Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-01-21
a SAP BnnRAvnsrK ant.


.t' tfTlsf
Tsss Eldest Daushser OF Secretary OF
state Hsayard Stricken suddenly
with Deafh--Arr~necmen Tor the
Funeral.
New York World Special
WASHINGTON. Jan. 16.--A great sensa-
tion was caused in Washington this after
noon by the announcement OF the sudden
death of Miss Katherine Bayard. the
eldest daughter OF the Secretary OF State.
When the news was first heard upon the
streets it came in very sensational shape.
II was said that she had fallen dead OF
the White House during the afternoon re.
ception. An evening paper, which was
| on the street at O'Clock, said that she
had fallen dead while receiving guests in
her fathers house. The true story of her
death is much less sensational. She was
| found dead in her bed this afternoon soon
after 2 O'Clock by her sister, Miss Louise
Bayard. During the season Mi 8 Kath-
cnnu Bayard has made it habit to re-
main in bed until 2 o'clock in
the afternoon. Ordinarily she has not
been able to retire before 2 o'clock in
the morning. She was invited to assist
Miss Cleveland at her reception at the
White House this afternoon. She was
| kept up to an unusually late hour this
morning, following the regular Friday
evening reception at her fathers house.
She had left word to be called at2 o'clock
SO MS to have time to dress and go to the
White House reception, the hour for
which was. fixed at o'clock. When Miss
Louise Bayard entered the bedroom she
found her sister, as she supposed, still
sleeping. When she attempted to awaken
her, she found that she was senseless.
She endeayored to rouse her, but instantly
| perceived by the drawn look of her face
and its waxen color that something
| terrible had happened. She rushed ont
of the room and hurriedly sent a colored
messenger for the family doctor. This gem
| tleman is DR.. Gardiner, whose office is on
Fourteenth street, within five minutes walk
of Mr.. Bayard's. The doctor came al
once. He entered the bedroom where
Miss Bayard was lying, made brief ex-
animation and shook his head. He said
he could do nothing; she was dead, and
had been dead for some time, although
the body was then warm. In response TO
the appeals of the family, he said it was
evident that her denth had been causedby
some heart trouble. This was the hur-
ried opinion which he gave at that time.
THE sEoRETARY's GREAT GRIEF.
Mr.. Dayard was at the state department
in his Office when the news was broughtto
him. II came through message over the
telephone, and was received by MIR. Bryan,
his secretary. The latter gentleman turned
to Mr.. Bayard, and in as simple and direct
manner MS possible told him the sad
news which he had just heard. The
secretary turned MS white as cloth. He
put his hand upon his heart, and for a
moment it looked as if he would faint,
then, suddenly regaining his self-cohtrol,
he hurriedly left the department, and
was driven with the greatest possible
speed to his house. Mr.. Bryan, his secre-
tary, went directly to the White House.
He burst in upon Col. Lamont out of
breath and painting. He said, Miss
Bayard is dead" Col. Lamont at this
rushed to the President and told
him. The President walked into
Miss Cleyeland's room and, going up 10
her, took her by the hand and said in
low tone of voice; 1--WE have just heard
very terrible news Miss Bayard is dead
Miss Cleveland turned TO her guests and
told them. They were all very much
shocked. Miss Cleveland gave orders at
once TO have the White House closed
The Blue Room, which five minutes
before was ablaze with lights, was
darkened. Her lady guests soon after
left the White House and returned to
their homes. The sergeant i'll command
ut the front door of the White House
telephoued to the nearest police
station, and within five minutes
uniformed patrolmen stood at the
outside, stationed at the gates, for
the purpose of notifying the people who
came that the White House was closed
and that no reception would be given.
At this time sleety rain began TO fall,
which has covered the streets of WASH
ington tonight with shining glare of
ice which has made going about almost
dangerous. Yet since the announcement
of the news there has been procession
of callers from all ranks of society who
have gone to the Bayard honse for the
purpose of showing their respect and
sympathy. Only the most intimate
friends have been received.
GREAT SHOCK AT THE WHITE HOUSE,
Miss Cleyeland's reception was to have
begun at 3 p. M, aud was 10 have ended
at O'Clock. Preparations were under
way ut the White House for the re-
ception as early rs p. m. The doors at
that hour had been closed to casual
visitors. At 2.30 carriages began to
arrive nj the front entrance, bringing the
wives of the members of the cabinet
They were all ushered upstairs to Miss
Cleveland's boudoir, and at 2.45 o'clock
there were present besides Miss
Cleveland, Mrs. Utley and Miss
Love of Buffalo ; her guests, Mrs. Man
ming, Mrs. Whitney, Mrs. Endicott Mrs.
Villas, Mrs. Lamont and Miss Rathbone.
The only missing one of the reception
party was Miss Baynrd. She was expected
every moment. The ladies, while await
ing her arrival, chatted pleasantly among
themselves as they arranged their toilets.
A few minutes before 3 o'clock Miss
Cleveland excused herself to her lady
guests, saying that the President desires
to see her. 1t was the saddest mission
the President had to perform since his in
auguration. He informed her in as com
posed n manner as possible that Mr.
Bayard had just sent him word that Miss
Kate Bayard had died suddenly. Miss
Cleveland was so overcome by the tidings
that she could not ask for particulars.
Mrs. Lamont, who had been informed
by her husband, Colonel Lamont, of the
death of Miss Bayard could scarcely
realize what had happened. Mrs. Utley,
Miss Love and the wives of the members
of the cabinet, who were still in Miss
Cleveland's room waiting to go down
stairs to the reception parlor, were in
formed of the terrible and to them unex-
pected event
A happy group of elegantly dressed |
ladies was now turned into gathering of |
sorrow. They could scarcely speak to |
each other, so moved were they at the |
news. They exchanged few words with |
Miss Cleveland, who was completely un- |
neryed. Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Whitney. |
Mrs. Endicott and Mrs. Villas soon after |
wards left the White House, the doors
having already been closed to n large
crowd of men and women who had as
sembled to attend the reception.
THE PRESIDENTS COINCIDENCE.
As soon as President Cleveland heard |
OF the death of Miss Bayard he sent Col. |
Wilson, superintendent of public build |
ings and grounds, to Mr.. Bayard's resi-.
dence with verbal message of sympathy |
Tonight Col. Lamont called on Mr. |
Bayard and found him utterly prostrated
by the great blow. Col. Lamont gave
him another message of coincidence from
President Cleveland.
The President had issued invitations to
q dinner next Monday evening to Mr.. aud
Mrs Erastus Corning of Albany. AS
soon as he heard of the sudden and snd
death of Miss Bayard the invitations
were recalled.
Secretary Whitney was one of the first
members of the cabinet to hear Of the
death of Miss Bayard. He called at the
house in the afternoon and amin tI;s