The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-08-02
KATE CHASE sPaAGUE
Story Of the Life Of a Remark
able and Handsome
Woman

Sprague. wife OF a former governor ,,
hhoee Island, and the daughter OF ths ~
salmon P. Chase. governor Of Ohio. sec.
Tetary OF the treasury and chief Justice
OF the United States supreme court. died
az her homestead early this morning. in
TINS city. For three months past she has
oeen i'll, but had consented 20 medical
treatment only ten days ago. She grew
steadily worse and the end came a Few
minutes after 3 o'clock this morning. Az
the bedside were her three daughters,
Miss Kittie Sprague who lived with her
mother, Miss Portia sprague Of Nara
gansett Pier. and Mrs Donaldson. OF
| Brooklyn
The death ends career Of extremes.
Until her brilliant marriage with the war
governor OF Rhode Island. the daurh
Of the chief justice had had a happy life.
After that time she had little except sor-
row Four years ago the old Chase home
stead was saved from passing from her
only by the kindness OF the father s
friends. II was expected two months
ago that the place would so at auction.
| Early in her childhood Katherine Chase
was left motherless. Her beauty, rare in-
teilcctual abilities and endearing qualities
made her the Idol OF her distinguished
father when he was in Washington as
/ secretary of the treasury during the war.
this young daughter presided over his es-
adjustment. The town house OF the great
war financier, on the corner of Sixth and
| r streets, Is to this day universally
known as the Case mansion.
| HER POLITICAL AMBITIONS.
The cabinet in those days was not very
! strong socially, and Kate Chase ruled II
absolutely Mrs. Lincoln was simply
swept into the corner when this imperi-
GUS young beauty appeared, leaning upon
the arm Of the great secretary. 50 strong
was the desire 10 make her father presi-
dent, that IT is often said she married
Ex-Governor sprague, of Rhode Island, 10
carry out this design. But she might well
have considered him worthy match In
those days. He was the youngest war
governor Of all the states. He was In the
United States senate He was worth
millions. and he could give her Canonchet
winch was then the most superb home in
this country and ne was one OF the hand
soonest men Of the age
Kate Chase made a mistake I'M, sba
had time Of triumph before she found
II out-a time when she revelled in money
ana IN society, in the most dazzling sort
OF an existence, She would send TO Paris
Tot gowns, and they would come, twenty
hVe and thirty at a time Her Jewels
We're superb and with youth, beauty. an
ihenable charm, extraordinary intellect.
and money to spend like Monte Cristo.
she had gay enough time Of It.
MI. Sprague was In many ways one Of
the most remarkable women ever known
10 Washington society. In the davs n,
her prime there was no disputing her
leadership. She was actually the queen OF
society She could make or unmake social
porn they We're slipping away from him
Mistortune pursued him and ne commit.
tea suicide seven or eight years ago IN
the tar west poor and among strangers
AS long as Chief Justice Chase ltvad
ms brilliant daughter continued 70 bo ,
power IN Washington, socially AMI polllI.
caliy Her winters were passed nj tho
aspirations with an invitation OF a snub
Many stories are told OF the peculiar
power which she at one tina vioIaod
lhere. Her drawing rooms came nearer
,l'lz'ng me dream than anything that
mas oeen seen since. Public men and as
L'IHg pohucians We'd with ono another |
.oI heI taVor' II was often predicted be- |
iore tho downfall Of Governor spraRue
'hat inc arts and fascination Of his wife |
sloest child OF this marriage His grand. |
la'her was one Of the leading public men
oi hiS day; his father, comparatively a |
Young man. was already a United States
senators his mother was lookes upon a.
me queen Of Washingtons polite socletv
And there was great wealth underlvins
Az tnis' Tor by this time the riches OF the
spTagues had become almost phenouenaI
HER SON A SUICIDE
NO child was ever born under more fav.
'Fapie auspices than was Willie sprssue
would make him president II he lived
me mother OF Senator Sprague settled
large sum on the baby, but before ne
vas old enough 10 understand the ,,,il
'aiue OF the great things 70 which ne was
apltal principally. She made yearly trims
europe and In her American colony
n Fsfis she was favorite. After her
athers death Mrs sprague was never
ne a'me IN society. She began to have
Domestic difficulties The troubles be-
ween Governor sprague and herself he
anne matter Of public gossip. in which
he name OF Roscoe Conkling figured cor
plcuously
DIVORCED FROM THE GOVERNOR
When bankruptcy came. ex-Governor
prague lost at once his political import.
nee which was purely fortuitous ana
expended entirely on his former great for
lne. With the loss OF fortune ana po-
'uou' the weakness Of the msn sho wo. ,
ser He became dissipated. idle, siouchv ,
dress the last creature IN the world
hold a brilliant and imperial woman
&c the spoiled daughter OF the great sec.
etary Of the treasury. His discomfort g
nd her contempt eliminated IN a al.
oFee. He married soon after a woman
inferior position.
Mrs sprague's fight for canoachet with .
or three little daughters is yet talked OF
the nelehborhood Tho three daueh. .
rs Ethel, Kate ana Portia, went with
le mother, While the son. w.liIe. remain. 10
! with his father To brs. sprague was 4
wen authority 70 resume her maiden a
are OF ChaFe
HER SILK oLovED DIPLOMACY. a
for time Rhs settled down at Edgs. {,