The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-09-05
Death of Secretary Foiser.

GENEVA, N. Y, Sept. 4-Secretary Folger died
at his home here at 4.55 O'Clock this afternoon.
His death was sudden that there was not time to
summon his children and neither of them here
The only persons present were Mrs. Hart of
Auburn, his deceased wifes sister, Drs. Knapp and
Law, associates of his family physician, Dr. A. b.
Smith and bis colored servant James. DR.. Smith
and Capt. j. S, Lewis had left him only short
time before his death. DR.. Henry Foster of the
Clifton Springs Sanitarium who had been here two
or three times as consulting physician arrived on
the AS train AMI conveyed to the Folger man.
sion by DR.. Smith, Mrs Ernest of Buffalo, the
Secretarys sister, arrived by the train. Just
as these three entered the room the Secretary
breathed his last and all over, Secretary Fol
gers two daughters are in the Adrondacks the
eldest being in feeble health. His son, Capt.
Charles W. Folger is at Alexandria, Va. ALI had
been written to come to Geneva. The telegraph
was not resorted to earlier as so sudden a terml-
nation of their fathers malady was not appre-
hended.
The Secretary returned to Geneva for the last
time wednesday evening, the 10th He called his
family physician next morning. The doctors give
the following diagonasis of his cases: Great feeble
ness OF the hearts action, congestion of the right
lung and CAPILLARY congestion eff the bronchial
tubes torpor of the liver and disease of the kidneys
The Secretary had had hemorrhage of the lungs
three times of late before his return home, the
first while out yachting with friends at New York
on which occasion he discharged about pint of
blood.
Secretary Folger rode out daily until and includ-
ing the 10Th ult, since which time he kept his
room but did not wholly abandon official work. He
continued to answer important letters and tele-
up. Yet he by no means unconscious of his
critical condition and entrusted to his personal
FRIEND Capt Lewis, final messages to his children
and other directions OF a confidential nature.
General gloom prevails among the people of &C.
neva; men of all parties and of all conditions in
life alike joining in expressions of sorrow.
The remains will be inferred in Geneva, by the
side of his wife, who died seven years ago. The
day of the funeral cannot be named at present.
PROVIDENCE, R. l., Sept 4.-P-esident Arthur
received telegrams at Newport announcing the
death of Secretary Folger, at O'clock and was
greatly affected. He will attend the funeral, and
hopes is be able to attend that of Senator Anthony
Also He has telegraphed condolences to the FAM
ly of Secretary Folger, and has ordered that the
flags on all the government vessels, stations and
at halfmast until after the funeral. He had in
tended giving dinner to the English Admiral Sat
urday but this is probably indefinitely postponed.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.
The first news of the death of Secretary Fojger
received in this city conveyed in an Associated
Press dispatch from Geneva. AS the news spread
about the city it was received with a general eY-
preston of regret. Officials of the Treasury Depart
ment especially were shocked by the suddenness of
the event. The generally expressed opinion of
these officers was that Mr.. FoIgers death was due
to overwork. "He sought to supervise ali the de-
tails of the service instead of leaving merely
routine work TO his subordinates," said one
promiL emit offical and all others who were spoken
with the subject ascribed the Secretary's illness
and death to the same cause. Treasury Wyman
said for some time before Mr.. Folger left the
department he had been complaining of pain in the
region of the heart and of difficulty in breathing.
Assistant Sec etary Coen presided at meeting of
the heads of the bureaus of the Treasury De part
ment tonight and after consultation with them de-
cided to issue order informally closing the de-
partment tomorrow. The treasury building will
be draped in mourning.
Charles James Folger was born in Nantucket,
Mass, April 16, 1918. In 1880 his father remov.
ed to Geneva, n. Y where Mr.. Folger has since re-
sided After leaving college he studied law ana
was admitted to the bar when twenty-one years old.
His first Office was that of Judge of the Court of
common Pleas, to which he was appointed in 1874,
and he was soon after made Master and Examiner
10 Chancery. In 1851 he was elected county judge.
In 1851 he was elected to the New York State Sem
ate by the Republicans, which party he had entered
on us formation, having previously been Demo
crat. He remained in the Senate till 1869 when
IresldehJ Grant appointed him assistant U. 8.
treasurer Tor New York city. He was elected
Judge OF the Court Of Appeals the highest Court in
the state OF New York)in 870 and on the death of
Chlet Judge Church in May, 1880, he was appointed
TO Mi the vacancy and in the following November
was elected TO the place for the full term of four
teen years. But year later (Noy. 1881 be re-
signed this position to accept that OF Secretary of
the Treasury in President Arthurs Cabinet. In
1882 he was nominated by the New York Repub-
lican State Convention as candidate for Governor
but was defeated.
Marathon, \. Y, was visited by $4,000 fire
last night. Three business blocks and dwellings
were destroyed.