Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-24
THE DEAD JURIST.
UNEXPECTED DEATH OF CHIEF
JUSTICE WAITE.
Close of a Long and Useful Career
Congress Adjourns Out
of Respect.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REcoRD-usuos.

The Chief Justice was in his usual good
health, though exhausted by his recent Sc
we're labors, until Saturday night, when. on
returning from Senator Hearsts, where,
with his daughter, he attended q reception,
he complained of a chill
CONCERNING HIS ILLNESS.
WASHINGTON, March 23d.-Additional
particulars of the illness of Chief Justice
Waite are obtained from Dr. Caroline R.
Winslow, who has been the family physi-
clan for the last thirteen years The i'm
mediate cause of his death, the doctor said,
was nervous failure of the action of the
heart, and it came with such startling sud-
denness as to be absolutely appalling.
There was not the vaguest symptoms of
heart complications throughout his sick
ness.
On Saturday night the Chief Justice at
tended an authors reception given by SEN
ator and Mrs. Hearst, but feeling slightly
indisposed he left their house early. About
half an hour after he arrived at his home
he was taken with chill and Immediately
retired.
At o'clock in the morning Dr. Wins
low was called and found the Chief Justice
suffering acute pain in the back. Later on
he felt somewhat better, and rested quite
comfortably. AT this time he said to his
physician, in tone of inquiry, that he
must attend Court on Monday, but was
cautioned to take no chances. He per-
sisted that he felt quite well enough to ride
to the Capital and return.
On Monday, after his return from the
Capitol his physician was called and
found him complaining of a soreness
in his right lung, and when asked
to take long breath he said that
the effect caused him pain, An examina-
ton showed that part of his right lung,
two or more inches in diameter, was hepa-
tized. This was accompanied with a slight
cough. He was extremely restless, as he
had been from the first, and his face was
much flushed.
He was very wakeful during Monday
night, while his illness was by no means
regarded as critical. His physician on
Tuesday suggested that his son be tele-
graphed for, which was done. The Chief
Justices condition remained much the
same during Tuesday morning Late in
the day symptoms of acute bronchitis ap-
peared, and on Wednesday symptoms OF
pneumonia made their appearance in his
affected lung.
There was no material change during the
day. During the night of Wednesday and
on Thursday he was quite comfortable, nc
one feeling any alarm, though naturally
anxious. He was getting along we'll
everyone believed, and when at 10 O'Clock
last evening his physician left him, he re-
sponded 10 his Good night" as cheer
fully and in as strong voice as he did in
health.
The nurse, who remained during the
night, observed no change in his condition
not even in the expression of his face
until 6 o'clock this morning, when he
turned over on his back, and in ten min
utes was dead.
soLICIToUs FOR HIS WIFE.
At the beginning of his illness CHIEF
Justice Waite, fearing to needlessly alarm
his wife, who was on her way to California
in company with an invalid sister, eau
toned those about him to keep his condi-
ton from the newspapers. He was moi
alarmed himself, and was unwilling that
his wifes journey should be curtailed OF
interfered with by his slight indisposition
HIS DEATH OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED.
WASHINGTON, March 23d.-2:15 P. NJ
The official notice of the death of Chic
Justice Waite has Just been issued by the
Department of State, as follows:
To the People Of the United States: The painful
duty devolves upon the President to announce
the death at an early hour this morning, at hi!
residence in this city, of Morrison R. Waite
Chief Justice of the United States, which ex
alted position he had filled since March a. 1874
with honor to himself and high usefulness Il
his country.
In testimony of respect to the memory of the
honored dead, it is ordered that the executive
offices i'll Washington be closed ON the day o
the funeral, and be draped in mourning fo
thirty days, and that the National flag be dis
played at halt-mast on buildings and on all ma
tional vessels on the day of the funeral
By the President. T. +. BAYARD,
Secretary of State.
Washington, D. c., March %, 1888.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
The President, when informed of the
death of the Chief Justice, was very much
shocked, although aware that Waite hac
been in bad health for some time. Quite
an intimacy had sprung up between the
two officials since the Presidents term
began, and the latter at once wrote letter
to Mrs. Waite, expressing his deep sym.
pathy for her in her sudden bereavement
which, he said, was not only a persona
loss TO himself but great loss to the pub
lie service.
ACTION OF THE SENATE.
Senate assembled the reading of the Jour
nal was dispensed with, and communities
ton from Justice Miller, announcing the
death of Chief Justice Waite, was laid be-
fore the Senate. Senator Edmunds then
rose and said:
Mr.. President: On the 21st of January, 1874
Chief Justice Waite received his commission
and took the oath the presiding officer of tha
great tribunal and for now more than fourteen
nn ~ ff1rNng 8
and difficulty and struggle, and though hi!
career in that Court and out of it embrace.
questions of the widest Importance to human
| rights, both of life, liberty and property tn,
Chief Justice has been conspicuous figure il
| the jurisprudence of this nation. and, perhaps
| not less conspicuous in respect of the jurispru
dence of the whole world.
His career is ended for this life II has beer
| touched in these fourteen years by no stain, by
no reproach, by no fault falling either oficia
| or personal he was upright, brave even
As a citizen and i'll every walk of private life
| he has filled his career with honor-great homo
| to himself, and infinite benefit to his country
move that the Chair appoint committee o
hYe senators to take such order as may be eX
| pedient in respect to attending the funeral o
| the Chief Justice and TO other matters concern
| ing it. [Agreed to.l
now move. that as further mark of respec
| the Senate do now adjourn till Monday next.
The Senate adjourned.
Acolbthb PAO Veil. dppOlultl
Senators Sherman, Hoar, Wilson of Iowa
Pugh and George as committee to repre-
sent the Senate at the funeral of the Chic
Justice.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, March 23d.-When thu
House convened this morning on motion
| of Matson of Indiana, the consideration o
the Logan and Blair pension bills was post
poped until FRIDAY next
The Speaker laid before the house
communication from Justice Miller, of tn,
Supreme Court, announcing the death O
Chief Justice Waite.
E. B. Taylor of Ohio said 1t seems tba
the great Office that was occupied yesterday
by Morrison Waite is vacant to-day. i
is second in dignity to none in the whols
civilized world. 1t has been occupied BY
him for many years with an ability anC
industry and disposition to conscien
tiously discharge his whole duty in such 6
way that to-day the whole ration is mourn
ing for his decease. This is not the time
for an eulogy, nor in fact for any extended
remarks, but for the purpose OF exhihitiEe
the fact that this House has respect for his
| memory, / ask the Clerk 70 read, and the
House to adopt, the following resolutions
Resolred. That the House of Representative:
has heard of the death OF Chief Justice Waite
of the Supreme Court of the United States
which occurred this morning, with feelings o.
deep and sincere SORROW
BeSolUed, That while the naticn mourns the