The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-22

fact that of the following six Vice Presi-
dents, who have died in office, four died
within few days of the same day of the
month in the year of their deaths, the
death of Mr.. Hobart being the Dist of No
vember, 1899; that of Mr.. Wilson the 22d
of November, 1875; that OF Elbridge Gerry,
Nov. 90 1914, and that of Mr.. Hendricks
Nov. 25 1885 The other two Vice Presi-
dents, who died in office, were Clinton and
King. The former died April 20, 1872, aud
the latter April IT, 1858.
News Received in Washington.
All the flags in Washington are half
masted out of respect to the memory of
Vice President Hobart. The announce
ment of the Vice President death, while
not unexpected, came as a distinct shock
and cast a deep gloom over the city where
he was loved and honored. The news was
first received at the White House ten min
ules before Q o'clock, in a private mes
sage from Paterson. The flag over the
Executive Mansion was Immediately
hauled to half-mast, and the doors of the
mansion closed to the public.
The President was deeply affected by the
telegram announcing his colleagues death,
and at once dispatched a telegram convey
ing the sympathy and consolation of him
self and Mrs. Mckinley to Mrs. Hobart.
Meantime the sad intelligence had been
bulletined by all the newspaper offices,
and the whole city was soon mourning the
loss of the Vice President
Secretary of State Hay, upon whom the
succession to the presidency now falls,
heard the news upon his arrival at the
state department, and he Immediately re-
paired to the White House Meanwhile,
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana and Sena-
tor Foster of Washington had Joined the
President, and were with him when sec
retarv HAY arrived The secretary re-
~. o-f1n ant oh n
utes He was visibly affected when ne
left the White House.
President Mckinley was also moved
and when Senator Fairbanks had left ne
Joined Mrs Mckinley in his private
apartments. His close and intimate re-
Iations with his colleague made him feel
the Vice Presidents death as a great
personal bereavement. Mrs Mckinley was
Greatly affected. She gave way COM
nIetelv TO her brief and sobbed convul-
siveIv. Mrs. Mckinley has but few ini-
mates here and among her most cherlsh-
ed friends were the Vice President ana
Mrs Hobart. President Mckinley did
obi he could to comfort his wife and did
NOT return to his office until the mem
hers of the cabinet began TO arrive
Official Action Taken.
The members of the cabinet were made
acquainted with the sad news as soon as
tha President himself was Informed by
means of the telephone from the White
House. Secretary Hay fastened over 10
the White House, and mad private con-
ference with the President, and then re-
turned to the state department to give
orders for the execution of the official pro-
gramrne, so far as the government Is con-
cerned. First Mr.. Hay sent a private
message to Mrs. Hobart, expressing his
sincere confidence, and then gave his at
tention to the prepare ton of a proelama-
ton, announcing the death of the Vice
President, to the people of the United
States. 1t was also necessary 10 convey
the information to the nations of the
world.
This was. the day for the regular cabi-
net meeting and the members gathered at
the White House at II o'clock but the
death of the Vice President overshadow-
ed all else and public business was not
mentioned All the members of the cab
met especially Attorney General Griggs,
showed the emotion which they felt. The
Attorney General and Vice President Ho-
hart were probably closer than any two
men in public life in this administration.
After the cabinet meeting the President
issued the following proclamation:
Bv the President of the United States:
A Proclamation.
To the People Of the United States;
Garrett Augustus Hobart Vice President
of the United states, deu at MS Hoile III
Paterson, N. j., at $50 o'clock this morn
ing. In him the nation has lost one of its
most illustrious citizens and onea OF its
most faithful servants. His participation
in the business life and the law-makng
BODY of his native state was marked by
answering fidelity and by high order of
talents and attachments; and his too-brief
career as Vice President of the United
States and president OF the Senate exhib-