
the prescription which he had been taking, and
least alarmed; and called his attention
to the fact that DR.. Seauard had ordered
d MIN 10, 70 cease taking the medicine should
He supposes that the Chief Justice stopped
taking the medicine, although he is not positive
Of this fact. This was on Monday, the Both of
worden wrote letter, at the dictation Of
the Chief Justice to q gentleman of Ken
lucky. He ended the letter rather abruptly,
the parlOr, as Judge w. supposed, to repose for
few minutes on the sofa. He returned in
about half an hour and told Judge w. to close
the letter where IL stood. His private secretary
m nrp SSa6 af nat fivoo
indeed serious.
This morning he received the following tele-
gram:
New YORK, May7.
Hon. r. B. Worden, Washington:
Our grand man is gone. AT the door met
8. CHIrTENDEN
The Chief Justice always supposed that his
disease was the result Of a fever and ague con-
eral years ago. Since the adjournment of the
Supreme Court he has been in Washington, and
has paid great attention to his health, taking
his malady was physical weakness and inability
to labor continuously. For this reason he has
RETAINED for several years past from attempting
an yprOtracted mental labor.
Salmon Portland Chase was born in Cornish,
New Hampshire, January 13, 1908. His father
died when he was but nine years old, and he was
aided in obtaining An education by his uncle,
Philander Chase, then Bishop of Ohio. He
studied for college at worthington, Ohio, en-
tered Cincinnati college, of which his uncle
was president, III an advanced standing, and
subsequently transferred himself to Dartmouth
college, Hanover, n. H., where he graduated in
1926. He came to Washington in the succeeding
winter and opened here classical school for
boys, having among his pupils the sons of
Henry Clay, William Writ. Samuel l..
Southland and other distinguished men of
that day: Soon after closing his school,
in 1929, he was admitted to the bar Of
the District of Columbia, for which he had
qualified himself under the direction of Mr.
Writ, during the time he was discharging the
duties Of a teacher. In the spring of 1880 he
returned to Cincinnati where he entered upon
the practice of his profession, and between
1882 '35 published an edition Of the statutes of
Ohio, with annOtati0ns, and preliminary his
tory Of the State, in three large volumes. This
edition soon superseded all previous publica-
tiOns of the statutes, and Is now received as
authority'in the courts. Aided by the reputa-
ton thus acquired, he soon gained Q valuable
practice, and early in 1884 became solicitor of
the bank of the United States in Cincinnati
and not long after OF one of the city banks.
In 1881 Mr.. Chase acted as counsel for cOlored
woman claimed rs q fugitive slave, and in an
elaborate argument, afterward published, con-
troyerted the power Of Congress to impose any
duties or confer any powers in fugitive slave