Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-01-23
Sudden Death of Miss Kate Bayard.


MISS NUT DuydTu, eiueI uauSnltI Ol
the Secretary of State, died suddenly
about o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Mrs Bayard dropped dead at home,
just as she was starting to the White
House to attend Miss Cleveland's recep-
ton. Miss Bayard had accepted an
invitation to assist Miss Cleveland at
her reception Saturday afternoon, and
that lady and her guests, Mrs. Utley
and Miss Love, who were also to assist
at the reception, were awaiting Miss
Bayard's arrival when they received the
news of her death.
1t was just five minutes to 3 o'clock,
and the reception was to begin on the
hour. The Marine Band was stationed
in the vcstibule, and the leader was
conversing with Col J. M. Wilson with
regard to playing tune as signal for
the opening Of the reception. Many
callers had already arrived, and were
waiting for the doors OF the Blue Room
to be thrown open The President was
engaged in conversation with visitor
in the library, and Miss Cleveland and
her guests were chatting in parlor on
the second floor prior to descending to
the Blue Room, where the reception
was to take place. The absence OF Miss
Bayard was commented on AS singular,
as she was usually very prompt in such
matters, and was momentarily expected
to arrive.
While they were wondering at her
delay, a messenger notified Col. Lamont
/ that Mr., Harry Bryan, private secretary
to Secretary BayarI, was in his onicc
and had something important to com
! municate to the President. Col. La
mont excused himself and went to sec
Mr.. Bryan. That gentleman informed
him that Miss Bayard was dead and
that Secretary Bayard had instructed
him to communicate the fact to the
President. Col, Lamont at once in
formed the President, who was very
much shocked at the unexpected intel
ligence, and the two gentlemen joined
the ladies and announced the sudden
death of their friend. Orders were at
once issued to close the house. The
band was dismissed, and the people in
waiting were notified that the reception
had been postponed. Ushers were
stationed at the main door and at the
carriage entrance to tell callers that the
house was closed for the day. The
news spread quickly throughout the
city, and universal regret was expresse,.
ut the sad occurrence. The President,
upon the receipt OF the message from
Secretary Bayard, announcing the death
of his daughter, recalled invitations to q
dinner which he had intended to give
Monday evening in honor Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Eastus Corning.
The immediate cause OF Miss Bay
ards death was disease of the heart
She had been troubled with weakness
of that organ and had been treated by
the family physician at intervals fol
several years. At the reception at hel
fathers house last night it was re
marked that Miss Bayard was unusually
animated and exerted herself to th(
utmost to entertain the guests. 1t i,
presumed that the undue cxertion may
have precipitatcd the fatal attack. The
young lady retired about l o'clock las
night, expressing wish to be left IN
disturbed until noon.
Between and 2 o'clock Satuydu;
afternoon her sister endeavored tt
awaken her, and, struck by the peculiar
expression OF her face, called for assls
lance. AS soon as the family recovered
from the CONSERVATION into which il
had been thrown, physicians were sum
moned and powerful restOratives, in
Guiding electricity, were applied, but
in vain. The physicians expressed the
opinion that Miss Bayard had beer
dead for several hours when the attempt
was made to awaken her. Interment
will take place, probably, on Tuesday
next at Wilmington, Del, where Sec
rotary Bayard's parents are buried
The news of Miss Bayard's sudden
death caused profound sensation
throughout the city, and for time, in
the absence of any definite details, 8
number of wild rumors circulated
The facts, however, as stated above, are
from an unquestionable source.
AVALANCHE; DR.. Mary Walker