The Washington bee., 1898-03-19
LAST OF THE HOME GUARD
HON, BLANCHE K, BRUCE IS DEAD !
Scene at His Bedside His Faithful
Friends and Noble Wife Weep
A Noble Man is Gone---DT, Fran
els With Him UatI Death.

Ex-senator Blanche K. Bruce, Reg
lister of the Treasury, died at his home
No. 2o1o R Street, at Sis o'clock Thurs
day morning.
Death was due to complication of
stomach troubles, from which he had
suffered for two weeks. Roscoe Conk-
ling Bruce, the only son, who has been
at Exeter College, preparatory to en-
tering Harvard, arrived Wednesday.
Mr.. H. c. Bruce, a brother, was also |
present. Mr.. Bruce has seven broth
ers and one sister, who will be present
at the funeral.
Mr.. Blanche K. Bruce was born in
Prince Edward County, Va, Mar. I
which he belonged moved to Missouri,
ming of the war.
write, and shortly after the beginning
of the war he attended school at Ober-
lin College, but on account of poor
health was compelled to abandon his
studies. Henry Ward Beecher urged
him to study theology, and to become
Congregationalist. He felt that the
profession did not suit him. To supply
some of his educational deficiencies
he employed professors for years to
give him private instructions.
At the close of the war he moved to
Mississippi, and entered actively into
politics In 1870 he was elected SER
geant-at-arms of the State senate; in
1871 he was appointed assessor of Boil
ivar County; in 1872 he was elected
sheriff, and two years after he was re-
elected to the same office. Almost
simultaneously he was elected United
States Senator for the full term of six
years. During his senatorial term he
was chairman of the committee to in
vestigate the affairs of Freedmen's S
Bank, and, under a bill introduced by
him, the affairs of that institution were
closed up and the bank building sold
to the Government for $500, 900.
He was chairman of the committee
on Mississippi Levees, and member of
the Committees on Pensions and Man.
ufactures. On various occasions, in
the absence of the Vice President, he
presided over the Senate.
At the close of his senatorial term in
1881, President Garfield appointed him
Register of the Treasury, which office
he held for four years.
Il President Harrison appointed him
Recorder of Deeds for the District of
Columbia, which office he also held for
four years.
He was professional lecturer, and
during two years of President Cleve-
lands Administration was on the plat
fern, and travelled from ocean ts
ocean. He was popular orator, and
took an active part In every National
campaign since the war.
i Last year he was engaged in cotton
planting at his home in Mississippi,
and suffered severely by the March
floods, which inundated the country in
which he was operating.
| He was appointed Register of the
Treasury by President Mckinley, Dec
ember 2, last. The appointment was
not much of surprise to politicians.
He had an unblemished record.
The most recent service of MIR.
Bruce was in the Ohio campaign. He
was familiar with Ohio people and pol
lticS, having been educated in that
State and had been there in nearly
every Presidential campaign.
He was man that was true to every
trust.
Mrs. Bruce was constantly at his
bedside until she was compelled to
take her bed. So great was the strain
upon her that DR.. Francis ordered a
trained nurse. When Roscoe arrived
he was led directly to his fathers bed
chamber by Mr.. Terrill His father
was semi-conscious but Immediately
recognized his only boy, who was the
pride of his life. Young Roscoe did
not break down but was very much
effected. The funeral will take place
Monday, from the Metropolitan
church, M street between 18th and
10th streets N. w. Messrs. Robert H.
Terrell and Geo. c. Smith have full
charge of the funeral arrangements.
MIR. James H. Dabney the well known
colored funeral director, will have full
charge of the funeral. Hundreds of
people and letters are being received
by the bereaved family, offering their
heartfelt sympathy and coincidence.
Mesdames H. c. Bruce, M. c. Terrill,
DR.. ]. R. Francis, M. Nj. Holland and
others are at the residence with Mrs.
Bruce.
DR.. Francis worked on Mr.. Bruce
until 3 O'Clock Thursday morning and
it was not until that hour that he had
given up all hopes. AT S:1s Thursday
morning, Mr.. Bruce breathed his last.