Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-02-06

TIE sECagrARY oFTHE TREASURY sTRicN-
En- AT 4 BANQUET.

ItL SELttlAlsN OF The IltLASLAE 5iHiC ~
En- AT a BANQUET.
NEW YORK, Jan. 25.-Tho annual din
ner of The New York Board OF Trade and
transportation, at Delmonico's tonight,
was Interrupted by one OF the most start,
ling events that ever occurred in this
city Hon. William Window, Secretary
OF The United States Treasury, who had
come from Washington in the morning o.
deliver an address on the fiscal policy of
the administration, was stricken with
fatal illness at the close Of his speech,
and died in few minutes in one Of the
auterooms of the splendid banqDeting
hall.
In the early evening the stall and
stable men Of the Board OF Trade and
Transportation gathered ID the reception
parlors of pelmonlco's hostelry aud there
welcomed their guests and friends who
had come from near and from far places
to eat and drink and talk aud listen.
The dinner, which began at 6 o'clock,
was completed shortly after . o'clock, and
Mr.. Window, introduced by Judge Ar
noux, who acted as toast master, arose to
speak, being the first speaker Of the even
ing.
lie responded to the toast, "Our Conn
try's Prosperity Dependent Upon It's IN
struments of Commerce" lie finished
his speech at 9:55 o'clock Ii had been
remarked that he was reading it off hui-
riedly from The printed copy, going faster
and faster as he neared the end ana, at
the last, he had requested the audience
not to applaud.
a culver of fear shot through the as
semblage like an electric shock as the
speaker finished. Mr.. Window was stand
ing erect under the glare Of the gas lights
while the faces Of all present turned to-
ward him. Something was tEc matter.
They knew not what For a moment
the Secretary of the Treasury stood SILENT
while the banqueters, equally silent,
watched him. Ii was a moment that no
one " no was present will ever forget.
Then Mr.. Window sat down quietly,
too quietly, many thought, in hs seat,
aud roasl-master Judge AfnOuX arose TO
introduce ex-Secretary Of State Blyard
as the next speaker
He began short speech Int had no:
proceeded far when Mr. Window gave o
short, sharp moan OF anguish and fell
back in his chair. His face grew purple.
His lower limbs stiffcned and stretched
out of their Own accord apparently under
the table.
His eyelids opened and shut spasmod-
really, bat there was no gloam OF intelll-
gence in the eyes. which were rapidly
losing the lustre Of life.
The cigar which he had been smoking
was held between the grim ciinch Of tn
teeth. For only a moment he appeared
thus
A cry went up from those sitting near
the guest table, Look, lock at Mr Win
dom -
Every eye was tushed toward the man
whose voice bad j0st ceased upon The
air. At the rear of the hall many stood
mp and many echoed the cry. Ag. VIM
dom had collapsed i'm his chair
Ex Secretary Bayard and others went
to his assistance. He was helped into an
anteroom. Every cffjrt to restore him
was made but in vain. He died Of heart
disease.
The great assemblage at once dissolved.
Mr. Window had been the only speaker,
and the sentiment to which he responded
was "Our Country's Prosperity Depend,
ent Upon It's Instruments of Commerce"