The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-01
MALONE AT DEATHS DOOR.
THE EX-SENATOR STRICKEN WITH
PARALYSIS.

AstAssH-hAa son AT Ills sAue-NSu.
Lee Looked Upon Malone as One of
the AbIest of His GencraIs-His
Long Fight tO Sell Site to the
Government and His Defeat.
Washington. Sept. 3O.-Ex-Senator Will
liam Malone had a stroke Of paralysis
this morning He has been stopping at
Chamberlain's hotel. and this morning his
son, Butler Malone, calling at his fathers
room, found the general still in bed and
apparently very drowsy. Not suspecting
anything wrong, Butler left the room. and
calling again later. found his father still
in the same condition. He became alarmed
and a physician was called. After exami-
nation the doctor pronounced 1t case Of
paralysis. The right arm is Sseless and
the tongue is paralyzed so that speech is
impossible. Dr. Phillip S. Wales. one OF
the attending physicians OF Gen. Malone,
late this afternoon stated that the gen
erals condition was critical owing TO the
severity of the attack and his advanced
age The paralysis has spread TO the right
leg. DIR. Wales said that the vomiting
and effusion in the head, which has set In,
were bad signs, and il would not be sur
prlsing II Gen. Malone dies before morn
ing. Sull, there was chance OF an Inn
prONement in his condition. Mrs. Ma
hone, who is at her home in Virginia, has
been telegraphed for
II Gen Malone survives the night, DIR.
Wales and DR.. Baker Will hold a consul
tatlon tomorrow morning, and during to-
night Dr. Baker will be in attendance
upon the patient.
Gen. Malone has been a rather pictur-
esQue, but hardly a prominent figure in
Washington life since his election to the
Senate in 1881 as a readjuster TO succeed
Robert E. Withers, democrat. He has re-
mained here almost constantly since the
expiration of his term Of office in 1881,
having no apparent business engagements
except that of attempting to sell the gov
ernment a large piece of ground, OF
which he is joint owner as the site for
the proposed new government printing
office. He has lived all these years al
John Chamberlain's, his son Butler be-
ing his constant companion.
The sight Of the queer old man with his
long beard, white slouch hat ruffied shirt
and peg-tOpped trousers and high-heeled
boots, sitting at breakfast at noon, has
been familiar one to pedestrians OF fif-
teenth street. All of the conferences OF
the Virginia republicans for nearly ten
years past have been held at Chamber
lain's, and IL was in the public dining
room of the hotel that the ex-senator
gathered about him the leaders of what,
for time, was powerful political fac
tion In the Old Dominion.
II is one Of the pecullarities Of ''Mahone
of Virginia" as he delights 10 style him
self, to keep his hat on his head at all
times when not asleep. He has always
been apparently as averse to walking as
broken down street hacks in the vicinity
of Chamberlain's were ever on the look
out for a signal from the "old man" as
they called him.
Al the time Malone was in the Senate
he was reputed to be a rich man, but Of
late years his fortune has been frittered
away in bad speculations and law suits
until his friends have begun to regard
him as being in very Strengthened cir
cumstances During the past two con-
crosses Malone, with the aid of Don
n
congress, has made a desperate effort to
get an appropriation from congress for
the purehasse, Of NJ his property, IN the hope
determined fight was made by the oppo-
siton, composed chiefly of the owners OF
other building sites, and the closing weeks
of both sessions Of the past two con-
crosses have been made especially lively
and interesting by the fight over THE Ma
hone Site" In spite OF the facts that he
committees of both the Senate and House
and large majority of the representa-
tiVes were strongly opposed to the Ma
hone site an amendment was added 70
the sundry civil appropriation bill last
session providing for its purchase. This
bill was one Of the last to be put through
the hopper IN the closing hours, and the
various roll calls that were taken in the
Senate on the proposition were checked
of in the lobby by Gen. Malone and his
son, who stood with tally sheets in their
hands, keeping tab on their friends AMI
their enemies in full view Of the crowd
Of spectators, who thronged the marble
the senators could see them through the
glass doors Of the Senate chamber. The
Malone senators were loyal, but in the
dead of night In the privacy Of the con-
out under the threat of the House con-
feres that If this were not done the ell
tire bill would be defeated. When the
news reached the outside corridors the
senator and his son, who had
hardly taken time to sleep or
sot ot hf6 GP ther hT reRety Past wS hack dsy sSs
without a word of complaint went back
to Chamberlain's, game to the last.
During the present summer Gen Ma
hone has held many conferences with the
leaders of what is left of the Republican
party In Virginia, mapping out their plan
of a losing campaign. He offered no hope
for republican success, claiming that the
new election law Of Virginia was framed
and passed for the chief purpose of maxi
ing it impossible for the Republican party
to elect their candidates, should they nom-
mate any.
Like other well known Virginians who
deserted the cause Of democracy during
justment fever Gen. Malone was prac-
tically ostracised socially. During. and
after the war, ne was very popular man
with all classes Of southern people, and
was especially held in high esteem as a
gallant and loyal officer in the confeder-
ate army.
1t is a matter of general knowledge
that Gen. Lee regarded him as one of the
ablest officers in the southern army
Ihere IS now in the possession of dis
tinguished southern gentleman, a letter
containing an account of an interesting
little dinner party given in honor OF
Gen. Lee. While the dinner was in prog
ress, the writer of the letter states he
asked Gen. Lee several questions concern
ing the relative merits Of the most con-
spicuous generals in the confederate army.
The ability Of Stonewall Jackson Toe
Wheeler Albert Sidney Johnston and a
number of others were mentioned by
Gen. Lee. FINALLY he mentioned the
name Of Gen. Malone, and to the surprise
of the some Of the guests present re-
marked that Of all the generals in the
confederate army, he regarded Gen Ma
hone as the most efficient executive Of
ficer Continuing he said that II any-
thing should happen to him O.ee) that
would deprive him Of conducting the
struggle to the end, he believed Gen.
Malone to be the man best qualified to
take command OF the southern army. and
continue the fight. The letter is still in
existence, and some OF the parties who
were present at that little informal din
ner when Gen. Lee paid this high trlb-
ute to Cen Malone are still living The
text Of this letter viii some day be given
to the public In connection with other
interesting "reminiscences about Gen.
Lee.
Washington, Oct. lat 1870 o'clock this
morning Gen. Malone had rallied slightly
but there IS nothing in his condition TO
give hope Of his recovery.