The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-16
DIED at His Post as Minister to
Hawaii.
THE PRESIDENTS SORROW
He Says Mr. Willis was an Hon
est and Capable Man.
SKETCH OF THE MINISTER'S LIFE
He Had Served Five Terms in Con-
gress, and Was MIR. Carisle's
Lieutenant in Siis Campaign
for Spea kership.
for Speakership.


San Francisco. Jan. 1J.-The steamer
Monowai which arrived at midnight,
brought adyices from Honolulu to the
effect that United States Minister Al
bert s. Willis died at $50 a. m., on Jan
uary d, after an illness covering several
months, resulting from the attack OF
pneumonia he suffered on his vacation to
the United States.
In April last the minister and family
left Hawai- for visit to their old home
at Louisville Ky While in San Fran
cisco on the return trip the minister coz
tracted severe cold which settled upon
his lungs This was the immediate cause
of his death. At noon, on October l.
leaving church. his horse ran away and
threw Mr. Willis to the ground. He was
taken to Il physicians Office and soon re-
covered sufficiently to return to his home
at Waikiki. He never left it again.
Fever increased and the cold taken in
San Francisco developed into pneumonia.
This settled SO firmly upon the lungs that
il could not be checked
4 few days before Christmas he was
PRONOUNCED hopeless. Soon after the
death Of The minister all the consular,
government and shipping flags were
lowered to half-mast. Expressions Of
regret were general and the wife and
son have the sympathy Of the whole COM
munity.
At the request Of Mrs. Willis the funer-
al services took place at the Central Uu
ion church at p. M, on January z, Rev.
u. z. Biernie, pastor of that church, and
Rev. j. NJ. Monroe, of the Christian
church, of which the deceased was q
member, conducting the services The
details Of the funeral were left to United
States Consul General and Charge d
affairs Ellis Mills, at whose request the
government took the funeral in hand
The funeral procession was most impos-
ing since that Kalakaua.
The remains were deposited tenpora
rily in Il vault at Nuuanu cemetery until
the 18th instant, when the casket was to
be placed on board the steamship Austria
liza, for transportation to the United
States. 1t was not known, when the
Monowai left, whether an escort would
be sent with the remains, but it was the
opinion OF a number Of citizens that -
representative of the foreign office should
be detailed as an escort to accompany
the remains to Louisville and turn them
over 10 the oIlcldlS Inere.
SKETCH OF MIR. WILLIS.
Louisville, KY, Jan. 15.-Albert sgd
ney Willis was born near Shelbyyille,
KY, about 55 years ago. He was the
son of a well known physician.
In the early seventies he was elected
to the office Of county attorney which
position he held until his election to Con-
gress in 1875, when he succeeded Mr..
Henry Watterson, who had been selected
to fill the unexpired term OF z. Y. Par
sons. He became a favorite lieutenant
of Mr.. Carlisle and manouvered his forces
for the Speakership, to which Office Mr..
Carlisle was elected for the first time
in the FortyEighth Congress. Mr.. Car
Isle then made Mr.. Willis chairman OF
the Rivers and Harbors committee, which
responsible post he ably filled. Mr.. Will
lis served five terms in Congress. In
1886 he was succeeded by Hon. Asher
q. Caruth. He returned to this city and
resumed the practice Of his profession.
In 1893 Mr.. Willis received the ap-
pointment as minister TO Hawaii. He
accepted and assumed the post Mr.
Willis arrived at the island during the
most critical moment in its history.
Queen Liloukalan had been deposed and
another government had taken place of
the monarchy.
The most intense interest existed as ts
what course the President would adopt
Mr.. Cleveland mtrusted his secret orders
to Mr.. Willis. The recent state of affairs
is well known. In 1876 Mr.. Willis mar
ried Miss Florence Bulaney. They have
one son, Albert s. Willis Jr, who is az
Honolulu.
THE PRESIDENT DEEPLY AF-
F'ECTED.
Washington, Jan. 15.LThe news Of the
death of United States Minister Willis
at Honolulu was received with deem re-
greet in Washington. President Cleve-
land was deeply affected at the news of
the minister's death. He said that he
had known Mr.. Willis for many years
and in official life had been closely asso-
ciated with him. He was an honest and
a thoroughly capable man, whom he held
III the highest esteem and of whose death
he learned with the deepest regret
THE MONTGOMERY NOT YkyF