The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-01
KATECHASE SPRAGUEDEAD
SHE EXPIRES Ar MN HOME IN THE
hERLRRS OF MANILLNGTON.

III the Sixties She Played n Prominent Part
In the social and Political Life of wash
ineton-Her Marriage Ia senator viii
liam Sprngue and Its Unhappy Ending
WASHINGTON. July 81 Mrs Kate Chase
Sprague died early this morning at Edgewood
tho homestead Of her father, the late Chiei
Justice Chase in the suburbs OF Washington
Mrs SpraRue was ~ years OF ngo. She had
been In poor health for some months, but a
physician was not called until about week ago.
when she was found 10 be suffering from kid
ncy trouble. Hcrcondition grew rapidly worse.
and the two daughters who were absent were
summoned. Mrs. Donaldson from Brooklyn and
Miss Porta SpraGuc from Narrngansett Pier.
Miss Kitty Sprague, the youngest daughter.
lived at EdgcwOod UrTmic poisoning de-
veiopcd Yesterday. producing commissions. but
she rallied from the attack only to succumb to
another attack this morning. Funeral services
will be held on Wednesday afternoon at Edge
wood and the remains will be placed in vault
until arrangements are made for their removal
TO Columbus. o.. whore the Chief Justice and
Mrs. Chase are buried.
Katharine Chase Sprapuo was the daughter
OF salmon y. Chase of Ohio. q Governor of the
S'ate a Untcd States senator. n candidate for
the Presidency at the time Lincoln was nomi-
mated, Secretary OF the Treasury In Lincoln's
Cabinet. and then appointed by Lincoln Chief
Justice OF the United States Supreme Court
Mrs Sprague was 80 years old when she died.
but so much Of her early beauty OF face and
figure did she retain that she looked much
younger.
Few women OF this century played so promi-
nent a part in the social and political life OF
the national capital. Few women born to high
station in this or any other country made such
n brilliant beginning OF life and experienced
so many hardship5 before LIES close. 1t has
been sal! that only In France. before the
First Republic could the counterpart OF Mrs.
Sprague be found among women. as social
leader and politician. With great beauty and
a brilliant mind rs natural inheritance. she
was carefully reared and all the advantages OF
liberal education in this country and abroad
were given to her
She was formally presented to Washington
society little more than forty years ago. and
In a short time she became the acknowledged
belle OF Washington. The Chase homo was
then at the corner Of Sixth and streets. and
all the eligible parts nocked there when
ter TER y SPpI The '" dsfnguished ohio statesman
had any quantity OF sutors. but none
lul tact kept them all at her feet and ready to
do her slightest bidding. In those days how
her father and the men who could be useful to
him were the men to whom She was most
gracious $50
prps s1 "s E"'SS oeaS ss"sa s'vf 3! "a
rRst Of about 15 s snS ofIkpd9S from
from the corner Of the, Soldiers Home
lane; at tho Catholic Tnnive1rsity, ,a road;
red brick house with porch, extending clear
Capitol and surrounding country could be OBJ
tanned. Kate Chase named her fathers pur,
chase Edgowood" and there she entertained
on a large scale
Statesmen Of great and small reoptte came to
Lakewood as often as they were hidden: and
years Of age. who had made national
for h Wd as s9dsr and ID p9Ey
dence. Il. L.. who had been, Governor OF his
State, when sumter was fired on. who imme-
Island volunteers and who was the only Coy
ernor in the Union who went to the war at the
Island, only to be sent to Washington as a
greatest catch in Washington il not in the
country. for he was possessed OF great wealth.
n and hs
future scanned to be brighter than that OF any
s % I have yesfs m he for nohnE 6s the
business Of the Senate until he met Kate
Chase Then he became suitor as well as
SENATOR and the engagement was finally an
il was regarded as a brilliant match and the
wedding was notable one; -Four children
SS Son. t"' Ps SH'SP ss,,, @
the three dalehtsrs. Ethel Chase sprarue.
ago. and in the fall Of 1896 married. in San
francisco. DIR: Frank Donaldson. a professor in
Surgeons and a momber of an old Baltimore
family The youngest daughter lived with her
In 1873 the firm Of A. 4 W, Sprague failed.
most wired out by the failure. After that the
relations between Mr.. and Mrs. Sprague became
strained Tho Governor. "a h" was always
called, accused his wife. OF reckless eXtrav-
shoot Roscoe C0nklns. who came 70 call on
Mrs Sprague at Narragansett Pier The result
OF this trouble was a divorce Mrs SpIRsue
retained the custody OF her children. and nov
ter of Virginia farmer.
Mrs. Sprague went abroad, residing in Paris
several years while her children were being
When Mrs Sprague returned to this country
has been said. no other woman in Washington
could entertain. But she knew little OF the
value OF money. and what she had was soon
spent the money in other entertai nments and
mortGagcd again. Finally she had nothing left
to mortgage. and she was compelled to
in inexpensive lodgings. and tried to get
friends Of her father TO redeem the old home.
In 1896 a fund. to which William c. Whitney
raised. and with this Mrs; Sprague was able to
satisfy some Of her icreditors. Thus 1t han
pened that the woman VINO once ruled WaGh-
ington society, was permitted TO die in the
assisted the country's statesmen to play the
game OF politics.