The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-01
SPINNER SINKS TO SLEEP.
HE HAD NOT SPOKEN TO ANY ONE
IN FORTY HOURS.


His Eyes Closed, His Heart Weak
and Every Indication Given of APP
preaching Dissolution-The Family
of His Daughter at His Bedside
A Sketch of His Life.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Dec. 3I.-Gan.
Francis Z. Spinner, ex-treasurer Of the
United States, died at $3.50 o'clock tonight
at the residence of his daughter, hrs James
NJ. Schumacher, In Brooklyn suburb. on
the west bank of the St. Johns river.
Since yesterday morning it had been plain
TO his physicians and friends that
the end was approaching. Ths
patients condition changed from
one Of semi-consciousness, with occasi0nal
rallyings, when he would speak word or
two, to one Of absolute unconsciousness.
He had not spoken to pr recognized any ono
for nearly forty hours, his eyes being closed
most Of the time, and every Symptom
indicating approaching dissolution.
There were signs of heart fall
ure, his breathing was difficult, and
at times his pulse was hardly perceptible.
During this time nourishment was taken
regularly, however, and quite freely. To-
day there was a rapid collapse Of all his
physical powers, and when at length death
came the change was hardly noticeable.
THE FATAL AILMENT. +.
The nature of Gen. Spinner's disease--
cancer of the face-has required the COM
slant attendance Of physicians and nurses
for many weeks past. When the end came
there were present at the bedside
Gen. Spinner's daughter, Mrs. James. NJ.
Schumacher, wife OF the president of the
First National Bank Of this city who is
his only child now living her husband,
and young son, Rudolph Spinner Schu-
macher; two great grandchildren, Thomas
Charming Moore and Master Roy r. Moore,
besides the members Of the household and
attendants. Gen. Spinner leaves sew
stet. srSl gTandshldr9S sdSan IN. II New So York
Clark of Mohawk and of Mrs. F. b. Har-
vey Of Buffalo, both deceased. A short SER
vice Of prayer will be held at the house to-
morrow afternoon by Rev. V. w. Shields.
rector Of st. Johns Episcopal church. and
on Friday morning the remains will be
taken to Mohawk, N. Y. for interment,
MIR. Schumacher accompanying them.
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Gen. Spinner was born In Ger
man Flats now Mohawk, N. Y, Jan.
q, 1902. He engaged in trade in
later became deputy sheriff of tho
county. He was active in tho
militia organization and in 1884 had
reached the grade of major general. Sub
sequently he became sheriff, and later was
commissioner for building the state lunatic
asylum at Utica. He held various local
Offices was auditor aud deputy naval officer
IN the raval offfce at New York In tsS5-s.
and in 1854 was elected TO congress as an
anti-slavery democrat. He served on the
COMMITTEES OF privileges and elections, on
the special committee to investigate the
ASSAULT made by Preston Brooks on Charles
Sumner, and on the conference committee
of both houses on the army appropriation
bill, which the Senate had rejected on ac-
count of clause 1t contained that forbade
the use Of the military against Kansas
settlers. Gen. Spinner was an active re-
publican from the formation Of the party,
and was twice reelected to con-
gress. In President Lincoln's administra--
tion Secretary Chase selected Gen. Spinner
for the office Of treasurer Of the United
States, which office he filed from March l6s
1861, until June 3d. 1875.
THE FIRST TO EMPLOY WOMEN.
When, during the war, many OF the
clerks joined the army, Gen. Spinner sug-
gested to Secretary Chase the advisability
of employing women In the government
offices and carried into effect this innova-
tion, though not without much opposition.
He signed the different series Of paper
money issued in q singular handwriting,
which he cultivated in order to try to
prevent counterfeiting. When he re-
signed his Office the money in the
treasury was counted, and when the result
showed very small discrepancy many
days were spent in recounting and exanlin-
ing the books Of accounts until finally the
mistake was discovered. On retiring from
the office he came south for the benefit Of
his health, and for some years lived in camp
at Pablo Beach, Fla.