Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-14
E4-sccre,ary of War Belknap Dead

WASHINGTON Oct. 13.-Ex- Secretary OF War
William BeIknap was found dead this morning
IN a room adjoining his office, No. 1870 New
York avenue. The coroner has been summoned.
1t i thought his death was Cue to paralysis.
Gen. w. w. Beiknap. ex-secre ary of war
during President Graz It's first term. was fou I'D
dead in his osi about o'clock this N 'rnins. 1t
is believed death occurred between 10 O'Clock
From John ". Cameron, Gen Belknaps bus
mess associat' it Is leaned that about $3.50
u'c.ock this moaning Mr.. Gunner m arrived at
tn building and took the mail for himself and
the general from the box the first floor
and preceded to the second floor, where
their Offices and the generals apar.m are
located. He had separated tie generals mail
from his own With he began reading. when the
servant girl who ieeps the rooms in order rap
ped at the door and inquired if Gen. Belknap
out of the city, saying she had sew
but found is locked. Mr.. Cameron
started i'm ne lia:ely "a triei the doors him
self, but they were locSed. The ianitor
summoned, and bringing step-la-der placed 1t
against the door lea ling into his room. The
bed was then seen and the general was lying
partly uncovered en- it. His left arm was benz
rigidiy toward his head and his left hand was
tightly c!encned, as though death hal come
while he was in CONFUSION. physician
ton. his opinion was that death had resulted
from q stroke of appoplexy. The coroner
soon after arrived and took the body in charge.
Ar autopsy will be held later.
Mrs. B-lknap, who has Teen at Newport and
other eastern seaside resorts during the sum-
mer months, but in New York during The last
lew weeks. was summoned. an l also the gener-
ais son, Hugh, from his home in Chica 20. Fog
some years past Gen. B lknap has been al
almost cons ant suf arer from govt, and IN Feb
ruary last ha O serere attack. Since then he
has been in poor health.
The au opsy on the body di CLOSED the fact
that the immediate cause was Inflammation Of
the inner / ming of the heart.
Gen. William w. Belknap was the son OF W.
G. Belknap of the United States army, and was
born in Hudson. n. Y. in 1857. He was gradu-
ated al Priu ceton college in 1919 and adopted the
profession OF law. settling in Keokuk. Iowa.
He was ected to the Iowa legislature in lS47
and at the beginning of the war of the rebellion
in 1851, he entered military service. He fought
in he battles of shiloh and Vicksburg, and was
with Gen. Sherman in his campaign. For
bravery and gallant conduct he received success
siye promotions. until he was given the COM
mand OF division as major-general. After the
war he was appointed collector OF internal reve-
nue. which he held until he entered President
Grants cabinet. October IL, 1869, secretary Of
war After his resignation as secretary of war
in 1876, he resumed the practice of his profess
sion. in which he has been conspicuousiy sue
cessful.
AS soon as the death OF Gen Belknap WINS
known at the war department. Acting Secretary
Grant ordered the flag on that building to be
put at half mast in honor of the ex-secretary,
and he gave directions that the building he
draped in black for the customary period. He
commuI icated with the family of the deceased
to offer every assistance they might desire in
arranging for the funeral.