Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-14
FOUND DEAD IN BED.
Ex-secretary BelEpap Stricken with Apo
ptcxy at His Once.


WASHINGTON, ID. c., October 13.-
General W. W. Belkuap, Secretary OF
Warunder President Grant Administra-
ton, was found dead in his bed about .
o'clock this morning. 1t is believed that
death occurred between | o'clock Satur-
day night, and Q o'clock Sunday morn
ing. IL was learned from John w.
Cameron, General Belknaps business
associate, that for some time it has been
the Generals habit TO meets few friends
at DR.. Hills, who lives less than a square
away, for a social game of cards. Last
Saturday night, he was with them as
usual, and remained until nearly mid
night. when he returned to his apart
monts in the Evans Building, at 1920
New York avenue, and presumably re-
tired Immediately.
LAST SEEN ALIVE.
He was never again seen alive. About
$50 O'Clock this morning Mr.. Cameron
arrived at the building, and taking the
mail for himself and the General from
the box on the first floor, proceeded to
the second, where their Office and the
Generals apartments are located. He
separated the Generals mail from his
own which he began to read, when a ser
want girl raped at the door and inquired
if General Belknap was out Of the city,
saving that she had several times since
Sunday morning tried the doors, but
found them locked. Mr.. Cameron was
startled at what the girl had said and i'm
mediately tried the doors himself. but
they were locked. The janitor was sum-
moned. and bringing a step-ladder lock-
ed through the transom over the door
leading from the public hall into the
Generals sitting room. lie could see the
Generals hat on the table, and his coat
and vest upon the chair standing near.
The step-ladder was then placed against
the door leading into his bedroom. The
bed was then seen, and the General was
living partly uncovered on it. His Left
arm was bent rigidly toward the head,
aud his left hand tightly clutched as
though death had come while he was in
CONFUSION. The bed-clothes were
somewhat dsarranged as if there had
been a slight struggle for breath.
A STROKE OF APoPLRxY.
A physician was summoned, and after
a brief examination he expressed the
opinion that death had resulted from a
stroke Of apoplexy. The Coroner soon
afterwards arrived ond took the body in
charge. An autopsy will be held later.
Mrs. Belknap, who has been at Newport
and other eastern seaside resorts during
the summer months, but IN New York
city during the last few weeks, was sum-
moned by telegraph, and also the Gene
rails son Hugh from his home in Chi
cago, where he is employed in the Office
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company.
For ome years past General Belknar
has been almost constant sufferer from
geut, aud in February last he had sc
seve.o an attack that be hardly left his
room for three months or more. During
that time be lost in flesh between thirty
and forty pounds, and since then he has
been in poor health.
In consequence Of his long illness hi:
business has suffered, and this has wor
ried him at times. Mr.. Cameron las
saw the General at about o'clock Satur
day afternoon. He had been talking OF
/ his business affairs and seemed some
what depressed, but before Mr.. Cameron
left him he had IN measure regained hi
usual cheerfulness.
General Belknap was the son OF al
army officer and was iifty-nine years Old
He was graduate from Princeton Col
lege and settled ut keokuk, Ia, where
he practiced law. lie entered the UnioI
army in 1861 as a major of volunteers
He fought in the battles of Shiloh an,
Vicksburg, aud was with sherman i
his march to the sea, receiving success
sive promotions to the grade OF major
general. After the war he was appointe,
Collector of Internal Revenue, which b,
resigned to enter Grants Cabinet il
October. 1869, as Secretary of War. H'
remained in the Cabinet until 1876 anC
then resumed the practice Of law here.