Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-02-06
SUDDEN DEATH OF A CABINET OFFICER.
SECRETARY WINDOW OF THE TREASURY FALLS
DEAD WHILE ADDRESSING TEE BOARD
OF TRADE OF NEW YORK


On Wednesday evening Oh last week, the
New York Board OF Trade and Transports
ton had its annual dinner at Demonico's III
that city. Secretary Window of the Treasury
Secretary Tracey of ME Navy, 9. 5. Attorney
| General Miller eX-Sscretary Bayard, W. &.
7. Breckenridge of KY, VIM. Mckinley of
| Ohio, and other distinguished men were at the
dinner table. Dinner began ats o'clock and
ended at 8, when the first speaker of the even
7! ing, Secretary Window, was introduced by
| the chairman to respond TO the toast "Our
Countfy's Prosperity Dependent upon the
instruments of Commerce. At 9:55 o'clock
he finished his remarks.
| It had been remarked that he was reading
| it Off hurriediY from the 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
assemblage like an electric shock as the
speaker finished Mr.. Window was standing
erect under the glare of the gas lights while
| tie faces of all present turned toward him
| Something was the matter. They knew not
what. For a moment the Secretary of the
Treasury stood silent, while the banqueters,
| equally silent, watched him. 1t was mo-
nlent that no one who was present will ever
forget Then Mr.. Window sat down quietly.
too quietly. many thought, in his seat, and
| Toastmaster Judge Arnouy, arose to introduce
ex-Secretary eff State Bayard as the next
! speaker lie began a short speech, but had
not proceeded far when Mr.. Wineiom gave a
short, sharp moan of anguish and fell back
in his chair His face grew purple. His
| lower limbs stiifened and stretched out OF
their own accord apparently under the table.
His eyelids opened and shut spasmodicalIy,
but there was no CLEAN Of Intelligence in the
eyes, which were rapidly losing the lustre of
life. The cigar which he had been smoking
was held between the grim clinch of the teeth
| For only moment he appeared thus. A cry
| went up from those sitting near the guest ia
Bile. 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.
MI Window had collapsed in his chair. Ex-
Secretary Bayard and Others went to his as
sistance. He was helped into an anteroom
Every effort to restore him was made, but in
| vain. He had died of heart disease
The great assemblage at once dissolved.
MI. Window had been the only speaker
President Harrison first got the news
through an Associated Press telegram sent
HIM He was at the White House in the IL
brary at the time talking with Mrs. Harrison
| and when the message was read to him he was
greatly distressed and almost completely
overcome.
Official information of the death came in a
General Miller. The President realizing the
blow would be a hard one for Mrs Window
to bear, FASTENED to MI. Wanamaker S
where She was attending reception, and
without Informing Mrs. Window of what had
occurred induced her to return home. When
she reached her house She was Informed Of
her husbands death by Mr.. Brockett She
was almost completely Frustrated, and for a
time was almost violent in her endeavors to
leave the house at once and start for New
York.
The arrival of the President, Postmaster
General Wanamaker, Secretary Noble and
other members OF the cabinet who had fol
lowed her, quieted her somewhat and she was
persuaded to retire to her room where she
was joined by her daughters, Rev. Dr.. Ham
lin and few other friends Of the family.
Secretary Window was native of Ohio,
siXty-four years old. He went to Minnesota
thirty-six years ago; had represented that
State in both branches OF Congress for twenty
two years and was President Garfield's Secre-
tary of the Treasury.