Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-11
The Customary Honors Paid to the
Deceased Secretary.
ether Comments.
Secretary Folger is Dead.

GENEVA, N. u, sept. 4.-Secretary
Folger died suddenly at AS this af-
ternoon.
GENEVA, n. Y, Sept. 4.-Secretary
Folger died at 4 :55; the only persons
present were Mrs. Hart, his deceased
wife's sister. DR.. Knapp and his law
associates, his family physician, DR..
A. B. Smith, and his colored servant,
James. DR.. Smith and Capt. j. S
Lewis had left him but few minutes
previously. DR.. Henry Foster, who has
been here two or three times as con-
sulting physician, arrived on the 4 As
train, and was conveyed to the Folger
mansion by DR.. Smith. Mrs Ernst,
the secretary's sister, arrived by the
same train. After the three last
named entered, the dying man gasped
twice and all was over.
Secretary Folgers two daughters
are la the Adriondacks, the elder in
very feeble health. His son, Capt.
Chas w. Folger, is at Alexandria. Va.
All have been written to to come to
Geneva, the telegraph not being earl
Ter resorted to as the sudden termina-
ton was not apprehended. Capt.
Folger will arrive tomorrow. The
secretary returnei for the last time to
Geneva, Wednesday evening, the goth
ult
He called his family physician the
next morning who gives the following
diagnosis of the case: GA great fee
bleness of the hearts action, conges-
ton of the middle lobe of the right
lung and capullory congestion of the
bronchial tubes; torpid liver and al
disease of the kidneys" The doctor
was informed that the secretary had
had hemorrhage of the lungs three
times of late before his return. The
first was while he was out yachting
with friends at New York,
on which occasion he discharged
about a pint of blood. The secretary
rode out daily until the goth ult,
since which time he has kept his room,
but did not wholly abandon his offeial
work He continued to answer i'm
portant letters and kilograms up to
yesterday, and seemed reluctant to
give up; yet he was by no means un-
conscious of his critical condition.
He entrusted to his personal friend
Capt Lewis final messages to Asst.
Secy. French, asking HIM to return
at once.
Within a few moments after the
secretary expired kilograms announc-
ing his dest tn were dispatched TO Pres
ident Arthur at Newport and Assist
ant Secretary Coon at Washington.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.-The first
news of the death of Secretary Folger
received in this city was conveyed in
an associated press dispatch from
Geneva. Upon it's being shown to
Assistant Secretary Coon, who is the
acting secretary, he Immediately mott
fed the chiefs OF the bureaus in the
treasury department and invited them
TO meet at his office this evening.
Later in the evening Coon was inform
ed by a brief telegram from Geneva,
from a cOlored servant of Folger, of
the latter's death.
As the news of the death of the Sec
rotary spread about the city, it was re-
ceived with a general expression of
regret. The officials Of the treasury
especially We're shocked by the sud-
denness of the event The generally
expressed opinion of these officers was
that his death was due to overwork.
He sought to supervise all details of
the service, instead of leaving merely
routine work to his subordinates.
Treasurer Wyman said that for
some time before Folger left the de
partment he had been complaining of
pain in the region Ct the heart, and Of
difficulty in breathing. The watch
men and other employees of the de-
partment who heard the news ex-
pressed their sorrow, and spoke feel
ingly of Folger's uniform kindness to
them.
At a meeting in the assistant secre-
tary's Office this evening, there were
present Mr.. Coon, who presided,
Comptroller Lawrence. Commissioner
Johnson, Treasurer Wyman, Com
missioner Exams, Fourth Auditor
Bsardsley, Supervising Architect Bell,
Gen. Dumont, Mr.. Nimmo, chief of
the bureau of statistics, Mr.. Alexan-
der, fifth auditor, and Judge CrowelI,
acting sixth auditor. Mr.. Coon, on
calling the meeting to order, an
nounced the death Of Secretary Fol
ger. ana stated that he had called the
officials together to advise with them
as to the proper action to be taken.
IN the absence of the president an
executive order to close the depart
ment could not be had and he was
doubtful of his authority to close it
even for day. He said if there were
no legal obstacles in the way lie would
close the department tomorrow and
also on the day of the funeral. Judge
Lawrence, first comptroller, Judge
johnson and Mr.. Alexander. fifth au-
ditor, gave it as their opinion that the
acting secretary had authority to close
the department informally out of re-
spect for the dead secretary Mr..
Coon, after hearing from these adyis-
ors announced that he would issue an
order closing the department to-mor-
row informally and stated that he had
already ordered the draplng of the
building, He afterward Informed an
hot 10,