The sun., 1897-01-16
MINISTER WILLIS DEAD.
saeesnsea ts F.eu-o.is at He.e,.i. ..
JAS. Q.


JAS. Q.
HONOLULU. jan Limited States Minister
Albert g. Willis died at his residence yes
terday at A. NJ, after several months Ill
ness. Tho cause of death was pneumonia.
which he first contracted in San Francisco
early last year.
A few days ago Mr.. willis's condition was
much improved. and his family had renewed
hopes OF his recovery. but the change for tho
better was but temporary. Some time after
midnight on Tuesday his condition began
growing worse. and Il was scen that the end
was not far OF. He lost consciousness and
his breathing was difficult. and in this con-
dition he remained until death.
II is not known yet whether an escort WILL
be sent with tho body. but II seems 10 bo tho
opinion OF q number of citizens that q repre-
sentative OF tho Foreign ONCE should be do.
tailed to accompany tho body TO Louisville.
Until tho funeral takes place . detail of gen
tlomen selected by the Minister Of Foreign
Affairs will remain Mt the Willis residence.
Directly the intelligence OF the death OF tho
Minister vas received by the Govern nent tho
flags on tho Judiciary building and military
headquarters wero lowered TO half-mnst.. Most
of, the business houses and the shipping low
cred their nsgs as soon AZ the death was
known.
The Willis family expects 10 sail for homo
with the body on the steamer Australia on
Jan. l3. Tho Hawaiian Government will ao-
cord . state funeral to tho Minister to-mor-
row. The body will lie in state during tho
morning In the former throne room. Funeral
services will be held at p. NJ. in Central
Union Church. The procession will 20 TO tho
cemetery. where the body will be placed in
the receiving vault until tho sailing Of the
steamer. The local mill AIRY. . battalion from
the United States steamship Alert. President
Dsn; s S foioa ii. 'hH w b.
the most imposing funeral since the burial
" Mr.. Wills left a large life Insurance. but
not much else.
being 81 years old. having been born on Jan.
%. ls43. lie was native Of Shelby county.
Mo hsh was School fseo .0 and hS L. SeSsm.
school teacher. He taught for the next four
years. while he Uuaied law. He was grad
uAted from tho Louisville Law School in 1859.
mud he at once began the practice OF law. He
entered politics at about tho same time. and In
1870 he was elected Attorney, for Jefferson
place for another term In 1874. While still
holding this ONCE. in 1877. he IVES elected to
OF the Fifth Congress district He served In
each OF the four succeeding Congresses. hold
nsly nrs retired a. the N" result Of his being the
champion OF a Republican office holder.
President Garfield had appointed ns Post
mistress at Louisville Mrs. Thompson. widow
Of W. II. Thompson. and daughter OF the Rev.
Alexander Campbell. founder Of the Camp
bellite Church. She had kept the place through
the Arthur Administration. and Mr.. Willis
and Senator Beck favored her retention by
Mr.. Cleveland. Senator blackburn opposed
them, and there was split In the Democratic
party which resulted in Aster Caruth being
sent to Congress instead OF Mr.. Willis.
Mr.. Willis was called back into public life
by President Cleveland In 1898 to take the
placeswhich he nlledlup To- the time Of his death.
Queen l.iliuokalani of the Sandwich Islands
was dethroned ut tho beginning OF that yoar.
and after Mr. Cleveland took his seat as Pres
ident he had sent James II. Bount To investi-
gate the situation and report to him. MIR.
Cleveland also recalled Minister John l.. Stew
ems. Mr.. Blount returned TO Washington in
August. and rs result OF bis report Mr..
Cleveland decided TO use the moral power Of
the United States to restore the Queen. pro-
vided she would promise immunity to ell who
had opposed her. On Sept. he appointed
Mr.. Willis Minister to Hawaii.
What might have happened II Mr.. Willis's
mission had been well received by Liiiuoka.
lani can be only a matter Of speculation. for
the ex-Queen refused to be satisfied with any
thing less than the heads OF her principal op.
moments. and so Mr.. Willis was never called
upon to ask the provisional Government 10 lay
down Its power. Mr.. Willis had.a spirited dis
puto after ward with President Dole. His last
visit To this country was In the spring of l8y6,
when he came for n sixty-day vacation.