The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-09-12


Kennett Advance. September 9th. 1893.
Mira. Mary Cause Wilkinson. wife OF
Henderson Wilkinson, died at Wash
ington on Saturday under cad circum-
stances. For several years she had
bcen sufferer from kidney troubles
and for tho last year or longer her
younger daughter has been an invalid,
requiring the care of the anxious
mother. On Wednesday OF last week
Mrs. Wilkinson and her daughter, ac-
companied by maid and compan-
ion, went TO Plney Point, n summer
resort near the mouth of the Potomac,
$50 miles below Washington, Tor rest.
The daughter intended remaining
for two weeks. but. Mrs. Wilkinson in.
tended returning on Saturday In or
der to complete preparations to ac-
company Ler married. daughter to
Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her husband
was anxious TINT she should remain
longer, but she felt that she must re-
turn to Washington, and on Friday
might she was SO Ill that she felt all
I.he more anxious to carry out her
Original intention OF returning home.
Soon after she went on board the
steamer, accompanied by her maid,
lshe began to suffer intensely, and the
captain noticing her condition notified
the stewardess to give her every at.
ltention Her suffering continued
more intense ana when the steamer
was yet sixty miles from Washington.
Mrs. Wilkinson, while suffering OK
cruciating pain, suddenly threw her.
self from u window OF the stateroom
Into the river.
/ A boat was at once lowered and the
body recovered, but life had fled.
When the news reached Washington
her husbands home was beselged by
hundreds OF anxious callers Impress
sive funeral services We're held ut the
house on Monday afternoon, and on
Tuesday the body was sent to this
borough for interment at IonEwood.
where the burial took place on We'd
lneSday morning after services in the
meeting house conducted by Rev.
Robert A. Hunter, pastor of the Pres
Ibyterian church in this borough. Mrs.
Wilkinson WIS II daughter OF Harlan
and Eebecca Cause, and was born in
this borough In 1853. Her early life
was pissed In this community where
she was Tor several years teacher. In
1858 she married Henderson Wilkin-
son, an attorney of Springfield, Ohio.
and removed to that city.
. In 1862 her husband wae called Ia
Washington as one of the editors OF
the Daily National Republican, and al
once removed his family to that city.
Two years later lie was appointed to O
position IN the War Depal tmont and
some time after he was transferred to
the Treasury Department, where hC
held a responsible loyal position fol
more than twenty years. Mrs Wilkin
sons transfer to Washington tool
place al the most critical period o
our national history. and she early be
came Interested in caring for the slcl
and wounded soldiers. She pursued
her work with zeal and fidelity anC
+ her services wore gratefully acknowl
I edged.
Upon the return OF peace, Mrs. vii.
kinson's energies were enlisted in be
: half OF various movements for the
, alienation OF those In dlstras5, bu
:, the browning work of her busy If
was the conception OF the Ioun
Woman's Christian Home. whore wo
men out OF employment and without
+, means, are provided with comforta
, bic home free OF cost. Mrs. Wilkin
son, unaided, raised the money, leaset
the necessary buildings and got tn
good work under way. After its sue
cess was once assured. she enliste
the interest OF wealthy people Il
Washington, and every year, she pei
d sonalIy succeeded In inducing Cor
gress to appropriate $1,000 to III
1 home.
A year or two ago, q wealthy lady O
Washington, who Ia residing abroad
4 gave valuable house and lot for tn
permanent location OF the home, an
i its founder had tho pleasure befor
, her death of seeing her cherished in
stitutlon secure It's own quarters, an
y OF seeing charitable people enlarge he
+. work. When her dead body lay in he
own home the officers and inmates {
. the home Joined tho long processio
. of those VINO called to take tie las
= look at the dear remembered face, an
the young women whom she had bC
I frlended SO often were entirely ovei
l. colne by their emotions
A single incident will serve to shoy
=, how widely she was known and hoy
u much influence she had Tor good. O.
Saturday afternoon, two hours afte
y she was dead. but before the news In
/. reached her relatives, a woman Gale
at her house To say that she was OF
of work ard that she had been ddvii
!, cd to come to Mrs. Wilkinson vii
. would DO sure to help her. Through
" out the city there is mourning for til
death OF this good woman and the he
: reavhd husband and daughters Inv,
I, this to comfort thom in their aillli
ii ton that the wife and mother filled
noble and high place In life and tht
=, her works do follow her.