Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-22
SHERMAN NOT DEAD.
The Telegram Yesterday to That Effect
Was False.
THE NEWS THAT THE OHIO
STATESMAN WAS NOT ONLY
ALIVE, BUT BETTER, DID NOT
HALF-PAST EIGHT O'CLOCK
LAST NIGHT, WHEN REGRET
GAVE WAY TO REJOICING.

Washington, March 21.-Seldom has
official Washington been more COM
pletely stirred up by conflicting emo
tons than it was to-day by the an
nouncement first of the death of Hon.
John Sherman, and then by the con-
tradiction of the report, which came
a few hours later. the one giving a
relief which was as marked as was
the sorrow produced by the other.
The first report, which came from
New York. was received at o'clock
in the afternoon and was circulated
in the departments just before they
closed for the day. The announcement
cablegrams of the day stating that the
venerable statesman'S condition had
grown worse since yesterday and there
was a universal expression OF regret,
and in many cases of personal distress
over the news. Cabinet ministers,
Senators and members of the House
expressed deep sorrow, speaking not
only in terms of admiration and re-
spect for the ex-Senator's public ca
reer, but dwelling with loving kind
ness upon his personal character.
The contradiction of the first report
did not arrive until $3.50 O'Clock this
evening. 1t came to the Associated
Press in the shape of positive state
ment from Santiago, made in the
knowledge that the report of the Sen
ator's death had been circulated. This
dispatch was Immediately given as
wide circulation in the city as it was
possible for it to neive at that hour
Secretary Hay was placed in posses
sion of a copy of the dispatch, as wei
also Mr.. Sherman's family. "a most
marvellous condition of affairs" re-
marked the Secretary. He then pro-
ceeded to express his great relief that
the first news was not confirmed.
The news of the reported death OF
MIR. Sherman took many persons,
friends and others, to his home on K.
street. Among others who were con-
gregated there when the representative
of the Associated Press called, We're the
two former private secretaries of Sen
Vale, as we'll as Miss Kate Wilcox,
niece, and Mrs. Colchas Hoyt, whose
husband was a cousin Of Senator Sher-
man. They and others present read
the dispatch stating that the Senator
was still alive, with tremendous joy.
The reading of the glad message had
scarcely been concluded by those pre-
sent when Mrs. McCollum, the adopted
daughter of Senator and Mrs. Sherman,
burst into the room accompanied by
the daughter of General Miles. They
had received the news through a tele~
phone message from the Associated
Press while at General Miles house,
the rest of the family. at has been a
trying day." said Mrs. McCollum, but
all is well again"
Indeed there were heartfelt rejoic-
ings and thanksgivings on the part OF
all those who had assembled at the
house when they realized it was true
that the invalid was better and might
yet be restored to them.
Mrs. Sherman is the one person of
the ex-Senators household who suffer-
ed neither from the first announcement
or rejoiced over the second. She was
not informed of either. Mrs. Sherman
has been quite i'll from a paralytic at
tack for several months, and had never
been informed even Of the ex-Senators
serious illness for fear of its effect upon
her. 1t was felt that the news of his
death which came to-day might be fatal
to her and all hesitated to make the
announcement. 1t was ultimately de-
cided to postpone the sad duty until to-
morrow. She was thus saved the
shock.
Already many kilograms of condo
lence and personal calls of sympathy
has been received at the house.
Prompt efforts were taken by the AS
ISOLATED Press to inform the prominent
officials of the administration and 9TH
ers of the safe arrival of Mr.. Sherman
at Santiago, and it was with feeling
of genuine qualification and satisfaction
that this news was received, supple
mented by an expression of hope that
Mr.. Sherman would entirely recover.
When the report of Mr.. Sherman's
death was first circulated to-day an As
ISOLATED Press reporter called at the
Sherman residence. He was received
by Mrs. McCullom, who was asked if
the report had been confirmed. She
said:
Yes; I have heard from the State
Department that he is dead"
Mrs. McCullom added that she did
not know where the State Department
received this information.
At half-past twelve o'clock to-
night, Mr. McCallum, the husband of