The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-30

NEW YORK, Jan. 26.-Hon. William Window,
secretary of the treasury OF the United states,
died tonightat 0:o5 o'clock in the banquet hall
at Delmonicos, where he was the guest of the
New York Board of Trade aud Transportation.
His had been the first toast of the evening.
He had finished the response, and heated him.
self He swooned at once, and died almost inn
mediateiy. Every effort TO restore him was
made but in vain. He died OF heart disease
The great assemblsge at once dissolved. Mr..
Window had been the only speaker, and the SEN
fiment TO which he responded was: ''Our
Country's Prosperity Dependent Upon Its In
struments of Commerce"
In the early evening the members of the Board
OF Trade and Transportation gathered in the re-
ception parlDrs of Deimonico's and welcomed
the guests and friends who had come from near
and far- Perhaps the most prominent were Sec
retaries Window and Tracy, of the treasury and
navy respectively. Nova Scotia had q repre-
sentative among those present in the person OF
her attorney general, Longley Canada, too,
was there in the person of Hon. Wilfred Lau-
rier
Mr.. Window, dignifed of mien, as usual was
apparently in perfect health. All formed a
jolly procession to the banquet hail. where the
members and guests were seated, the members
al tables upon the floor and the guests at a long
table upon raised platform. Aged Captain
<hLhDloSS SuoH, pFeSiueul Oh the DOarQ, was IN
the center place. At his right he seated Mr..
Window and upon his left Mr.. Bayard.
The dinner was completed shortly after
O'Clock, and Window, introduced By Judge
Arnoux, responded to the toast ''Our Country's
Prosperity Dependent upon it's. Instruments of
Commerce" He finished his speech at 955
o'clock. Ii had been remarked that he was
reading off hurriedly from printed copy, going
faster and faster as he neared the end, and at
last he had requested the audience not to ap-
plaud.
CULVER OF fear shot through the assemblage
ike an electric shock as the speaker finished
Window was standing erect under the glare of
gaslights, with the faces of all turned toward
him. For moment the secretary stood SILENT
while the banqueters, equally silent, watched
him. 1t was moment that no one present will
ever forget. Then Mr. Window sat down quietly,
too quietly many thought, in his seat and the
toast-master arose to introduce ex-Secretary OF
State Bayard as the next speaker He began a
short speech, but had not proceeded far when
Mr. Window gave short, sharp moan of anguish
and fell back in his chair.
His face was purple, his lower limbs stiffened
and stretched out under the table, his eyelids
opened and shut spasrnodically, but there was
no gleam OF intelligence in the eyes, which were
rapidly losing the lusteT of life. A cigar which
he had been smoking vas held befseen the
grim clinch OF his teeth. For only moment he
appeared thus.
cry went UP from those sitting near the
guest table: Look! Look at Mr.. Windomr'
Every eye was turned toward the man whose
voice had just ceased AS they looked he coll
lapsed in his chair and was falling to the floor
His lace was CHASTITY and cry of horror arose
from the late festive banquet
There was an immediate rush on the part of
all toward WINDOWS chair, but several doctors
who were present at the dinner got there first
~, TT.
inson, Durant, Whitney, Fisher and Bishop DR..
Robinson bent down and, making close exam
ination OF the PROSTATE form. discovered that
the heart was yet beating, and with the assist
ance OF Judge Truax. Captain Snow and one or
two others carried him into the room behind the
banquet hall, and everything was done to resus-
eitate him Messengers were hastily dispatched
ior electric batteries, and as many as four were
applied TO his body, but it was rapidly growing
cold This was at exactly 1906. For six min
utes electric shocks were applied, but without
success. He was pronounced dead.
81 would say the cause of death was apo
plexy,' said DR.. Robinson, "if il were not for
the history of heart diseases am inclined to
think heart disease killed him.
Sir. Window was subject 10 fits of heart fail
ure. On Tuesday last he was seized with an at
tack while on the steps of the treasury at WASH
ington City, bnt he did not lose consciousness,
ana was able TO take care OF himself
At l0:ll p. IN. Judge Arnoux came out of the
room where lay Mr.. Window, aud announced to
the diners that SecretaryWindom, whom they
had the pleasure of hearing only few minutes
before, had breathed his last.
''He is dead,' he said. This was the fearful
announcement that was uttered, in voice mid
way between sob and a whisper through that
gaily bedecked banquet hall. around which still
hung like funeral pail the smoke of the after
dinner cigar
"EIe is dead" The words went to the heart of
every man who heard them. They could hardly
believe that the brilliant orator OF a few min.
utes before, aglow with enthusiasm and predict
ing his future policy in the treasury, was now
inanimate clay. His voice was forever siIenced.
and his last words were for his country Silence
fell upon men who were only few minutes be-
fore clamoring for news OF Mr. Window Judge
Arnoux on retiring with the unconscious man.
had announced that Mr.. Window had only
fainted, and IL was not thought by those remain
ing that II was as serious as it proved to be-
When it was officially announced that the
secretary was dead, Secretary Tracy at once
went TO the nearest telegraph Office and sent
message TO President Harrison informing him of
the untimely event, and requesting him to COM
nunicate with Mrs. Window and have her start
on the lI:l0 train for New York This will
bring Mrs Window TO theacity by o'clock to-
morrow morning, ana not until then can any
SEsaLtsSl1eAts De I1auG Tor the removal OF the
body.
The scene that ensued when the death was
officially announced is beyond description in
mere words. Gradually the excitement abated,
and death certificate was issued signed bv
Drs. Whitney and Robinson. giving the cause of
the death as first cerebral hemoTrhage, and
second, coma Undertaken Huyler, OF Grace
church, was summoned and put in charge of
the remains. The body was taken TO room . OF
the Fifth Avenue hotel, where Secretary Tracy
and the attorney general received it. Later
President SHOW telegraphed to President Har-
rison. The body VIII be sent 10 Washington
City on a special train in the morning, in charge
of q special committee
WASHINGTON CITY, Jan 29.--The announce
Tlent % the sudden death of Secretary Window
II New York tonight was so terribly sudden and
unexpected that all who heard the news were
profoundly shocked and so overcome as to be
unable 70 express the grief they felt. As soon
as the telegram bearing the sad intelligence was
received b. the Associeted Press its contents
were immediately communicated 20 President
Harrison at the White House He was in the
library az the tine talking with Mrs. Harrison,
and when the message was read 10 him he was
greatly distressed and almost completely over
eosae. He Immediately ordered his carriage aud
went at once to the house OF the postmaster
general bias few blocks away, where cabinet
meeting had been IN progress. and from which