Evening journal., 1893-01-11
BENJAMIN BUTLER DEAD
The Famous Old General Ex-
pires Suddenly in Washington.
END OF A PICTURESQUE CAREER.

A Sudden Attack of Pneumonia Ends
the Life OF the Eccentric Soldier and |
Lawyer-Died Unexpectedly In the
Night-His Remarkable Life--senator
Kenns Dead.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-General Ben
iamin F. Butler is dead He died at !. 80
a. IN. of heart failure, superinduced by
an attack of pneumonia.
The news came upon the watching
newspaper men of Washington during
the night with the suddenness of an
electric shock For weeks past their at
tention had been centered on the bedside
of James g. Blaine and while watching
the strange fluctuations of his mysterious
illness, no one had for a moment antici-
pated that another leading figure in
American history-almost as notable,
and even more picturesque-was about
to be removed
An hour or two later when the shock
of this unexpected occurrence was added,
the news that death had ended the suf-
ferings of the West Virginia senator,
Mr.. Kenna, it was felt that the night
had been fruitful of important events.
General Buffers home in Washington
of late years, since he turned over to
government use of his big granite castle
on Capitol Hill, had been in handsome
red brick residence owned by him at 22O
New Jersey avenue, southeast, also in
the neighborhood of the capitol There
his two nieces, Mrs. Lanier Dunn and
Miss Stevens, kept house for him. His
extensive law practice kept him very
much in this city during the winter
months when the Supreme Court is in
session.
During the present winter case
which had been decided aginst him in
the highest courts of the state of Mass.
achusetts and in which he took an ap
peal to the United States Supreme Court,
has demanded his almost constant resi-
dence in this city. Every Monday when
the decisions were rendered, General
Buffers familiar face has been observable
in the front rank of the attorneys in at.
tendance. A few weeks ago. the case
was decided against him. If he took the
matter in any way to heart, he did not
manifest it in his outward demeaner He
pursued his other cases with unimpaired
vigor.
Only yesterday his marked features and
broad brimmed hat we're conspicuous in the
Supreme Court of the District sitting in
general srm. An old litigation over a
claim of Samuel Strong, since dead, in
which General Butler was tenaciously
fighting for legal fee which he alleged
was due from the estate vas on the
docket. Counsel asked the court TO put
the case down for hearing this week to
accommodate General Butler, as it might
not be convenient for the latter to at
tend later in the term The court was
obliged to refuse the request as other
important cases had the precedence.
A FeebIeness Manifested.
General Butler came over from New
York on Friday last. He was taken i'll
on the train, but recovered and no
marked premonitions of his sudden death
manifested themselves There had been
some apparent increase of feebleness in
his gait recently, but no more so than
might be expected from his advanced
age, "a This was partly due to his in
creasing bulk, aud the fact that he had
exceptionally small feet aud weak ankles
upon which to support so heavy weight
His faculties remained unimpaired.
He went to the war department after
leaving the court in the afternoon. look
ing after some business, and during the
day took a severe cold which later de
veloped into pneumonia. Nevertheless
he sat down to dinner at his home with
his accustomed cheerfulness and after
wards sat chatting with the members OF
the household.
Predicted His Sudden Death.
The subject of sudden death was one
upon which he had frequently spoken
and he had predicted that he wou Id &
off like a flash some day. He h a d Il
dread of sudden death; on the contrary
he had said frequently he would prefer
, to go suddenly rather than hnger an'
! suffer.
! he spoke of Mr. Blaine in this cennec
tion at dinner and asked how he was
I Being informed that he was holding hii
, own, he replied: Mark me- he will out
| i've US hiA Neb
General Butler retired last night at
, o'clock and soon after midnight hi co
: ored body servant, West, who has al
/, companied him on all his journeys 70
!, the last ten aud ffteen n years and VIII
: slept in an adjoining room, heard hil
coughing violently. He went into th
generals bedroom TO see If he could
Of any assistance but fonnd that tf
general had passed on to the bathroom
adjoining. Thither West followed an
offered his assistance. The generi
t mentioned that his expectoration ha
been discolored with blood. He did nc
= appear to think seriously of the matte
: however and after his valet had assiste
Z him to his bed, he said: That's a
= West. You need not do anythin
: more, and apparently went to sleep.
A Painless End.
| He had laid on his bed but a fe
" moments, however, when his heaN
q breathing again caused alarm. Lani
y Dunn, his nephew by marriage, who T
sided in the same house, started out
saorch of medical assistance IL w