Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-02-05
A NATIONS LOSS.
VIM. Window, Secretary of the Treasury,
Drops Dead in q Banquet Hall.

New YORK, Jan. 29.-William Window,
Secretary cf the Treasury OF the. United
States, died tonight at 1905 O'Clock in the
banquet hall at Delmonice's where he was
a guest of the New York Board of Trade
and Transportation. His had been the
frat toast Of the evening. He had finished
bis response, seated himself, swooned at
once and died almost Immediately. Every
effort to restore him was made, but in vain.
lie died Of heart disease. The great assem-
blage was at once dissolved.
In the early evening members OF the Board
of Trade and Transportation gathered in
the reception parlors at Delmonieo's and
welcomed guests aud friends who had come
from near and far. Perhaps the most promi-
nent were Secretaries Window and Tracy.
of the Treasury and Navy respectively.
Nova Scotia had a representative among
those present in the person of her Attorney
General, Mr.. Longley. Canada, too. was
there in the person o Wiliord Laurier. Mr..
Window, dignified OF mien as usual. was
apparently in perfect health. All formed a
Jolly procession to the banquet hall, where
members and guests were seated, memsers
at III ibpite uPou tut hooE ~ sNthis ~
a long table upon a raised platform. Aged
Captain Ambrose Snow, president of the
Board, was in the center place. At his
right he seated Mr.. Window, at his left Mr..
Bayard. The dinner was completed at 9
o'clock and Mr.. Window introduced by
Judge Arnoux, responded to the toast.
"'Our eeuntry's prosperity dependent upon
the instrument Of commerce He finished
his speech at OBS o'clock.
a SIGHT NEVER TO BE
II had been remarked that he was read
ing it off hurriedly from printed copy, going
faster and faster as he neared the end, and
at the last, he had requested the audience
not to applaud. A culver of fear shot
through the a~ssemblage like an electric shock
as the speaker finished. Mr.. Window was
standing direct under the glare OF gas lights
with the faces of all turned toward him,
For a moment the Secretary stood silent
while the banqneters, equally silent, watched
him. 1t was u moment that no one will
ever forget. Then Mr.. Windom sat down
quietly, too quietly, man. thought, in his
seat, and the POSTMASTER arose to intro
duce Ex-Sscrstary OF State Bayard as the
next speaker. He began his speech, but
had not proceeded far when Mr.. Window
IA We n short, sharp moan of anguish. and
fell back in his chair. His lace grew purple
His J. lower m los stiffened out under the table
His eyelids opened and shut s~pasmodically
but there was no CLEAN OF intelligence in
his eyes, which were rapidly losing the lus
tire of life. The cigar which he had been
smoking was held between the grim clinch
al his teeth. For only "a moment he APP
peAred thus. Then a cry went up from
those sitting near the guest table: "Leok
look at Ir. Windoml" Every eve was
turuaI IN Ike man whAsa ynica had Inst
ceased. AS they looked he cola psed in his
chair and was falling to the floor. His face
was CHASTITY and a cry Of herror arose from
the late festive ban9ueters. There was al
immediate rush on the part of all towards
Mr.. Windoru-s chair but several doctors
who were at the dinner got there first ana
drove the Others back. They were Drs
Robinson, Durant, Whitney, Fisher aud
Bishop. DIR. Robinson bent down, and
making a close examination OF the pros
trats form discovered the heart still beat.
ing, and with the assistance Of Judge
Truax, Captain Snow and one or two
others, carried him into a room be
hind the banquet hall where everything
wssdone To resuscitate him. Messengers
were hastily dispatched for electric
batteries and as many AS four were applied
To his body, but il was rapidly growing
cold. This was exactly at 1905 p. IN.
The electric shocks were applied necessarily
but without success. He was pronounced
dead.
Mrs. Window aud daughters did not &C.
company the Secretary to New York but
remained in Washington. When the news
was gently broke to them they were com.
pletely overcome with grief.
Probably no member of the Presidents
official family was more highly estesmed
than Secretary Window, and the expires
sions of sorrow from the president and
those OF his cabinet in Washington indicate
how highly they priced his friendship and
value his counsels. Secretary Blaine in
speaking of Mr.. Window said he was IA very
valuable member of the cabinet, and had
worked with intense zeal since entering
upob the duties of his office. His death
is a great loss to the administration HI
WAS exceedingly popular with member OF
the Ca binet. Mr.. Blaine said he did not
think that one of them had ever had an
unfriendly word with him since the Cabinet
was formed. Secretary Proctor said that
words could not express the feeling that all
experienced in the Secretary's death. Their
personal relations were most friendly. Sec
retary Noble said the deceased was the
most lovable man he ever met. Postmas-
ter General Wanamaker said: 1T is the
first break in the Cabinet and a great loss
TO the country. With his great ability there
was every quality and grace to make an
ideal man; everyone loved him"