The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-28
WHITE HOUSE DEATHS.
TWO PRESIDENTS AND Two PREsI
DENTS WIVES HAVE DIED THERE.

First TO DE In the executive Man
sion-Mrs. John Tyler Next, Followed
by Zachary Taylor and Mrs. Ben
isnin Harrison.
From the Neto York Times.
WASHINGTON, Oct. A.-Two Presidents
and the wives of two Presidents have died
IN the white house. The first death was
that Of the grandfather of President Harri-
500, "Old Tippecanoe," ''the hero OF North
Bend oldest OF Presidents, which occurred
April 4, lS4l, one month 20 a day after his
inauguration as President. The second
death was that OF the wife OF President
John Tyler. the head-stroag successor Of
Gen Harrison, in the fall of 1912. July o,
1850, Gen. Zachary Taylor died in the exec
utive mansion. Wedding ceremonies have
been held and deaths Of children Of Presi-
dents have happened In the interim, but the
venerable structure has not been shrouded
in mourning for a woman for over fifty
When William Henry Harrison came to
Washington be brought with him all the
simple habits OF plain old man. His out-
of-door life as a soldier had touRhened q
constitution naturally rugged. In his Ohio
home be had subsisted on the plalnest fare,
lived with the most rigid regularity. and
enioyed from seven to nine hours steep a
night But she exactions of a presidents
existence revolutionlzed the habits of life
time. He found it impossible to 60 to bed
at his old hours. His official duties held
him In his room till 1880 or l o'clock at
night. He, however, maintained his habit
Of early rising.
The spring Of 1871 was cold and stormy.
RepudiAtlug ali edvice. the President used
to do all the marketing for the white house.
He spurned the suggestion Of an overcoat.
One morning he was caught in s shower.
His clothing was wet through. he re used
10 change his apparel. The next day fever
developed and later pneumonia. In his de-
Iirium the pressure that Office seekers aud
ofice-holders had distressed him with was
made apparent by his CALCULATIONS; My
dear madam, did not direct that your
husband should be turned out. 1 did nou
know IL. tried to prevent it.n
At another time he cried: "Ir is wrong
won't consent-'tis unjustln And again:
10, these applications! Win they never
cease"
Three hours before his dsathhe spoke for
the last time. Clearing his throat and as
Iuming manner as il giving final instruc-
tons 20 his successor he said ''Sir, wish
you to understand the true principles of the
governments. l wish them carried out. l
ask nothing morem
Mrs Harrison was at North Bend. The
Rev. DR.. Hawley and only his personal at
tsndAnts were with the President when he
died. The cabinet, assembled in an ad JOIN
ing room, drew up formal declaration.
The funeral services were held In the ex-
ecutiVs mansion. The oofin was placed on
temporary catafalque in the middle of the
East room, and resting on the heavy velvet
pail we're the sword Of state and the sword
Of justice. In 8 circle around the bier stood
Vice President Tyler and "the old man elo-
quent," John Quincy Adams; Daniel Web
stsr, Secretary of State; Francis Granger,
Postmaster General; John J. Crittend3n,
Attorney General, and the other cabinet
officers.
Behind, In another circle, was the diplo-
matio corps, with senators and members of
congress and relatives Of the President.
THE funervl cortege was over two miles in
length, says the chroncler of the time, and
exceeded the Inauguration procession of
month before.
John Tyler. who for the third time re-
ceived promotion by the death of the in
>oumbent-governor of Virginia, United
States senator and Presdent-was sum-
moned from his home, in Prince William
county, Virginia, by Mr.. Webster TO assume
the duties of the nations chief executive
He was strongly distrusted by the members
Of the cabinet, who had agreed that his
official title was "Vice President of the
United States, Acting PresideuB.n But
Tyler completely ignored this programme.
in the absence of Chief Justice Taney hs
summoned Chief Justice Cranch OF the SUI
prone court of the Dgitrict OF Columbia aud
took the oath of Office administered
to his predecessors Ia office Frssi-
dent Tyler's wife wns in delicate
health, and remained in her comfortable
home in Virginia until the weather became
more bslmy. The responsibilities Of she
frat lady in the land, therefore, devolved
bar 6at1whtar-ir-fowr
Tyler, daughter Of the tragediaa, Cooper,
and the granddaughter of Mai. Fsirhe, a
New York officer of fame Ia the revoiu-
tionary war. Mrs. Robert Tyler has been
described as a woman of lively oonversa-
ttonal powers, with an abundance of play
tul humor, tender heart, aud devotion
to parents, children and friends, i9olized by
all who knew her. Some of the letters she
wrote during her reign as mistress OF the
white house overflow with nature and char
aoter.
What wonderful changes" she writes
a three weeks after her reign begins, take
place, my dearest NJ. Here am I, nee
PRISCILLA Cooper, cnez retrOWsSe,' you will
think actually living In and what's more.
presiding at--the white house. / look at
N myself like the little old woman and ex~
claim, Can this be IL"
# The thoroughbred-born American girl
gushes out in the following:
f# uaFe nOL uhQ one DOInenb 70 myself
since my arrival and the most extraordinary
thlng ls that l feel as il l had boon used to
living here always, and receive the cabinet
ministers, the diplomatic corps, the heads Of
tue army and navy, etc., with facility
which astonishes me. really do
possess degree of modest assurance that
surprises me more than it does anyone else.
am complimented on every side; my
nloden virtues are coming out. l am con-
eidered charm ante by the Frenchman,
lovely by the Americans, and really quite
nice, you know by the English"
month later she writes II occupy
poor Gsn. Harrison'e room. Ihad no super
1tlhous feelings upon the subject, and it is
~ pleasant as possible. The nice comtor-
'aole bedroom, with its handsome furniture
aud curtains, it's luxurious arm-chairs,
ano all its belongings l enjoy. l believe
IN more than anything else in the establish
Sept, 9, 1912. Mrs. John Tyler died, and
~ darRhter-in~law, in a letter from the
"Sl,e house TO a friend. wrote:
AS you know, We we're summoned from
brooklyn by mothers last illness. We
Parted a Immediately, but only arrived hers
sshingtonl after her death, and even
'Ier the funeral service had been per
Sned: Nothing can exceed the loneliness
tnls large and gloomy mausion-hung