Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-12-09
DEATH OF HON. ". ". GRIFFIN
Paralysis Claims Another Victim of the
Foremost Early Residents of New
Mexico-His Final Hours.
A Noble Life BlOtted 0ut-Some Record
of His Career-A Community
in Sorrow.

substance, was passed from mouth to
mouth throughout the city yesterday, and
not one uttered ii but coupled with it
some expression of intense sorrow or
tender sympathy. 1t was shock from
which this community will not soon re-
recover.
Mr.. Griffin had been in ordinarily good
health and spirits up to within few
hours of his death. At about 10 o'clock
on Saturday night he retired, and as was
his wont, lay in bed for time reading.
He was q constant reader, and divided
his time between history and the Century
and kindred periodicals. Upon returning
home from rehearsal of the entertain
ment to be given shortly for the bene-
fit of the Episcopal church, Mrs.
Griffin found her husband, at the
hour named, in his usual happy frame Of
mind. They were both soon asleep.
after II o'clock Mrs. Griffin
was awakened suddenly and found her
husband struggling as if to raise himself.
He said he awoke with dizzinessin his
head and could not get up; that he be-
lieved he was partially paraIyzed. The
terror stricken wife at once aroused the
house and summoned DR.. Sloan, who re-
sides near by. The physician found Mr..
Griffin sinking rapidly. His entire right
side was affected. 1t was evident that a
hermorrhage of the brain had taken
place and infusion had set in. DR.. Long
will was Immediately sent for. All man
ner of restoratives and remedies were
applied, but with little hopes for their eff.
feet it was plain the end was not far off.
This terrible news was broken to the fam
lily as tenderly as possible. Up to mid
night Mr.. Griffin was in full
and was able to
perfectly. He realized his
condition and spoke words OF cheer and
comfort to his closely gathered family.
But after o'clock he began to lose con-
seriousness and found difficulty in speak
ing during his rational periods. After 2
O'Clock the patient lost all consciousness
and suffered two dreadful paroxyms.
From that time on he laid in stupor
from which no earthly power could rouse
him and at 8 80 he fell asleep in death.
Thus are the pitiable details briefly told.
A noble life blotted out in the twinkling
of an eye a home where peace and con-
tentment fourished, bereft and desolated;
a community bowed down in sorrow.
For New Mexico the death OF Mr..
Griffin partakes OF the nature of public
calamity. He loved the territory and its
people as though he had known no other
home from childhood, and he was uni
yersally esteemed; in Santa Fe he was
beloved by people in all the various
walks of life. Few men had larger
acquaintance throughout the territory
than he, and none were more familiar
with its geography, its resources and its
history. Mr.. Griffin was man of
strong convictions. Dictated by high
sense of honor, his opinions were for
mulated quickly and fearlessly expressed.
There was nothing akin to the hypocrit-
ical in his nature, and politically he had
a remarkably strong following, consider
ing his frankness in all the affairs OF life.
Under all circumstances cultured gen.
tleman, he possessed very genial ma
ture, full of good fellowship, and in COM
mercial life he ranked as among the
foremost in the west. A man of sound
good sense, he was ever at the front in all
affairs tending to promote the prosperity
Of New Mexico and her people.
While apparently in robust health, Col.
Griffin had aged considerably during the
past year. His age was SO. In his earlier
life he was intensely active, his profess
of rapt1irtpn r,r1nh
out of door exercise. For several years
past, however, his duties have been con-
fined to indoor work, and of late it was
to be observed by more intimate friends
hat his rugged features were beginningto
assume a paler hue than formerly.
Among others, his wife noted this and
questioned him regardingit, but he stoutly
that his health was excellent.
As to the direct cause OF death, the
physicians say that the tissues Of
he blood vessels, abnormally thin,
perhaps, had simply worn out and
thus CLOTHING the brain with blood
and resulting in paralysis as the natural
sequence.
William Washington Griffin was born
May /, 1880, al Clarksburg, Va, where he
until he was 81 years of age,
working about the home during the sum
mer and attending school in winter. Up
on reaching his majority Mr.. Griffin de-
.ermined upon seeking his fortune in the
west. Accordingly he located in Little
Rock, where he soon became deputy clerk
Of the district court, serving as such
for three or four years. While there he
his spare time studying survey
ing and civil engineering. After time
he went to Galveston and there joined a
party in 1859 and started for the
Rio Grande. He came across Texas and
up the Rio Grande. on foot most Of the
way, and landed in 1860 in Santa Fe.
Here he engaged in surveying for time,
giving up this work to become chief clerk
in the quartermasters' department. AT
terward he resumed his work in the field
and took number OF large government
survey contracts, which he faithfully per-
formed.
By this time he had made his mark as
o local business man and in 1871, when
the First National bank of Santa Fe was
he was elected cashier and also
one of the directors. Since then he has
been actively connected with the manage
ment of this institution, being promoted
first to vice president, ard, five years ago,
assuming the presidency of it, succeeding
Hon. S. b. Elkins. He was married here
in 1854, and six children are the happy
issue. All are now living, the family
circle being now for the first time broken