The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-25
MR.. W. ". C0RC0RAN.
DEATH or THE XOST PHiLANTHRO
PIC OF PHILANTEROPISTS.

| tsrday Morning-His End as Peaceful
a. . Chiid's slesp-Foreign and Do
| mestic News Items.
WASHINGTON, D. O., February 24.-Mr
W. w. Corcoran died this morning al
o'clock, in his Goth year. He passed away
quietly and peacefully. There was ne
marked change In his condition. He re-
NAMED unconscious up to the end. His
breathing, which had become feeble as
the night came on, was the only indica
tion that he was alive. As dawn ap.
preached the forces Of his life reached the
lowest ebb, and finally the action OF the
heart ceased. The low breathing was nc
longer noticeable, and the aged phian-
thrOphist was dead.
He had experienced some days Of suf-
fering in the last few months, but his
closing hours were as peaceful and de-
void OF pain as the sleep of little
child. The struggle, II such it might
be termed which he had carried on
against the insidious approach of weak
ness, had been maintained with won.
derful vigor, and display of astonish-
ing vitality. His advanced age, how
ever, was against him. He realized that
and had prepared for the end which be
knew was coming. Those about him
saw yesterday that he was gradually
reaching the limit of his strength
There was nothing that could be done
| for him and the watchers could only wit.
ness the gradual fading Of the life
WHEN THE LAST MOMENT CAME
Mr.. Corcoran died surrounded by his
relatives and friends. M G. NJ. Mat
thews, his friend and relative by mar
riage, who had been with him during hi;
last illness almost constantly, was at his
side. His Youngest grandson, William
| Corcoran Eustis, was one Of the group
about the bed. His brother, George
Peabody Eustis, had shortly before gone
to his home on n street. Mrs. Reynold:
Of Norwich, Conn, a neice Of the dead
man, who arrived here several days a. o
was also present. Mr. james Corcoran
one Of the nephews, who lives on {
ranch in Arkansas, and who arrived it
this city yesterday, was present at th'
last moment Mr. Corcoran's faithful
nurse was at his side, and so surround
ed by those whom he loved he breatheC
his last.
His physician, DR.. Garnett, who hsC
been with the sick man until late hour
and had gone home, returned shortl,
after Mr.. Corcoran had passed away. III
was left lying In the room where bis las
hours had been spent, and where th'
children, In his earlier days, had playeC
in the hsppy carelessness Of childhood
THE STIFFNESS IN THE Ho;sE
remained unbroken. A servant wa
quietly sent out for an undertaken and II
couple of hours the Grape on the doc
announced to all psssers by that the well
spent life of, the noble philanthrophis
was ended.
HIS CHARITIES.
Mr.. Corcoran left fortune estimat'
at $3,500,000 His charities during lif,
aggregated 100000.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
William Wilson Corcoran was born II
Georgetown, then mere hamlet, on De
cember 27, 1893, and was named after {
grand uncle, who had been in the Eas
India trade. His father, Thomas Corco
ran, came to this country from Ireland II
1888, and after spending four years II
Baltimore, where he married, removed Il
Georgetown and pursued there for awhile
the humble calling of shoemaker. III
soon rose, however, and eventually be
came one Of the most prominent citizens
II not the most prominent, in the town
serving As alderman and mayor, and dice
while holding office as postmaster Elevel
years after his settlement in Georgetown
his son William was born. This son haC
natural commercial advantages, and be
fore he was 81 had formed partnership
with his elder brother, and prospered fol
some wears as tradesman.
FINANCIAL DISASTER
overlook the little enterprise and the firr
was obliged to suspend, and although al
honorable discharge was granted by tn
creditors, who were mostly Philadel
phians, the younger Corcoran never re
laxed his efforts in paying them unit
lS47, when every liability had been dis
charged, with interest fiom the date 0
suspension, twenty.three years before
After this disaster, Mr.. Corcoran cas-
about for other means of gaining liyeli
hood, and obtained q position in III
United States Branch Bank, where h
laid the foundation of his great tnancia
knowledge Subsequently he opened
brokers' Office on Pennsylvania avenue
west of Willard's Hotel.
HIS MARRIAGE.
In 1885 he was married to Miss Louis
Amory Morris, much against the inclina
tions Of her father, Commodore Morris
who was a great stickler for "caste Ot
servances, and was horrifed at the ide
of his daughter becoming the wife OF
shoemakers son. From this union Their
resulted two children, son and daugl
ter. Mrs. CDrcoran died after five year
OF married life, and her son did not lon
survive her. The daughter, Louise, wa
married in lS49 to Hon. George Eusiis,
Member of Congress from Louisian'
She, too, died In 1857, leaving three chi
dren. Her death was the greatest sol
row of the aged philanthropisrs life
and for years he could not speak OF he
without tears. Once he said, in telling {
General Lee, with whom he was o
terms OF great intimacy:
II have the last letter he ever wrot
1t was upon the occasion Of my child
death"
So overcome with emotion was NJ