New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-19
COL. DAVID c. HOUSTON'S END
HE DIES AT ST. vINCENT'S HOSPITAL
iRs. PORTER. HIS COMPANION AT VARIOUS

INKS. PORTER, HIS COMPANION Al NhhOOS
HOTELS. NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE.
Colonel David &. Houston. of the United States
Army who was removed 10 st. Vincent's Hospital
week ago. from the Everett House, in Union Square,
died that Institution yesterday. At the hotel 1t was
thought that his Illness caused by excessive IN
diligence in quor. As told In The Tribune yester-
day. he had been in the hotel from May until his
removal to the hospital. drinking freely. Mrs. Minnie
Porter who accompanied him TO the hotel and was
introduced there his niece, was removed TO Belle
vuc Hospital sunday. and was believed TO be dying
from alcoholism AT IT. Nincents Hospital, DIR. Nc
Daniels, the house ply sican. who on Wednesday re-
fused 10 admit or deny that Colonel Houston was a
patient there and also refused 10 say anything re-
garding the nature OF the patients Illness yesterday
handed to reporters the following written statement
Colonel Houston died at this hospital at o :3o
this morning. meningitis and BriGht's disease being
cause Of death"
OF Colonel IIoustons DEATH the doctor replied stifly
"Thc patient suffering from the complaint writ
ten there from which he died. That Is all have
to say
"win that be given the cause Of the colonel's
ceah In the official certifcatel' DR.. McDanieps was
/ asked
Yes the reply.
Lieutenant Rees and Assistant Engineer Babcocls
who were subordinatcs OF Colonel Houston In the
Engineers Office ut No. 30 Whehall-st were said
10 have been with tn colonel at the time OF his
death. 1t was reported also that the funeral prob
ably would be from the hospital to-day, and the burial
would be at Middle,owr. y. T. The only living near
relative OF the colonel was said to be his brother.
Captain Houston, at present I'm Milwaukee.
Employees at the Everett House said yesterday that
Colonel Houston had boarded somewhere In Eigli-
teenthst. recently. II his custom to go to the
hotel barroom every morning and drink several cock
tails. lie would repeat the performance In the
evening That was before he went to the hotel with
Mrs.. Porter
1t was learned yesterday that Colonel Houston and
Mrs. Porter CHESTS at the Hotel Vendoms from
September 49, 1901. until January ,, 1902. The
woman was introduced AT that hotel also the
coloncl's niece, and It supposed that she was
acting his nurse. The colonel kept TO his room
more than week In October. 1891. and drank liquor
freely. Mrs. Porter may have helped him to consume
tho liquor that sent TO his room. The cost Of
the liquors. entered In the accounts charged day
BY day. said the hotel yesterday to have been
as follows october II. 1891, 81 20: October 20.
40 20: october ~ SO 05 october. %. 81: october
~. ~ 80: October "a co cents October %, g. 40
October - S6 %: October 20. - 30. Whiskey was
the principal liquor ordered and paid for. AT one
time Colonel Houston obi ged TO borrow $50 from
| the proprietor Of the hotel. Mrs. Porter left the
hotel January 2. 1892. and Colonel Houston said
she Obliged TO go home. lie remained at the
hotel until september 90. 1902.
Mrs. Porter was still alive at Bellevue Hospital
yesterday, but the physicians there said she probably
would die as she had been IN state OF Insensbility
for nearly four days. and was growing weaker every
day. Her aunt. Mrs. Henry G. Porter. Of ewHaven,
Conn, came TO the city yesterday and her at
the hospital. The aunt said that the dying woman
had been separated from her husband several years.
lie is in san Francisco but he formerly was well
known In this city, II Is said. Ills wife born In
Galveston, Tex. Her relatives did not understand
how she became acquainted with Colonel Houston.
or why she should have been introduced as his niece.
She has children, II Is said
Colonel llouston's associates say that he not
excessive drnker and that his death did not re-
suit from alcoholism. but from a complication OF dis
eases. Lieutenant Gees said that far he knew
Colonel Houston never drank to excess.
Colonel Houston was born In NewYork Deem
Der ), 1885, and appointed cadet at the
Military Academy, July l. 1852. He was graduated
July I, 1856. lie received "a temporary appointment
rs brevct lieutenant OF engineers until he obtained
II commission second lieutenant October 81,
following lie was promoted to the rank OF first
lieutenant on May . 1861, and was appointed act