The herald., 1897-12-22

he was Secretary OF the Navy under the
last Cleveland administration. Her
death was traceable indirectly to an ac-
cident while horseback riding In her
native State of Alabama, about two
months ago. She always had been on
thusia stically fond of riding and while
paying visit to her old home rode a
horse that had not been broken. It
stumbled and she was thrown violently
to the ground, sustaining severe injuries
to her back. She was brought back to
Washington, but recovery was exceed
ingly slow and it was not until last Sun
day that she was able to so out of the
house. On that day she went driving
for the first time since the accident and
DR.. w. w. Johnson, the attending ply
scian, noticed considerable improve
ment.
This morning she was unusually bright
and cheerful and chatted animatedly
with her married sister, Mrs. Micou, who
made her home with the ex-Secretary
and his daughter. 1t has been Miss
Herbert's custom for several years to
take her breakfast in her room and later
prepare for the social obligations of the
day: Shortly before 10 o'clock she
dressed to go down stairs, but instead
Of descending went to the rear room of
the third story. from which she fell, sus-
tanning injuries which caused her death
before DIR. Johnson could arrive. Her
father was not at home. being on his
way hither from Alabama. The death
was reported to police headquarters as
case of suicide due to melancholia and
temporary alteration of the mind as the
result of long illness.
Miss Herbert was the eldest of ex-
Secretary Herbert's three children and
was a charming figure in Washington
society. She came with her father to
Washington when he was elected to
Congress and at once took charge Of his
household, making the Herbert home one
OF the most attractive and comfortable
in Washington, from the spirit Of true
Southern hospitality which gave it an
atmosphere of it's own among fashion
able homes. When her father became
Secretary of the Navy in President
Cleveland's second administration, Miss
Herbert was called on to take her place
in the circle Of Cabinet ladies, where she
met with success in the heavy social
responsibilities placed on her. Socially
she was exceedingly popular and her
pTeSelct WAS oOuSHt at dll gatherings.
Her social triumphs here were repeated
in Europe where she went to attend the
great naval demonstration at Kie1. With
in the past year she has not enjoyed
robust health, but this only induced her
to redouble her devotion to outdoor
sports and exercises and it was while re-
gaining her health by outdoor riding
that she met with the accident that in
directly resulted in her death.
This afternoon the following author
lied statement was made by gentle
man familiar with all of the facts:
Miss Herbert at the time Of the oc-
currencc was suffering from acute mel
ancholia. 1t developed several weeks
ago as the final result Of injuries re-
ceived by being thrown from her horse
last spring.
1.-THE melancholia was not insanity
in the sense of being accompanied by de-
lusions. At the time there was pro-
found depression. AS is always the case
in this type of disease, there was danger
that suicidal tendencies would develop.
For this reason nurses were provided to
maintain the closest watchfulness. No
suicidal tendency developed, however,
until yesterday, when, for the first time.
Miss Herbert made an attempt to get
out Of the window but was restrained by