Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-01-11
DEATH IN THE WHITE HOUSE
The Presidents Reception on New
Years Day Brought to a Close by
the Death ofthe Hawaiian Minister.

New Years day at the nations capitol
| was altogether given over to ceremony. The
| weather was balmy and springlike, the
streets being thronged with gentlemen with
| out overcoats. The center of attraction, Of
course was the White House, every other
| public building in the city, including the
teapitol,~ being closed and deserted.
The expectation was to occupy
the fore part of the day in ceremonies
at the executive mansion, and the afternoon
was very nearly given to promiscous calling.
The morning papers contained over page
giving the names and addresses Of ladies
who would receive their friends, and it was
remarked that not for many year had there
been so gay New Year as this one prom
Used at its opening. The prophecy would
have been realized had not death silently
entered the white house in the midst of its
gayeties and thrown pail over every hing.
Up to the time of the interruption the White
House reception was, 1t is said. the most
brilliant within the recollection of
those who have seen living pres
idents.' 4 The surroundings were per-
feet in every appointment and the prepare
tons had been completed to the most mi
mute detail The house, but recently deco
rated by Tiffany, looked fresh even to
the great square east room, which for years
has been an ungainly combination of dingy
gray and glazing red. Luxuriant plants
and broad leaved trees from the tropics
added to the artificial decorations and loaded
the air with the most exquisite odors. The
Marine band, with its choicest repertoires,
was seated in the grand hallway, and dis
cOursed strains which have a place in the
music OF American history.
The ladies who received with the presi-
dent were Mrs Frelinghuy3en, who remained
but short time, owing to her own recep
ton; Mrs. Brewster, Mrs. Chandler, Mrs
Logan, Mrs. Teller, Mrs. L. Cameron, Mrs.
Blaine, Mrs. Kiefer and several others who
remained during. portion of the time the
reception was in progress.
The judges were introduced by Marshal
McMichael. They were headed by the chief
justice, accompanied by fine grandson and
by Miss Anna Moone, his niece; then came
Justice and Miss Matthews and Justice and
Mrs. Macarthur. Justice Woods was accom-
panied by his wife Next in order came the
diplomats. They were on time promptly
and formed in line in the red room, reach
ing out into the hall, whence they were to
pass through the blue room to be presented
to the president by Secretary of State
Erelinghuysen, thence through the green
room to the great east room, where the
guests mingled in general conversation for
upwards of an hour until the ceremonies
were ,rudely terminated in the manner al
luded to above. Hon. Elisha a. Allen, of
Hawaiian goysrnment, led the way from the
red room intothe parlor of state. He wore
kamehameha III. Frederick III. Allen, sec
rptarV of LEGATION attended him
The heads of bureaus were Just entering to
ba received, being followed by long line
composed Of the veterans of the war OF 1912,
the Oldest Inhabitant association, the Grand
Army OF the Republic and Mexican war
veterans, when the death of his eminence
Minister Allen of Hawaii, was announced
70 the president, and he at once closed the
reception.
Minister Allen, latter leading the diplo-
matte corps as its dean and going through
the ceremony of presentation, passed into
the green room, where he engaged in con-
versatlon with various gentlemen for about
an hour, seeming TO be mainly occupied
with single topic which he was unable to
dismiss from his mind. He spoke to vari-
Gus members of congress and senators with
reference to the threatened abrogation of the
Hawaiin treaty. 80
On going to the coat room he fell into
what was believed for the moment to be
fainting fit from which he would soon re-
cover. He never spoke again, however
Representative Sparks of Illinois, came inn
mediately, to his assistance, held up his
head and sent for physicians. Surgeon
General Crane and DR.. Basil Norris, who
were present, rendered all the assistance
possible. but their efforts were fruitless,
and he died ati12:30 o'clock, having been |
sick only twenty minutes. The surgeons
said the trouble was angina pectoris.