Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-01-27
Mr.. BLAINE DEAD.
The EX-S Secretary Expires About IL
o'clock this morning al his
home in Washington.


death which occurred in Washington
Mt eleven o'clock, when the newspa-
per men and others who during the
late frigid weather had waited around
the mansion pelted by the clements aud
cut by the piercing winds awaiting the
flight of the vital spark, scampered to
their respective offices. In COMPARE
lively short time extras with flaming
headings, "Blaine is dead.' were being
hawked all over the city.
The physicians and others familiar
with Mr.. Blaine's malady and its usual
course knew that there was no ground
for hoping further than that Mr.. Blaine's
life might be prolonged 4 few weeks or
months.
Mr.. Blaine had passed an unusually
comfortable night, so the report said
this morning, and it was thought with
the return of pleasant weather he might
vet live for some time. An attack OF
heart failure, however, came very I'M
expectedly this morning, and occasion
ed the utmost alarm among the mem
bers of the family The doctors made o
call earlier than usual and were appar-
emily considerably concerned about the
condition of the invalid.
At o'clock it was noticed that the
patient had had very severe sinking
spell. The doctors were summoned in
all haste. DR.. Johnson was the first to
arrive at the bedside Of the dying man.
He saw at once that there was no hope
for the ex-Secretary and that the end
of his long illness was close at hand.
DR.. Hyatt was at the house very few
minutes later. and he and DR.. Johnson
used their utmost efforts to revive Mr..
Blaine, but it was of no avail.
At halfpast ten o'clock DR.. Hyatt
left the house for few minutes and
this was the first ntimation that those
outside had that Dir. Blaine was any
worse than he had been for several days
past.
Mr.. Blaine continued to sink until
death closed the scene, his dissolution
taking place peacefully, and, so far as
known, painlessly.
The President upon learning of Mr..
Blaines death issued a proclamation in
which he said 1T is my painful duty
to announce to the people of the United
States the death of James Gillespie
Blaine, which occurred in this city to-
day at / / o'clock. For full genera
ton this eminent citizen has occupied
a conspicuous and influential position
in the nation" After giving the his
tory of the life of the deceased, he
closed as follows His devotion to the
public interests, his marked ability and
his exalted patriotism have won for
him the gratitude and affection of his
countrymen and tho admiration Of the
world. In the varied pursuits Of legis-
ton, diplomacy and literature his ge
MUS has added new lustre to American
citizenship" The President further
directs that on the day Of his funeral
all the departments of the executive
branch of the government at Washing
ton be closed and that on all public
buildings throughout the United States
the national flag shall be displayed at
halfstaff; and that for period Of 80
days the Department Of State be draped
in mourning.
At 100 p. m, it was stated by friends
of the family that the funeral arrange
ments had been so far determined upon
that the services would be held Monday
forenoon and the remains would be at
least temporarily inferred in Washing
ton city. Whether the funeral would
be public or private, or whether the
final resting place would be in Wash
ington or at some other chosen spot in
Maine or elsewhere, is not definitely
settled.
Mr.. James Gillespie Blaine was
horn January 3lst, 1880, at West
Brownsville, Pa, in house built |
by his great grandfather before
the war of the revolution, and
which still stands. His boyhood was
passed comparatively uneventful. AZ
ter leaving college he taught school at
Blue Lick Springs, Ky. 1t was as a
professor in the military school there
that he made the acquaintance of the
lady who alterward became his wife.
Later he went to Philadelphia, where
he taught school and studied law. AT
ter prosecuting his studies of law for
two years he abandoned that profession
and in 1858 moved to Maine. locating
at Augusta. He bought the Kennebec
Journal and began his career as Il jour
nalist, which finally led him into poll
tics, where his great fame was won.
After disseminating his associations
with the Kennebec Journal he became
editor of the Portland Adcertiser. In
1856 he was delegate to the conven-
ton at Philadelphia which nominated
Fremont. Two years later he was
elected to the State legislature and was
afterward speaker of the lower House.
The reputation he gained there sent
him to Congress in 1862, when began
his congressional career of 20 years.
During the Forty-frst, Forty-second