The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-09-18
Ghe1ntslliqe11rer.
Death Of General James s. whea

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Death Of General James s. Wheat
The critical condition OF General
WuEATs health was announced yesterday
morning. He fingered on until noon, al
which hour he died after an illness Of
fourteen months.duration. Since Satur.
day las, his suaeriBgs have been especially
severe, and no doubt death came at last as
happy reliei. BE retained his con.
sciousness up 10 the last, except at oc.
casional intervals when under the in
tluence OF opistes. Throughout his pro-
trscted confinement he maintained almost
uuiuterruptedly the clear use OF bis men
tai faculties, and during much Of his time
was constant reader oi books and papers.
General WHEAT was born in the Dis
trict OF Columbia on the 9th OF May, 1910,
and consequently was In his 65th year.
lie came TO this city over forty years ago,
somewhere about 1880 or 1889, and dur
ing much of that time has been q promi-
neat citizen In our midst BE began his
law career here, aud for q generation, we
may say, has held on influential position
at the bar. For many years he was the
attorney OF the Baltimore & Ohio road.
He was alsol Attorney General Of the
State Of Virginia under the Restored
government in 1891, holding ,ha. position
together with the office Of Ad]utant Gen.
eral. Many years ago he was a member
Of tho Virginia House of Delegates, and
still later was one OF the embassy sent to
Richmond by this city to defend her in
terests in her struggle with the Baltimore
tS Ohio road.
Gen'l Wheat was man Of fine attain
menis as professional man, not only in
law and law lllersture but likewise in
general information. He was thorough
ly intellectual man and devoted to and
very spprecialive Of choice reading. His
conversational powers were OF q high or.
der and his memory something remark
able, He was known oi all men for his
genial social qualities and was popular
with all classes. Under all circumstan-
ces of his life he was noted for his gentle.
manly bearing, This quality was in
stinclive with him and was leading
feature Of his character. He knew
his rights a! sthe bar and defended
them with spirit and ability, but always
within the bounds Of propriety. Especial
ly was he known for his disposition TO
avoid everything like scurillity in the ar.
gument OF q case. He always spoke with
clearness, and at times with great power
before q jury. He prepared his papers
with marked precision and handled all the
points of q case with method and minute.
ness. So much so that he was iavorite
speaker with those lond Of listening 10 law
arguments.
Gen. WHEAT had q decided taste ior
military life. He was captain of the
"Biues," volunteer company OF this city,
as far back as 1888. He was afterwards
made Colonel Of the Fourth Virginia
militia, and still later Brigadier General
Of militia. During the war, at the time
of the JONES raid, he commanded an ex.
pedition OF our Home Guards, comprising
two regiments, into the interior OF the
State. He also had command OF the
troops that were sent to the Ohio side TO
meet JOHN MoRaAN's force at the time
it was in this vicinity.
There Is much that we might say oI
Genl. Wheat in addition o.the foregoing
remarks, but would hardly be Of interest
10 the general reader. he was not known
throughout the State as politician. He
was rarely q candidate Tor public posi-
tions, and did not seek them. He despiset
demsgoguery, sndh ad q decided aversion
to cheap notoriety. His last public posi-
ton was that Of member Of the Consti
tu,ional Convention in 1872. he was
useinl member Of that body. Had hi
chosen to seek or accept othe
positions he could have had them, bu
he preferred the quieter walks OF hi
profession. 1t was in the mids
Of his professional labors, during the ses
sion OF the United States Court In tht
summer OF 1873, that he was stricken
down with the disease Of which he died
He bore up under his long illness with re
markable iortiiude and more Than oncI
expressed his perfect resignation to what
ever might happen. He died in th'
faith Of the Episcopal Church AMI
was minlstered to through his sickness b!
the Revs. Messsrs. TONGUE and CLARK
His funeral will take place on Sunda.
afternoon next under the auspices ol III
Virginius Lodge Of OddFellows, Of whicl
organization he has been member sine
1896.
The Situation at New Orleans.
The surrender Of the McENERY gov
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