National Republican., 1883-03-27
THE DEATH OF MIR. HOWE.
The Brief Illness by Which 1t Was Caused
Preparations for the Funeral.
The Department Again Drnpcd in Mourn
mg--I1zprcssions OF Regret.

EENosHA, WIS, Mar. 26.-Postmaster Cen
cral Howcs illness was the result of severe
cold contracted by walking half mile
through bad storm at Green Bay Sunday
before last. On his arrival at Kenosha Oh
Monday the cold developed into pneumonia.
DIR. Isham, of Chicago, was called in, and un-
der his care The patient improved, but on Sat
urday night change for the worse cnsucd
and the absent members Of the family were
sent for, his daughter arriving from Wash
ington at II o'clock Saturday night. Up to
that hour he was conscious, but his nina
wandered after that and at 900 p. M yestcr-
day lie passed away without n struggle. No
arrangements have as vet been made for the
funeral, which will take place at Green Bay.
Tho flags were at half mast yesterday on
all public buildings, and everywhere the post
master generals death was mentioned with
sorrow and regret At the Postoilce depart
ment, which was carly in the day draped in
black the news fell most heavily. Mr.. Howe
was known personally to many of the clerks,
and very much loved and respected In every
group about the city there were men who
knew him personally. residence of twenty
year, i'm Washington. for the greater part Of
each year, had made for him as many friends
as ever public man enjoyed. in talking up
his death, various matters of interest came up.
Tho patriarchal Lawrcnson was reminded, as
he looked atthc chair and desk heavily drapcd
in black that but one other head of the de-
partmcnt had ever died in scrviCe-AurOn V.
Brown, Of Tennessee whose death occurred in
1859 "a few days after the death of John Mar
ron. his third assistant The fact was noted
by another that three cN-postmaster generals
had died within the year previous TO this
dcath-Alaynurd, DcmisOn, and lowell.
The official order from the State department
is as follows;
DrPArTMENr OF STATE WAsulNGToN. Mar. 26--
50. It is my melancholy duty to inform you that
the Hon. Timothy O. Howe, postmaster general,
and lately senator Of the United states, died yes
ierday at Henusha Wis., ut 2 o'clock in the alter
noon by reason II this ulicting event, the Pres.-
dut directs that the executive departments OF tic
government, and tho Offices dependent thereon
throughout the country, viii be careful to mani
fest ~ all customary and appropriate obscrvanoes
due honor TO the memory of one so eminent in
successive Offices of public esteem and trust, and
so distinguished aud respected as a citizen.
To this end the President directs that the Post
once department ana It's dependencies In this cap.
itnl shall be drupcd in mourning for period of
snail be closed on Wednesday next the day Of the
funeral of the deceased, and that on nll public
buildings ofthe government lhrogghout the United
States, the nutiounl flag shall be draped in mourn
ing, and displayed at half mast
have the honorto be, sir, yourobcdient servant,
FREDK. 4. FRELiNdHuYsES.
The following order was also issued
PosToFFIcE DEPARTMENT, WAsHINGToN, D. c.,
March 90, lsS3.-lt is my painful duty to announce
TO the officers and employees of this department the
death Of Timothy Q. Howe, POSTMASTER general, genera
gtHnt, about y. m
BY his death the department loses chief of
eminent ability, whose superior fitness for the Inn
poitant position was recognized by every subOr-
dinaie with whom he came in contact
Timothy q. Howe was man with whom and
under whom II was pleasure as well MS an honor
10 serve. by his death the country loses an able
and honest statesman, whose private life was
spotless and whose public career was marked by
cool judgment, faithful services justice to ALL aud
an ability that commanded the admiration OF his
The loss of such a man is the country's loss
In obedience tn an executive order the iRg OF
this department. will be displayed ut half mast for
thirty days, and the department viii be closed on
the twenty.eighth instant, the day appointed for
the funeral As further mark Of respect y is
hereby ordered that the department be draped In
mourning for period Of thirty days.
II is further ordered that OH the twenty eighth
instant the postoiiices throughout the country be
closed between the hours OF o'clock p. M and
5oclock p, m. FRANK HATToN,
Acting Postmaster General.
This order has been printed on official
paper, bordcred with black, and copy fur
nishcd to every postmaster throughout the
country.
The funeral will take place on Wednesday,
at 3 n. m, from the house of the nephew, Mr.
J. ii. Howe, in kcnOsha, Wis, after which
the body will be taken to Green Bay for
burial As n particular mark of respect to
the memory of the dead the departments win
as every postoilice in the country.
The official party which will attend the
funeral left at $3.50 yesterday evening by
special car over the Pennsylvania road. 1t
consists of Secretaries Teller and Lincoln,
Senator HILL chairman of the senate post
office committee, Mr.. Hatton, and Col. John
Jameson, superintendent of the railway mail
service. Accompanying the party We're the
young son aud daughter of Col. Tottcn aud
Mai. Safely of Iowa. Secretary Chandler
was to have gone, but, feeling somewhat in
disposed, concluded not to make the trip.
Col o. Il. Parker, chief inspector, and Col.
Thompson superintendent of the railway mail
service, who are now travelling in tho west, have
been notified, and are expected to join the dele.
CATION at KenOsha. IL is probable that Hon.
Henry IL. Bingham, OF Pennsylvania, chair
man of the house postothce committee, will
Join the delegation en- route.
Assistant Postmaster General Elmer, who
will be acting postmaster general until the re-
turn of Mr.. Hatton, would have been one of
the company 90 90 TO Wisconsin but for the
severe illness of his little son, who has scarlet
fever. This has kept Gen. Elmer very much
confined Mt homo-almOst in quarantine. His
friends share his soiCtudc for his son.
"Thcro is little in the public or private life
of the late Postmaster General Howe upon
which the anccduta writer can dwell" said
one who knew him we'll, yesterday. "Ho
was an even tempered, kindly man, and there
was nOlnlnB OF inc pSfOlccnnlC or thcutflCNl
In his composition. He was one Of tho most
genial and approachablc of men, although he
had nothing of the hurrah boy, hale fellow
style about him. llo was not man one
would slap ON the buck. tell vulgar
story to, or be bold WITH although nobody
liked good company better than Timothy
Howe. Men who did not know him well
sometimes mstoolS his placidity of temper
for weakness hut they soon dropped him,
lie hud more than ordinary nerve and de-
cision OF character, though he was not casily
stirred about trines, and was not the sort of II
mRu 10 20 cunning for squirrels with eight
inch cannon.
" He was staunch and true TO his friends,
and in forming his friendships he made few
mistakes. When in tho senate he formed IL
warm attachment for Gen, Grant and Senator
Conkliug, aud he never let an opportunity 20
by of saying good word for them.
Probably the most notable period in his
life was the campaign against James X. DOo-
littlO In Wisconsin in 1866, which followed
hard upon and was in reality u part of his
campaign against Andrew johnson. WsGun-
rim was Il doubtful state, and Doolittc, backed
by the entire power of the administration,
made u bitter, relentless fight, but Howe met
him on his own ground and won famous VIC
tory, His own political lifo aud that Of boo
li,tle were in the hazard. The latter went to
tine wall,
"Whcn Matt Carpenter defeated him for
reelection to the senate for the fourth term
IN lsiS-'7O Timothy o, Howe retired to pri-
yate life permanently, MS he supposed and
Lot