The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-02-07
A SUDDEN SUMMONS.
Secretary Window Drops Dead at Il BAN


Guet.
TIE Hon. William Window, secretary
OF the treasury of the United States.
died on the night of the 10Th. at 1o:G5
O'Clock in the banquet hall at Delmon-
ico's, where he was 4 guest of the New
York Board of Trade and Transported
ton. His had been the first toast
of the evening. He had finished his re-
sponse, had seated himself. swooned at
once, and died almost immediately
Every effort to restore him Was made,
but in vain. He died OF heart disease
The great assemblage al once dissolved
Mr.. Window had been the only speaker.
and the sentiment to which he respond
ed was: 'Our Country's Prosperity De-
pendent Upon Its instruments Of Com
merce.'
The dinner, which began at 6 O'Clock,
was completed shortly after 9 O'clock
and Mr.. Window, introduced by Judge
ArnouX, who acteu as toast-master.
arose to speak, being the first speaker OF
the evening. He responded TO the
toast ''Our Country's Prosperity De-
pendent pom Its instruments OF Com
merce." He finished his speech at
800 o'clock. 1t had been remaTkcd Il
that he was reading il oft hurriedlv
from the printed copy, going faster and
faster as lie neared the end, and, at the
last, he had requested the audience not
to applaud.
\ culver of fear shot through the as
semhlage like an electric shock as the
speaker finished. Mr.. Window was
standing erect under the glare of the
cas- lights while the faces of the most
famous body of men IN the country all
turned toward him. Something was the
matter. They knew not what. For a
moment the Secretary of the Treasury
stood silent, while the banQuetters,
equally silent, watched him. IL was Il
moment that no one who was present
will ever forget Then Mr.. Window sat
down quietly, too quietly, many thought,
In his seat and ToastMaster Judge
Arnoux arose to introduce ex-Sccretary
of State Bayard as the next speaker.
He began a short speech. but had not
proceeded far when Mr.. Window gave
a short, sharp moan OF anguish and tell
back IN his chair. His face grew pur-
pie. His lower limbs stitfened and
stretched out OF their own accord APP
parently under the table. His cyelids
opened and shut spasmodically, but
there was no gleam of intelligence in the
eyes. hich were rapidly losing their
lust,: of life. The cigar which he had
l,tl smoking was held be-
tween the grim clinch of the
teeth. For only Il moment
he appeared thus A cry went up from
those sitting near the guest table, Look,
look at Mr.. Window Every eye was
turned toward the man whose voice had
'ust ceased upon the air. At the rear of
tAe hall many stood up, and many
echoed the cry. Mr.. Window had col
lapsed in his chair and was falling to
the floor. His face grew ghastlv, and q
cry of horror arose from the late festive
banquetters. There was an immediate
rush on the part of all toward Mr.. Win
dom's chair, but several doctors who
were present at the dinner got there
first and drove the others back. They
were Drs. 5. A. Robinson, Durant,
Whitney, Fisher and Bishop. DR.. Rob
inson bent down, and, making a close
examination of the PROSTATE form, dis
covered that the heart was yet beating,
and, with the assistance of Judge TraUX,
Capt. Snow and one or two others, lift
ed him to his feet, deathiy pale. He
was carried into the room behind the
banquet hall, and everything was done
to resuscitate him, but it was too la.e.
William Window was born in Belmont
County. Ohio, May 10, 1927. lie received
an academic education and studied law at
Mount Vernon, o.. and was admitted to
the bar in 1869. In 1862 he became prCse
cutting attorney Tor Knox County. but in
1855 he removed to Minnesota and soon
atterward he was chosen to Congress from
that state as Republican. serving from
1859 to 1869. In that body he served two
terms as chairman of the committee on
Indian affairs, and also was at the head OF
the special committee to visit the Western
tribes in 1876. and of tat on the con
duet of the commissioner OF Indian af-
fairs i'll 1861. In lSIj he was appointed
to the United States Senate To fill
the uneXpired term of Daniel :. Norton.
deceased. and he was subsequently, chosen
for the term that ended IN 1877. lie was
reelected tor the term that closed i'll 1855,
and resigned in 1881 to enter the cabinet OF
President Garfield as secretary of the trc as
ury. but retired on the accession of Prcsl-
dent Arthur III the same year. and was
elected by the Minnesota Legislature 10
serve the remainder of his term IN the Sen
ate. In that body Mr.. Window acted as
| chairman OF the committees on approprla-
| tons, foreign affairs and transportation.
| He was appointed secretary of the treasury
| by President harrison and has since served
IN that capacity.
| AS member of President Garfield 5
! cabinet he accomplished at least one great
| feat. Congress had adjourned on March
| 4, and had failed to pass the bill providing
| for the retunding of the maturing boaus
| over the veto of Hayes. The situation was
| critical. The bonds upon which the gov
| eminent had the option OF retiring were
| paying 8 per cent. interest. There was
| plenty of money in the treasury to take
| them up in such lots and at such times as
| the secretary chose. The banks
which had them were timid, and
| some of the holders We're frightened
| Many of the bonds had already been sur
| rendered TO the treasury. and there was
! danger of contraction of currency by the
withdrawal Of a considerable amount OF
| the banks circulation. The subject was
discussed with all the energy and earnest
ness that Its seriousness demanded at sev,
| era cabinet meetings. The President
! Secretary Blaine and some members Of the
! cabinet considered an extra session neceS
| SaTy, but Mr.. Window declared this un
necessary. He explained the method by
| which he proposed 10 compel the bank:
| to refund their bonds, not at 315. as the We
| tOed law allowed. but at 8 per cent. Gar
| field saw the merit of the plan and 1t was
| successfully carried out. As member O1
| President Harriscn's cabinet he prOposcC
! a silver measure, which commanded the
| respect Of the best fInanclcrs. It's maIr
| features were embodied in the bill passed
| 10y the last Congress. lie was man o,
| original thought. and one whose influence
! was always potent in the shaping OF AFFAIR:
| entrusted TO his care.
| FIRST IN THIS COUNTRY.