The sun., 1890-01-16
DEATH OF WALKER BLAINE.
TEE OLDEST SON or THE SECRETARY
or STATE SUDDENLY E1PIRRa

A ATTACK ot La Srlppe, which Soon De-
voiePed Into Acute PneumoaIn, was the
Cause or Hts Death-The story or His
Lin-The Blow TO Secretary Blaine.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15-The death of
Walker Blaine, which occurred here at 500
this evening. was a great shock to the CON-
! immunity, where he has been 80 we'll known for
many years, and 10 tho severest blow Of his
lifetime to his father the Secretary OF State.
Nwalker Blaine was the oldest son OF James G.
Blaine. and since reaching manhood has been
his fathers most intimate friend and conf
Dental adviser Walker was attacked last FRI
u day with severe cold. He remained indoors.
and on Monday was feeling 80 much better
hat he sat up and conversed with the
guests at dinner party given by his
parents After tho guests had departed he
walked about the house In his night clothes
as a means of inducing sleep and contracted
another cold, which developed into pneumonia.
Since early this morning his condition has
been critical and he was practically in q dying
state all day. Few persons in Washington
knew that the condition Of the sick man was
so serious, and tho one person that was most
ignorant Of the subject was the father OF tho
dying patient
Last night all the ladies' OF the household
remained away from the reception ut the
White House. given in honor OF the diplomatic
corps, In order to be in attendance upon the
sick man, but Secretary Blaine was induced to
attend. He did not then realize the critical
condition OF his son, and felt that he should
sacrifice his personal feelings In order to assist
In the enertainm ent Of the foreigners Early
to-day. however. the Secretary was made aware
OF the dangerous state OF Walkers illness. and
-I.- Al.
he has been partially dellrious all day.
Walker Blaine was. and has been for years.
his fathers right hand ITe has had charge OF
all his strictly private and confidential busi-
ness and no father ever had q more faithful
or discreet counsellor and assistant OF his
three sons Secretary Blaine could least afford
to lose Walker. the eldest. upon whom he de-
pended almost exclusively in the many and
delicate duties imposed upon him as the pre-
mier of the Administration. For ten years this
confidential relation has existed between Jas.
@. Blaine and his son. and. according to the
statements OF their intimate friends. the Sec
retary Of State has never in all
that time had cause 10 regret his
policy of confdng implicitly in his son all
matters OF private and public Importance.
Walker Blaine spent nearly his entire life In
Washington, and no man was better known or
more universally popular than he among pub
lie men, Government officials. newspaper cor
respondents. society people. and all with whom
he came in daily contact. With men he was
open. frank. manly and fair; with women he
was gay, witty, and gallant; and though per-
sons who were unacquainted with him were
apt to sneer at him as the son OF his father,
those who knew him admired his good quail
ties and gave him credit for being q man OF
brains and standing. regardless Of the fact that
his father was great man.
Walker Blaine came to Washington with his
parents Just before the war. when he was boy
In dresses. and with the exception Of the years
which he spent at school and college and q few
years in the West as a practising lawyer. his
whole life was passed in Washington. He fitted
for college at Phillips Academy. Andover
Mass. and entered the Harvard class of 1876.
After spending a year at Cambridge he was
pursuaded by son OF Senator Dawes to go
to Yale. where he was graduated in 1876
He was one OF the most popular men
In his class. He first came into public promi-
pence Immediately after his graduation from
Yale as one OF the counsel OF Shiperd, the man
who afterward became notorious In the inveS-
tiRation OF his connection and that OF Secretary
Blaine with tho guano contracts in Peru. Sem
tor, was at that time also one of the counsel OF
Shiperd. When James q; Blaine became
Garfield. Walker was made Third Assistant Sec
retary. This appointment was the cause of
e Who Rs9e at the to %
were alterward inclined to admit that Walker
made crehltahle record. While Assistant
,ecretary young Bl alne was sent with William
Henry Trescolt to Peru as a special Commits
sioner al the time OF the trouble between that
dent Garfield he became his fathers secretary,
and acted rs such on the day when Mr. Blaine
his life, ,euogy on his dead friend Garfield.
After this Walker was appointed Assistant |
the place for several yenrs. Lawyers who had |
business before that court constantly testified |
% the fact that. although ayoung man. Walker |
did some very good legal work and held up his
end with LAWYERS OF experience many years his
Of practising law. He did SO for q year or
aiterward in Chicago. where he formed "a a part
nership with Geo. s. Willis, n rising and pop.
hs IsF HON HKSanG as2Sy az neF &
and Chicago Walker Blaine made hosts Of
friends; as he did in the Eastern cities whore
then an official Of the Chicago Burlington and
Baltimore. at that time lived In Chicago and
the young men lived together at the Union
Walker did not feel at home in tho West, and
determined SfH TO- to return to Washington should
o FS M ms %Gp5
Washington last winter. Just before his father
Ess appointed Secretary = # State by PreSidspt
ington. a few days before the inauguration.
young Blaine broke his leg In stepping
from cab. and was confined 10 The
house for mnny weeks, Upon his recovery
Department IN place of Dr. Wharton.
deceased. :, since the day of his appointnent as
Solicitor, Walker Blaine has been OF inyal-
uable aid 10 his father. aud in the conduct
OF the, delicate private business OF the depart
ment has shown the utmost tact. ability, and
discretion. He has stood between the Secre- |
ary and the politicians, and has been accessi-
PIE at all times to people having business with
the department.
In the clubs and drawing rooms OF Washing
ton Walker Blaine has always been fayorite.
anu although invariably showing tho utmost
attention to ladies', he has never been reported
rs as engaged TO any one. In 1884. when his
iHather made his celebrated tour through the
doubtful states. Walker was his inseparable
companion. and took entire charge OF the trip.
ne had the happy faculty Of making friends
Win neonle OF all classes, and on that cee-
tHdG Sra'ed trip; when the candidate for President