The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-22
DIES AFTER
SHORT ILLNESS.
Ex-Governor WoIcott Succumbs
10 Typhoid Fever.
STRICKEN AFTER HIS RETURN.
Had Spent Six Months Ahruid--Widsx, -Four
Sebs and Daughter Survive Hlm--hs
Career q Nuiabls One.
STRICKEN AFTER HIS RETURN,


wolcott died al his residence on Common
wealth avenue between $3.50 and $40 .. m.
yesterday lie became i'll with typhoid
fever several weeks ago, but reports from
his bedside Indicated nothing alarming
until the latter part of last week. when
new complications produced change for
the worse.
His physician, DIR. Putnam. said last
night that death resulted from extreme
weakness due to the progress Of the dis
ease. The members OF his family WIRE
at his bedside, but Or. Putnam was not
present.
lie had continued in iethargic condi-
while probably conscious of what was
going on, his mind was not alert and he
spoke no word.
lie was probably aware that death was
near. He knew that he was very sick.
but expressed no concern as to the is
sue.
The disease was probably contracted
either while on shipboard or soon after
he landed in New York from his trip in
Europe.
When seized he was almost In perfect
physical condition, said the attending
physician. He was possessed of stall
wart constitution. bur all the resources
OF medical science were exhausted In the
endeayor TO save his life.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wolcott spent some six
months abroa4. recently. They had been
married ~ years. but had not visited Eu-
rope since they spent winter in Rome
soon after the wedding. a,
EX-Gov woLCoTTs CAREER.
Roger Wolcott was born i'm Boston, July
IL. lsi1 the son OF j. Huntington and Cor
neiia farething w ofeott. He was
descendent of the Roger Wolcott who
was second I'm command i'm the expedition
OF Sir William Peppereil against Cape
Breton In i745. which resulted i'm the cap
.ure of Louisburg
Another ancestor was Oliver WolcotE
one OF the signers OF the Declaration of
Independence. Both of these Wolcotts
were governors of Connecticut One OF
his ancestors. on his mothers side was
active and prominent during the Revolu-
tionary period as amember of the Charles
town committee OF safety. and another
took part, I'm the Boston tea party.
Roger Wolcott was educated In Boston
private schools and at Harvard Univer-
sity. from which he graduated in the
class of 20. In college he ranked high,
and was the choice OF his classmates for
orator. He was graduated from Harvard
Law School IN 1874 and was admitted to
the Suffolk bar in the same year. He
practiced but little. however. his time
having been largely occupied by his du-
ties as trustee of various estates and in
the management of financial matters.
Governor Wolcotts public career began
in 1871, as a member OF fhe Boston COM
mon council. In which he served three
years. Then he was elected TO the lower
house OF the legislature where he served
from 1852 20 lSSi, taxing "A position among
the leaders and winning distinction as a
hard and trustworthy worker
lie was elected lieutenant governor In
1899, 1894 aud 1875. and upon the death of
Governor Greenhalge became acting gov
ernor In 1S9g In 1897 he was elected gov
ernor and I'm 1898 he was reelected.
MIR. Wolcott was always Republican.
but I'm the campaign of 1854 he opposed his
partys candidate for the presidency and
voted for Grover Cleveland. He belonged
TO number OF reform organizations,
among others the Boston Citizens Asso-
citation and the Civil Service Reform AS
sociatiou He was a trustee OF the Mass
schlsetts General Hospital and an over
seer 90 Harvard University. and MEM
ber OF many social cluhs.
shortly after the resignation OF Gen.
William r. Draper az ambassador to
Italy, in 1899, President Mckinley tend
cred the post TO MIR Woleott. The offer
was declined on account OF the pressure
OF private business affairs.
On Sent ,, 1874. Mr.. Wocott was mar
ried 10 Miss Edith Prescott granddaugh-
ter OF William II. Prescott. the historian,
and great grand-daughter OF Col. William
Prescott. who commanded the provincials
at the battle of Bunker Hill They had
four sons and one daughter who are now
living.
Gov. Gregory paid the following tribute
TO the iate Gov. Wolcott today:
New England mourns for Gov. Wo]cott
and Rhode Island appreciates fully the
loss which Massachusetts suatains I'm the
death of 80 eminent and well-belcved a
citizen THE attractiveness OF person and
the graciousness OF manner which distin-
guished MIR Wolcott were the outer ex-
preston OF high-minded and noble char
acter.
For all that endeared him 10 his fell
low citizens his memory will ever be
green