The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-26
DEATH OF GEN. CASEY
FOR MANY YEARS CHIEF OF ENGI-
NEERs OF UNITED STATES ARMY.
Well Known as the Constructors Of the
washington Monument and Sew
eral Important Buildings.

WASHINGTON, March 3. = Brig. Gen.
Thomas Lincoln Casey, retired, for many
years chief Of engineers of the United States
army, died suddenly about $40 o'clock this
afternoon. He was taken i'll this morning at
the Congressional Library building, which he
was experimenting. and was removed to his
home. 1t thought he not seriously
i'll, but he grew worse in the Afternoon and
suddenly expired General Casey had been
feeling i'll for some time. and during last
summer suffered from an affection of the
kidneys, from which he rallied with great
difficulty. Previous to to-day he had not been
at the library since last Saturday. This
morning, about 10 o'clock, accompanied by
his son, he visited the building, but was
Immediately compelled to lie down. suffering
from excruciating pairs in the stomach,
having been taken sick before ne arrived at
the building. A doctor summoned, who
relieved him considerably, and about noon
the General was taken to his home. appar-
emily very much improved. The message an
nouncing his death was received at the IL
brary shortly after o'clock. and
great shock to the officials there, with whom
he was very popular.
General Casey was of New England arces-
try, and was born in 1891. He was appointed
at large to the Military Academy in 1S4S and
was graduated at the head OF his class and
appointed brevet second lieutenant, Corps OF
Engineers. in 1852 From duty assistant
engineer at Fort Monroe, Va, on the staff
OF the commanding general OF the Depart
ment Of Virginia, he was ordered, in 1861, to
that of experimenting engineer of the per-
manent defenses and field Notifications on
the coast Of Maine. Having passed through
the grades Of lieutenant and captain and
reached that OF major, he was brevetted in
March, 1866, lieutenant colonel and colonel for
faithful ard meritorious service during the
war;. To him was committed the completion
buildings, of the Washington monument, the
construction of the Medical Museum and Lii
the grave of President jefferson, the one at
Washington's headquarters at Newburg, ~.
Y, the one TO mark the birthplace OF Wash
irgton and the Garfield statue and PEDESTAL.
From 1886 TO 1888 he was president of the
board OF engineers for fortifications and other
public works at New York. On the 9Th of
July. 1888, he was appointed brigadier general
charged by act OF Congress, in the following
October, with the construction OF the Con-
grossional Library building. Since his re-
trement from the office of chief Of engineers,
owing TO his having reached the age limit
at which army officers are retired, he mad
devoted most of his time to the construction
OF the new library building, which is oppo-
site the Capitol He took great interest in
this large work and intended to round out
his career by completing ii on time and with
ir the limit Of appropriation fixed by Con-
gress-an unusual thing for government
work. 1t was largely because OF his reputa-
tion in this respect and his high standing as
an engineer that Congress. being dissatisfied
with the slow progress made in the work
while under the control OF the architects who
designed the. structure. designated General
TSsey dsa9 70 take Snsrss Of n the
fact that the Washington monument was
completed by him after ii had remained for
several years in an unfinished state.