, 1884-09-05
PASSED AWAY.
The Career Of Secretary Folger
Finally Closed.
His Death Unexpected by His
Intimate Friends
And His Children Absent From
His Bedside.


tary folger died at 4:53. The only per
sons present were Mrs. Hart, his deceased
wife's sister, DR.. Knapp and his law as
s%ociates, his family physician, DR.. A. B..
Smith, and his colored servant James.
DIR. Henry Foster, who had been here
two or three times as consulting physician,
arrived on the 4:45 train and was con
veyed 10 the Folger mansion by DR..
Smith. Mrs. Ernst, the Secrctary's sis
ter, arrived 10y the same train. After
the three last named entered, the dying
man gasped twice or thrice and all was
over.
Secretary Folger's two daughters are in
the A~dirondacks, the elder in very feeble
health. His son, Captain Charles w.
Folger, is at Alexandra, Va. All have
been notified to come to Geneva, the tele-
graph not being earlier resorted to as so
sudden a termination of the fathers
malady was not apprehended.
The Secretary returned for the last
time to Geneva Wednesday evening, the
goth ult. He called his family physician
next morning, who gives the following
diagnosis of his case: Great feebleness
of heart action congestion of the middle
lobe of the right lung; and capillary CON
gestion of the bronchial tubes; torpor of
the liver; and albuminous discharge;
showing disease of the kidneys.
The Doctor sas informed the Secretary
had had hemorrhage of the lungs three
times of late, before his return. The first
was while out yachting with friends at
New York, on which occasion he dis
charged about a pint of blood.
Secretary Folger rode out daily until and
including the 29th ult. since which time
he has kept his room, but did not wholly
abandon his official work. He continued
to answer important letters and kilograms
up to yesterday and seemed reluctant to
give up; yet he was by no means uncon-
scious Of his critical condition. He en-
trusted to his personal friend, Captain
Lewis, the final message to his family and
other directions of q confidential nature.
Within a few moments after the Secretary
expired, kilograms announcing the sad
event were dispatched to President Ar
thur, at Newport, Assistant Treasurer
Coon, Frank Sperry, his private secretary,
Hon. Thomas c. Acton, Assistant Treas
urer, at New York, and Judge Andrews,
of Syracuse.
A general gloom pervades the people of
Geneva over this sudden removal of their
beloved townsman, men of all parties and
all conditions in life alike joining in ex-
pressions of sorrow. The first emblems
Of mourning displayed were above the en-
trance to the quarters of the thirty-forth
separate company ''Folger Corps" N. G.
s. N. Y; at Geneva National Bank and
upon the large Cleveland and Hendrick's
banner suspended across Seneca street.
The Secretary will be inferred in Genevaby
the side of his wife who died seven years
ago.
WASHINGTON, September4.-Th news
of Secretary Folger's death caused u great
commotion at the Treasury Department
and throughout the city. As a mark of
respect to his memory, business was EN-
porarily suspended. Assistant Secretary
French, of the Treasury, has been in Eu-
rope and is now on his way home. His
absence leaves Mr.. Coon the only Assist
ant Secretary.
The vacancy in the treasury may be
temporarily filed by an appointment for
ten days from the 10th inst and must be
permanently filed not later than the 2sth
inst, Sundays not being counted.
The death of a Cabinet officer during
his term OF office has been 4 rare occur
rtnce in this country. Webster died
while Secretary of State, and two Secre-
taries of War, Rollins and Upshur, and
two Postmasters General, Brown and
Howe, died while in Office. Folger is the
first Secretary of the Treasury who has
died while holding office.