The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-01-17
CLAIMED BY DEATH.
The Eldest Son of the Secretary
of State Succumbs to
Pneumonia.
La Grippe, the Primary Cause
of His Almost Painless
Death.

WASHINGTON, Special.-Walker Blaine
examiner of claims in the state department
and eldest living son of Hon. James G.
Blaine, secretary of state, died suddenly
and without premonition at the family res
idence in the old Seward mansion, facing
Lafayette Park, this evening. of
acute pneumonia, superinduced by an
attack of the grippe. There were
with him at the time of his death
only his two unmarried sisters, Harriet
and Margaret, though all the family. except
Mrs. Coppinger and James G. Blaine, Jr.,
were in the house at the time, those absent
from the city having been hastily sum-
moned here by telegraph to-day. The end
was painless life passing away while the
sufferer who had been delirious all day.
was unconscious. He had been ill only
few days, and his death is a sudden and
severe shock to an unusually large circle OF
friends, who were not aware that he was
dangerously i'll this morning. while the
family, who are all devotedly attached to
him, are totally Frustrated with grief at the
sudden bereavement. Mr.. Blaine, while
comparatively strong. had not entirely re-
covered from the accident in the spring by
which his leg was broken and from an at
tack of maarial fever from which he
suffered during the autumn. The news of
Mr. Blaine's death quickly became known
and many friends called during the even
ing to express their sympathy. The presi-
dent and Mrs. Harrison called very soon
after Mr.. Blaine's death, and Vice President
and Mrs. Morton came soon afterwards.
Justices Harlan and Gray, of the supreme
court, most of the members of the Maine
al rtofi md
others we'll known in fficial and social life
also called. No arrangements for the fun
eral will be made until tomorrow, the
family being too much overcome to give
thought to the burial as yet.
Walker Blaine was born in Augusta, Me-,
MAY g. 1885, He first went to Washington
to live in 1867 five years after his fathers
election to congress. He was graduated
from Yale in 1876. and from the Columbia
law school in New York two years later.
He went to Washington in 1881, and was
appointed third assistant secretary of state
In the winter of 1882 he went to
South America with Mr.. Trescot on a
special mission to use the good
offices of the United States to negotiate a
settlement of the troubles between Chill
and Peru. He was then charge d'affaires
for several months. Late in the year 1882
he was appointed assistant counsel of the
court of Alabama claims which office he
held until 1885. He lived in Chicago from
1886 to 1888, returning to this city Jan. l,
1889 He assisted his father in the work
which devolved upon him when he became
secretary of state. and on March Is last was
nominated by President Harrison exam
liner of claims in the state department
and as such was legal adviser of the depart
ment and confidential representative of the
secretary. Walker Blaine had assisted his
father greatly throughout his political
career, and was most closely and Intimately
associated with him in all his plans enjoy
ing not only the great affection of his
father, but his complete confidence as well.
He was a young man of marked attain
ments, great tact and decided ability.
He was highly respected by those
who knew him in official and social
life, many of whom predicted that he would
have achieved an even higher fame for HIM
self but for his devotion to his fathers in
terests. 1t may be truthfully said of him
that those who knew him best esteemed
him most. The regard in which he was
held was shown when his nomination to his
last office was sent in to the senate that
body on motion of Senator Edmunds doing
him the very unusual honor of confirming
the nomination at once without reference to
committee.