Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1890-10-14
Grants Old War Secretary is
No More.
He Died Alone In The Solitude
of His Room.
There Was None to Wipe the Death
Damp From His Brow.
Adversely Marked the End of the Once
Famous Corruptionist's Career-The
Record of His Life.
Associated Press dispatches. /

:
WARRINGTON, Oct. 13.-General w. W.
Belknap, secretary of war during Presi-
dent Grants first term, was found dead
in bed at O'Clock this morning. 1t is
believed his death occurred between
1 o'clock Saturday night and O'Clock
Sunday morning. From John w. Cam
eron, General Belknap's business associ-
ate, if is learned thst for some time it
has been the generals habit to meet q
few friends at the home of DR.. Hill who
lives less than a square away, for So
cial game of cards. Saturday night he
was with them as usual and remained
until nearly midnight, when he re-
turned to his apartments in the Evans
building at 1920 New York avenue, and
presumably retired Immediately. He
was never again seen alive.
About 80 this morning Cameron ar
rived at the building, and proceeded to
the second floor, where their offices and
the generals departments are located.
The servant girl, who keeps the rooms,
raped at the door, and inquired if Cen
eral Belknapwas out Of the city, saying
she several times, since Sunday morn
ing, tried the doors, bnt found them
locked.
The door was then forced open. His
body was found lying ion the bed,
partly uncovered. The left arm was
bent rigidly toward the head the left
hand tightly clenched, as though death
came when he was in commissions. The
bedclothes were somewhat disarranged,
as if there had been a slight struggle
for breath. A physician was summoned,
who, after making brief examination,
expressed the opinion that death re-
suited from stroke of apoplexy. The
coroner soon afterwards arrived and
took the body in charge. An autopsy
disclosed the fact that the immediate
cause of death was inflammation of the
inner lining of the heart.
Mrs. Belknap. who was in New York,
was summoned by telegraph, also the
generals son, Hugh, from Chicago.
For some years Belknap had been
almost a constant sufferer from govt.
In February he had so severe an attack
that he hardly left his room for three
months or more. During that time he
lost in flesh between thirty and forty
pounds. Since then he has been in poor
health. Consequent to his long illness.
his business suffered. This worried him
at times.
As soon as the deathSof Belknap was
known at the war department, Acting
Secretary Grant ordered the flag on the
building at half mast in honor of the ex-
secretary, and gave directions to have
the building draped in black for the Gus
t0mary period. He also communicated
with the family of the deceased to offer
whatever assistance they might desire
from the department in the arrange
ment for the funeral. As soon as the
funeral arrangements are completed, an
order will be, issued closing the depart
ment on the day of the funeral.
William Worth Belknap was the son
of General William Goldsmith Belknap,
q veteran of the war of 1912 and the
Mexican war. He was born in New
burgh, N. Y, September %, 1925; grad
uated at Princeton in 1848, studied law
and practiced in Keokuk. Iowa, where
he settled in 1851, and was elected to
the legislature as a Democrt in 1857. At
the beginning of the civilwar he joined
the army, as major of the 10Th Iowa
volunteers. He was engaged at Shiloh,
Corinth and Vicksburg; became promi-
nent in Sherman's Atlanta campaign,
being promoted successfully brigadier-
general and brevetted major-general.
After the war, he was collector of inter
nal revenue in Iowa from 1866 till Octo-
Der, 1859, when he was appointed secre-
tary of war. This office he retained
during General Grants second admins
tration, until March 7, 1875, when, in
consequence of charges of official corrup-
ton, he resigned. He was impeached
and tried before the senate for receiving
brides for the appointment of post
traders, and was acquitted on the tech
meal ground of want of jurisdiction.]