The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-01
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KATE SPRAGUE'S CAREER
DEATH ENDS LIFE FULL OF POLL
TICS, ROMANCE AND TRAGEDY.
Her One Great Ambition Was to Make
Her Father, Chief Justice Salmon
p. Chase, President.

WASHINGTON, July 81. - Mrs. Kate
Chase Sprague. wife Of a former Governor
OF Rhode Island. and the daughter OF the
late Salmon p. Chase. Governor of Ohio,
United States senator and chief justice of
the United States Supreme Court. died at
her homestead, Edgewood, in Washingtoas
suburbs early this morning. She was fifty
nine years old. For three months she had
been suffering with a complication Of liver
and kidney troubles, but had consented to
medical treatment only ten days ago. She
grew steadily worse and the end came
few minutes after o'clock this morning.
At the bedside were her three daughters
Miss Kittie Sprague. who lived with her
mother; Miss Portia Sprague, of Narragan-
sett Pier, and Mrs. Donaldson, of Brooklyn,
N. Y. The funeral arrangements have not
been completed. but the remains probably
will be inferred at Columbus. o.. her faith
ers old home.
Kate Chase began brilliant social career
when her father, Salmon p. Chase. then
widower was elected Governor Of Ohio.
When Mr.. Chase was made secretary of
the treasury, under Lincoln, and the family
moved here. his daughter was soon ac-
knowledged to be one OF the most beauti-
full women of the capital. Two years after
to the young Governor OF Rhode Island.
William Sprague. When Governor Sprague
was elected to the Senate their home
was a gathering place of the foremost
men and women of that day AT the height
Of the social and political success which
they had attained domestic cloud made Its
appearance. resulting in a divorce and her
Kate Chase Spragss vas the daughter of
Salmon p. Chase by his second wife. She
was born in $780, and was just twenty when
- Enkt Er..n rrNa n G.
ury. Her figure was magnificent and her
beauty Of face un6eniable. No princess
could be more haughty ana school IN re
ceiving as her fathers guests the soldiers
and statesmen who were upholding the
cause OF the Republic.
HER GREAT AMBITION.
Her father had already manifested a de-
sire for the presidential chair = and his
daughter gave her soul and future happi-
ness to the promotion OF this cause. She
began cautiously and shrewdly to make a
party and gain supporters to that end But
curiously enough. while capable of infiu-
encing men favorably. she could see no
good In making friends among her own
sex. and. save socially. neglected them al
together. and they hated her.
She became the vile or the millionaire
Senator Sprague on Nov. II. 1862 and his
her ambition TO make her father President
They had four children, and young William
he b ne5 S Sny Tcreed and pennes
in a laborers tent in the suburbs OF Ia
coma. Her three daughters still live. Her
death will revive the dramatic story OF the
Spragues, their princely wealth and sway
in the sixties and seventies, their political
and their social touch with the great men
OF the period of reconstruction; with Blaine,
Tilden, Butler. Conkling. Greeley, Grant,
Garfield Chase and host of others. 1t also
revives all the old stories. ISLANDERS, divorce
nj n
Chase Sprague. the Governors first wife.
end her brilliant social leadership, invOlV-
ing. as 1t did. the diplomatic, social and
Official life of Washington. and ramifying
its influence TO the greater courts OF Eu-
rope.
TONS memory; some. are still wearing out
the sere Of their splendid lives. and some.
have retired i before the force Of times mex,
with only a hidden farewell to those dear
to him by blood. the once daring Sprague
left his country two years ago with his
young second wife, ambitious to be prima
donna, with the avowed intention OF here
in Italy; anywhere the caprice of Mime.
Sprague" and her musical. ambition may
dictate.
The tale OF these strange lives, of Canon
chet. their home at Narragansett Pier, the
disintegration OF distinguished American
family and the terrible ssrnish n, Of social o and
elopement, intrigue and romance array
themselves In annals stranger than fiction.
With Sprague's brilliant marriage began
the social career which has sent the name
OF Chase-Sprague TO the greatest salons of
Europe and America Kate Chase In that
day was accounted the most brilliant woman
IN the society OF her own country. She was
beautiful. she was a diplomat OF marvellous
methods. the homage Of the greatest states
queenly leader OF Washington's social and
official life. She was ambitious and she