The Cecil Whig., 1886-01-23
MISS BAYARD'S DEATH And BURIAL.
SAD NSD UNEXPECTED BEHEAVE,
NENT,
The Eldest Daughter of Secretary OF State
Eayard Stricken Suddenly With DEATH

Bayard Stricken Suddenly With Death.
great sensation was caused in Wash
ington last Saturday afternoon by the
announcement of the sudden death of
Miss Katherine Bayard, the eldest daugh-
ter of the Secretary of State. When
the news was first heard upon the streets
1t came in very sensational shape. 1t
was said that she had fallen dead at the
White House during the afternoon re-
ception An evening paper, which was
on the street at 4 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 Saturday
afternoon soon after 2 o'clock by her
sister, Miss Louise Bayard. During the
season Miss Katherine Bayard has made
it habit to remain IN bed until o'clock
in the afternoon. Ordinarily she has
not been able to retire before . o'clock |
in the morning. She was invited to as
tist Miss Cleveland at her reception at |
the White House Saturday afternoon.
She was kept up to an unusually late
hour in the morning, following the regu-
lar Friday evening reception at her
fathers house. She had left word to be
called at . o'clock so as to have time to
81,
ton, the hour for which was fixed at
o'clock. When Miss Louise Bayard en-
tered the bedroom she found her sister,
as she supposed, still sleeping. When
she attempted to awaken her, she found
that she was senseless. She endeavored
to rouse her, but instantly perceived by
the drawn look of her face and it's waxen
color that something terrible had hap
pened. She rushed out of the room and
hurrledly sent a colored messenger for
the family doctor. This gentleman is
DIR. Gardiner, whose office is on Four
teenth street, within five minutes walk
of MIR. Bayard's. The doctor came at
once. He entered the bed room where
Miss Bayard was lying, made brief ex-
animation and shook his head, He said
he could do nothing; she was dead, and
mad 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 death had been
caused by some heart trouble This
was the hurried opinion which he gave
at that time.
Miss Cleveland's reception was to have
begun at 8 2 NJ, and was to have ended
at o'clock. Preparations were under
way at the White House for the recep-
tlon as early as l p. VI. The doors at
that hour had been closed to casual visi-
tors. AT 80 carriages began to arrive (
at the front entrance, bringing the wives
OF the members of the cabinet. Tney
were all ushered up stairs to Miss Cleve-
lands boudoir, and at 2 45 o'clock there
were present besides Miss Cleveland.
Mrs. Ctley and Miss Love of Buffalo;
her guests. Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Whit.
ney, Mrs Endicott, Mrs Villas, Mrs. La
mont and Miss Rathbone. The only
missing one of the reception party was
Miss Bayard. She was expected every
moment. The ladies, while awaiting her
arrival, chatted pleasantly among them
selves as they arranged their toilets A
few minutes before 3 o'clock Miss Cleve-
land excused herself to her lady guests,
saying that the President desired to s.e q
her. 1t was the saddest mission the
President had to perform since his in
augaration. He informed her in as l
composed manner as possible that Mr..
Bayard had just sent him word that
Miss Kate Bayard had died suddenly. 5
Miss Cleveland was so overcome by the
tidings that she could not ask for par
ticulars. y
DR.. Garduer, the family physician of
the Bayards said he had attended Miss
Bayard regularly during the past six is
weeks, and had warned her against yield
ing too much to the exactions of her
social duties, on account of the heart Iii
trouble to which she was subject. Her Il
malady he described as mitral INSULT
cheney, which led up to the attack that /
resulted in her death.
Miss Bayard was the eldest of six |
sisters, Mabel, now Mrs Warren of Bos- |
ton, being next; then Mamie, Florence,
Louise and Nellie, the last of whom is
not yet through with her studies and is
in Boston with Mrs. Warren, while
Louise was nebutante Of this season.
Louise and Nellie were last year pupils t
at Patapsco Institute. Three brothers
were ranged in among this household :
group. A young lady intimate of the /
family and particularly with the de ,
ceased Miss Bayard, says: 1T is praise
enough for Kate to mention that every /
one of these brothers adored her. Her
cosy, orientally furnished chamber,
which they playfully called Kate's den, c
was the most delightful place in the
world to her romping young brothers.
The delicate health of her mother devel.
oped heavy cares and social response
bility on the eldest daughter which she
met with buoyant ambition. She was
idolzed by her father, whose companion
in intellect she had been since her ear
liest teens. She had eyes like his, only
softened with feminity, and they could
be blue or dark with each varying emo
ton. He treated her with the chivalry
of younger brother. Her education
was largely received at home in his lib
rary with the aid of governess. She
spoke French and Spanish well, and was
an omniverous reader, except of light
fiction, which bored her. She was
fearless horse woman, and careless quite
too careless of danger from exposure in
evening dress. Her taste for amateur
theatricals led her to know some of the
leading professionals of the stage, an
acquaintance which Mr.. Bayard himself
liked and encouraged in his daughter.
THE BURIAL.
With the bleak and dismal rain turn