Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-02-14
THE SUDDEN DEATH
OF ADMIRAL PORTER. OF THg UNITED STATES
NAVY,
At His Home in Washington Ciy-He Suffers
From Complication Of Dissasss-Ths Flags
On Buildings at Ealf-Masi-Ae Viii Be
Buried With Military Honors

WASHINGTON. February l3.-Admiral
/ David d. Porter died suddenly at 3:l'
O'clock this morning, at mis- residence,
INA II street. Death resulted from
/ fatty degeneration of the heart. which
relentless disease asserted its fatal
clutch upon him AT Newport K. l., last
summer. when contrary to the perSiS-
tent advice Of his physician he over
taxed his strength by taking violent
exercise and was stricken down with
complication Of diseases, including con
gcStiOn 0f the lungs and dropSy. As
soon as he could De moved with safety
he was brought t0 his home in Wash
ingtou aud all means known 20 science
and medicine were reSOrted TO for his
own benefit. Despite them, however,
there were slight but unmiStakeable
symptoms Of approaching dissolution.
Mental disturbances were added 10
other troubles and the patient failed TO
realize the seriousness OF his condition.
The family were made aware weeks
ago that his death was only question
of short time and that the efforts OF
his physicians wer1 directed solely 20
the poStpOnement Oi the inevitable and
TO making his last hours aS comfortable
and as free from pain as possible Med
ical Director Philip Wales, OF the Navy,
has been his attending physician Tor
about H. wears, and during the last six
months has been at his bedside for
Two or three hours OF every ~ hours.
His death this morning was calm and
peaceful. IL came almost entirely with
Out warning When DR.. Wales left him
at % o'clock last uishr his condition
was about the >am, as 10 had been for
several weeks past and there were no
Indication that medical services would
be needed before the time for the doc
tors regular visit this morning, about
% o'clock.
The Admiral was awake AZ 6.45 o'clock
this morning aud took his nouriShment
aS usual. lie afterwards fell into q
light sleep aud gave no Indication what
ever that the end was 81 near At hand.
AT : O'Clock the Admiral> son Richard,
who slept by his fathers side, noticed
that there was change ia his i2therS $
condition lie was breathing with diiii-
Guilty and seemed TO be choking. The
nurse felt his pulse and found ii tC be
hutteriug feebly The household was
at once aroused and Or. Wales sent for.
The patients pulse grew fainter and
fainter aud 40 SO o'clock ceased To
beat. Al that hour he gaSped conyul-
SivcN and expired without word. lie
sat bolt upright with his son Richard
holding one hand and his daughter, Mrs.
l.. c. Logan, the other. DR.. Wales
reached the house almost Immediate
ly after being notified and APP
piled an the reStorativeS known
b.. out to no effect and the doc
tor was compelled TO admit that the case
was at last beyond human skill. Word
was at once sent to the President and
Secretary of the Navy and the flags ON
the White House and on ali other public
buildings were placed at half mast.
Secretary Tracy promptly visited the
family and conferred with them in re-
gard 90 the funeral arrangements. 1t
was settled that the funeral should be
marked with the highest military hon
orS aud that the inJcrmcnt should be no
the Arlington National Cemetery. The
President was informed of Admiral
Porter's death by am orderly and sent "a
feeling message of sympathy TO the
family. He subsequently sent meS-
sage to Congress notifying that body %
the death. and i'm the afternoon issued
am executive order closing the executive
departments on the day Of the funeral,
and directing that the flags ON all public
buildings be placed at half mast on that
....a1fon