Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-10-16
The General Receives Il Stroke of
ApopleXy While at His Home
in Washington.
He is Found Dead in Bed by His
Faithful Servant, John W.
Cameron.
The Relatives OF the ex-Secretar,
Immediately Start for His
Death-bed.

w AsHINGr0N, ID. o., Oct. l3,-Gen.
W. w. Belknap, ex-secretary of war dur
ing President Grants first term, was found
dead in his bed at about 8 o'clock this
morning 1t is believed that death oc-
Cured between | o'clock Saturday night
and O clock Sunday morning.
For some time it has been the generals
habit tc meet few friends at the home of
Mr.. Hill, who lives less than square
away, for social game of cards Last
Saturday night he was with them as usual,
and remained until nearly midnight, when
he returned to his apartments in the
Evans building at 1920 New York avenue,
and presumably Immediately retired He
was never again seen alive.
About 500 o'clocl, this morning John
w. Cameron, Gen. Belknap's business
man, arrived at the building, and taking
the mail for himself and the general from
the box ON the first floor, proceeded
to the second floor, where their office
and the general apartment are located,
He had sorted the generals mail
from his own, which he began reading,
when the servant girl, who keeps
the room in oder, raped Mt the
door and inquired if Gen, Belknap was
out of the city, saying that she had several
times since Sunday morning tried the
doors but found them locked, Mr.
Cameron, startled at what the girl had
said, Immediately tried the doors HIM
self, but they were locked. The janitor
was summoned, and bringing a step-ad-
der, looked through the transom over the
door leading from the public hall into the
generals sitting room. lie could SEQ
the generals hat on the table and his coal
on d chair standing near. The step-ladder
was then placed against the door leading
in his bed room. Ghe bed was then
seen, and the general lying partly uncov-
cred on it. His left arm was bent rigid
ly toward the head, and his left hand was
tightly clenched, as though death had
come while he was in CONFUSION. The
bed clothes were somewhat disarranged,
as if there had been slight
struggle for breath. A physician was
summoned, and, after making brief
examination, he expressed the opinion
that death had resulted from stroke of
apoplexy. The coroner soon afterward
arrived and took the body In charge An
autopsy was held later.
Mrs. Beknap, who has been at New
port and other eastern seaside resorts
during the summer months, but in New
York city during the last few weeks, vas
summoned by telegraph, and also the gen
erals son Hugh, from his home in Chica.
60 where he is employed In the Offices OF
the Baltimore q Ohio railroad.
For some years past Gen. Belknap has
been an almost constant sufferer from
govt and in February last he mad so ST
we're an attack that he hardly left his room
for three months or more. During that
time he lost in flesh between twenty aid
forty pounds, and since then he has been
in poor health. In consequence of his
long illness his business has suffered and
this had worried him at times. Mr.
Cameron last saw the general at about 3
o'clock on Saturday afternoon. He had
been talking of his business affairs and
seemed somewhat depressed, but before
Mr.. Cameron left he had in measure re-
gained his usual cheerfulness.
As soon as the death OF General Belknap
was known at the war department, Acting
Secretary Grant ordered the flags on the
building to be put at half-mast in honor of
the ex-secretary, and gave directions that
the building be draped in black for the
customary period.
Mrs Belknap has decided tn at the gen
eral shall be buried at A. lingtou cemetery
and the funeral will probably take place
Thursday.
Gen. VIM. Worth Beiknap was born in
Newburg, N Y, in September 1929 He
graduated at Princeton college in 1S4S
and in 1851 he removed 10 keokuk, Ia,
where he practiced law. Gen. BeIknap
served through the war, beginning his
service as major of an Iowa regiment
and at the close was breveted general. In
October 1862 he was appointed secretary
of war This Office he retained during
Gen. Grants second administration until
March, 1876, when in consequence of
charges of official corruption ne
resigned. He was impesched and
tried before the senate for re-
ceiving brides for the appointmenti of
post traders, and was acquitted on the
technical ground of want of jurisdiction
When the case was brought before the
senate, sitting as high court Of impeacb-
ment, the question of the jurisdiction of
the court was raised on the ground that
the resignation of the secretary having
been accepted by the president he was no
longer government officer. The ,ourt
sustained the position taken by the de-
fence and the impeachment proceedings
were discontinued.