Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-02-05
A SUDDEN SUMMONS.
Secretary Window Drops Dead at "a Ban

quet.
The Hon William Window, secretary
of the treasury of the United States,
died on the night of the Goth, at 1905
O'Clock in the banquet hall at Delmon-
ico's, where he was guest of the New
York Board of Trade and Transports
ton His had been the first toast
of the evening. He had finished his re-
Spouse, 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 at 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 It's instruments Of Com
mercc.
The dinner, which began at 6 o'clock,
was completed shortly after O'Clock,
and Mr.. Window, introduced by Judge
Arnoux, who acted as toast-master,
arose to speak, being the first speaker OF
the evening. He responded to the
toast: "Our Country's Prosperity De-
| pendent Upon Its Instruments of Com
mcrcc." He finished his speech at
9:55 o'clock. 1t had been remarked
that he was reading it off hurriedly
from the printed copy, going faster and
faster as he neared the end, anC at the
last, he had requested the audience not
to applaud.
\ culver of fear shot through the as
semblage like an electric shock as the
speaker finished. Mr.. Window was
standing erect under the glare of the
gas lights while the faces of the most
| famous body of men in the country all
! turned toward him. Something was the
| bot n
moment the Secretary of the Treasury
stood silent, while the banquetters,
equally silent, watched him. 1T was q
moment that no one who was present
Will ever forget. Then MIR. Window sat
| down quietly, too quietly, many thought,
IN his seat and ToastMaster Judge
Arnoux arose to introduce cx-Sccretary
of State Bayard az the next speaker.
He began short speech, but had not
proceeded far when Mr.. Window gave
short, sharp moan of anguish and Tell
back in his chair. His face grew pur-
pie. His lower limbs stiffened and
stretched out of their own accord APP
parently under the table Ills eyellds
opened and shut spasmodcally, but
there was no gleam of intelligence in the
luster of life. The cigar which he had
been smoking was held be-
tween the grim clinch Of the
teeth. For only n 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
just ceased upon the air. At the rear Of
the 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 CHASTITY, and d
cry Of horror arose from the late festive
banquettcrs. 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. $. 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 ono or two others, lift
cd him to his feet, deathly pale. He
was carried into the room behind the
banquet hall, and everything was done
to resuscitate him, but it was too late.
William Window was born III Belmont
| County, Ohio. May 10. 1927. He received
| Mount Vernon. o., and was admitted to
! the bar in 1850. In 1852 he became prose
| cutting attorney for Knox County. but in
| 1855 he removed to Minnesota, and soon
| atterWard he was chosen to Congress from
| that stale as a 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 1865, and of tfat on the con-
duct of the commissioner Of Indian af-
fairs in 1867. In 1870 he was appointed
to the United States Senate to fill
the uneXpirCd term of Daniel S. Norton,
deceased and he was subsequently chosen
| for the term that ended III 1877. lie was
| reelected tor the term that closed in 1883,
and resigned in 1881 to enter the cabinet of
! President Garfield as secretary of the treas
ury, but retired on the accession Of Presi-
dent Arthur in the same year, and was
| elected by the Minnesota Legislature TO
serve the remainder of his term in the Sen
ate. In that body Mr.. Window acted as
! chairman OF the committees on appropria-
| tons, foreign affairs and transportation.
| He was appointed secretary Of the treasury
| by President harrison and has since served
| III that capacity.
| AS member of President Garfeld's
| cabinet he accomplished at least one great
| feat. Congress had adjourned ON March
! 1, and had failed to pass the bill providing
for the retundng OF the maturing hondS
over the veto of Hayes. The situation was
critical The bonds upon which the gov
eminent had the option Of retiring were
paying + 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 were frightened.
Many of the bonds had already been sur
rendered to the treasury, and there was
danger of a contraction of currency by the
withdrawal Of u considerable amount OF
the banks circulation. The subject was
discussed with all the energy and earnest
ness that ITS seriousness demanded at sew
cral cabinet meetings. The President,
Secretary Blaine and some members OF the
cabinet considered an extra session ncceS-
sary, but Mr.. Window declared this I'M
necessary. lie explained tac method by