Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-06-18
PHELPS rs AT REST.
A Notable Career Closed In
Prime of Life.
CONSCIOUS JUST BEFORE THE END,

Daughter, Who Had Travelled 1000
Miles for tho Sorrowful Pleasure Of .
last Recognition-A Brilliant Lawyer
1t 80 Years Of Age-H1is Services In Con-
Gress and rs a Diplomat.
New YORK. June lS.-William Walter
Phelps died at so O'Clock yesterday morn
ing at his home. Teaneck, near Engle
wood. N. j. Mr.. Phelps rested fairly we'll
Friday night and was able to take some
nourishment Saturday morning He
awoke from refreshing sleep at 8 O'Clock
Saturday afternoon. He was then con-
scious. To the joy of the family he recog-
nized them all. His only daughter. wife
OF Herr Frank Won Rothenburg, of Berlin,
a prominent man in German government
affairs, had only arrived from her German
home late in the week to find her father
entirely unconscious, in which condition
he remained until the awakening men
toned above. Baroness Won Rothenburg
was consequently overjoyed to see her
father recognize her, for she had despaired
OF experiencing even that sad pleasure
He remained conscious for only brief
time, and with the exception of that short
period Mr.. Phelps was unconscious all day
and Saturday night until he died.
Consumption the Cause of Death.
Death was caused by pneumonia, COM
plicated with other diseases, chief among
which was consumption. Two years ago,
while minister Mt Berlin. ne underwent n
painful surgical operation, from the eff
fects of which he never recovered. At his
bedside mt the time Of dissolution were his
two sons and his daughter, together with
his wife, who had been unremitting in
| her care of her husband for the last three
weeks, from which time the dangerous
period of his illness dates. Mr.. Phelps
was n wealthy man and the wiseacres say
that his estate must be worth fully S1O,-
100000. He had been a public man since
| 1872 and previous to that time had at the
age OF 80 reached such prominence in his
profession of the law that he was counsel
for the Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern, the United States Trust company, the
City bank and other corporations.
Came from Old Puritan Stock.
Phelps was n scion of one of the oldest
New England families al frequently
spoke of his direct descent, OF. the paternal
side. from William Phelps. brother of the
private secretary of Oliver Cromwell. His
4
merchant in New York city William
Walter Phelps was born in New York city
Aug. 81, 1899, and therefore was OILY in
his 54th year. He was graduated with
honor ut Yale in 1850. and then took the
course ut Columbia College law school,
gaining the valedictory address in 1863.
His first political flee was representative
in congress from the Fifth New Jersey dis
trict, which he won in 1S72
Voted Against the Civil Rights Dill.
He mt once took high rank rs a debater
and became noted as one Of the few men
to whom the house would always listen.
No man in many years made so brilliant a
reputation in so short a time, and his abil-
ity was ut once recognized by tine Repub-
lican leaders of the house. Although an
ardent Republican Mr.. Phelps was indie
pendent in judgment and action, and he
spoke and voted against the civil rights
bill as being unconstitutional and as tend
ing to injure rather than benefit the negro
race. His vote cost him his reelection by
seven votes i'll 1911. but later events showed
that his position WIS sound. The su-
preme court declared the law uncoustitu-
tional. He was a strong Blaine man, and
when Garfield was president Phelps WIS
appointed minister to Austria.
Close of His Political Career.
He resigned this when Arthur took the
presidential chair-indeed he had not been
an applicant for it-and later declined to
run for congress. But the Republicans
nominated and elected him in 1852, and
reelected him twice thereafter, he ALWAYS
running hundreds and sometimes thous-
ands of votes ahead of his ticket. Presi-
dent Harrison appointed Phelps minister
to Germany-in spite of the fact that
Phelps had done his best for Blaine ut the
Minneapolis conventional position which
he filled with great dignity and to the sat
isfnction OF his countrymen, irrespective
of party. On his return from Germany
Mr.. Phelps was honored by the appoint
ment as lay judge of the court of appeals,
Governor Werts appointing him. This
closed his political career.
Other Positions He Held.
Phelps was regent of the Smithsonian
Institute and fellow of the corporation
of Yale, was vice president of the Yale
Alumni association, president Of the Co.
lumbia Law School Alumni association
and a founder of the Union League and
University clubs. Mr.. Phelps was made
one OF the commissioners to negotiate with
Germany respecting the Samoan island,
June 26, 1882
Why He Banged His Hair.
He always wore his hair in a bang, and
caricaturists, made much fun of this
popularity. He used to explain this to his
friends by saying that he began to wear
it in that manner while he was at college.
The general custom of students combing
their hair straight back from their
foreheads in order to show a high, full
frontal bone Disguised him. and he said
that the people in this world should de.
monstrate their possession of brains by
SIx 81.
high forehead.
} Funeral To he Held Wednesday.
The arrangements for the funeral have
not yet been made. All that has been de-
cided upon up to the present is that the
services will be held on Wednesday. II is
thought, however. that the funeral will bt
private. The residence ut Teaneck is
closed and visitors are denied