The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-18
BLANCHE K. BRUCE DEAD
ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT COL
ORED MEN IN THE COUNTRY.
Born Slave, but Became COnspicu-
GUS by Dint of Perseverance-Twice
Register of the Treasury.

WASHINGTON, March 17.-Hon. Blanche
K. Bruce, register of the treasury died this
morning at S:15 O'Clock. His death had
been expected for several days. He suffered
from complication Of stomach troubles,
which at first appeared not serious, but last
week he lost strength steadily and toward
the close of the week it became apparent
that his vitality was ebbing rapidly. Mr..
Bruce's only child, a son, Roscoe c. Bruce,
eighteen years old, arrived here yesterday
from Exeter, n. H., where he is taking a
preparatory course for Harvard. The fu-
neral will take place on Monday, the serv-
ices being held at Metropolitan M. E.
Church (colored)
Blanche K. Bruce was born in Prince Ed
ward county, Virginia, March l. 1S41, and
therefore was fifty-seven years DID, He
was of African descent was born slave
and received the rudiments of an education
from the tutor Of his masters son. He
taught school for time in Hannibal, Mo-,
and later became a student at Oberlin. In
1869 he became planter in Mississippi and
was appointed a member of the Mississippi
| levee board. He was elected sheriff of his
| county and subsequently superintendent of
| education. In 1875 he was elected United
! States senator as q Republican and served
| until March 3, 1881. In 1881 he was APP
| pointed by President Garfield register of the
| treasury and later was appointed recorder
| of deeds of the District of Columbia. About
| six months ago he was again appointed
| register of the treasury by President Nc
| Kinley. Next after Fred Douglass, Mr..
| Bruce had been regarded as perhaps the
most conspicuous man of his race.
| Mr.. Bruce was of large and dignitied
| presence, and always attracted attention at
Ranlhican conventions. His complexion
| was a clear yellow, not as dark as that OF
some West Indians of the Caucasian race;
| his hair was fine and wavy, and thin at
| the top: his features were better cut tnan
| those of most colored persons, his eyes
| fun, and his countenance wore look OF
| happiness and content which could not but
| give pleasure. His manners were refined;
| his dress perfect and his voice sweet and
| mellow The story of his life placed him in
| a very creditable light before his fellow
| citizens. Both white and colored people had
| contributed heartily to his success; Tor by
| his readiness, tact and good nature ne, so
| to speak, compelled the recognition OF MS
abilities, which were of nigh order, as as
| shown in the performance OF arduous WORK
| of detail as well as in debate and on the
| stump.
| bouse and a PLAYMATE of his indulgent mas
| ter's ONLY child a son. His companion was
| provided with the services of tutor, who
| the pupil he was paid to instruct. and en-
| couraged his taste for learning The conSe-
quence was that the slave poy became e,o Ir Re
| better scholar of the two lads. Several years
previous to the war BrUce's master removed
| to the State Of Missouri, where he died
about the time it began. This resulted IN
a general breakup of the establishment.
| The young master went South to JOIN the
! Confederate army; his former playmate
| with two brothers, went in an opposite dl-
| rection and joined the Federal side at Han
| nibal Mo. Bruce was next heard or teach-
ing school at Hannibal, the first col Iitt1d
| teacher in that country He saved niue
money in that humble position, with when
he proceeded to Oberlin College, Ohio, where
| he was entered student Here he endured
great hardships from poverty, saving wood
and performing other laborious of1ceS ior
| living while he pursued MS STUDIES. MS ex-
| IRENE poverty, however, prevented him
| from completing the course, but he did
| much after that to obviate the deficiency OF
full college course oy engagIng tm9 se and
ices of instructors. hard private STUDY anu
much general reading.
AT the close of the war Mr.. Bruce went to
| the State of Mississippi. When the Leglsla-
| ture of the State was reorganized he
received the appointment of sergeant-at-
arms in the Senate. In 1872 he was elected
without opposition to the office of assessor
of taxes for the county of Bolivar, Missis-
sippi and was also made member or the
Board of Levee Commissioners. His cleo
ton to the Senate took place in the year
| 1874. He served the full term, ending March
| 8, 1881. While senator he was made chair
| man of the committee appointed to inyesti-
| gate the affairs of the Freedman's Bank.
| AS such he introduced bill IN Congress,
Of hishypad oss ere
| as it seemed in prolonging the investiga-
| ton, and for the appointment of John Jay
Knox, controller of the treasury. to take
| charge of the necessary work, on salary OF
| only 81 coo a year. While in the Senate he
| presided on one occasion, at the call of Sem
| ator Hoar of Massachusetts. Mr.. Bruce
was present at every national convention OF
| the Republican party since 1868. He was
| acting as presiding officer in the convention
of 1880 also at the request of Senator Hoar
| when the opportunity came to him of rec
| ognizing Garfield among host of men
wanting to speak. Register Bruce loved to
| recall and speak of this.