The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-04-04
PH|LETUS SAWYER DEAD.
Expires Without Warning at His
Sons Residence in Oshkosh.
CONSCIOUS TO THE LAST
The Fatal Illness Developed Durin g
a Recent Visit to His Former
Haunts in Washington.

Oshkosh, Wis, March 29.-[Special. i
Former Senator Philetus Sawyer died
suddenly at the residence of his son Ed
gar at 9:15 o'clock this morning
No one was in the room with Mr.. Saw
yer except his granddaughter law,
Mrs. Phil Sawyer. Three minutes be-
fore death came Edgar had left the room.
The senator was in bed. He had few
moments before complained that his feet
were cold and had put his shoes and
socks on his feet. After Edgar had left
the room he became restless and asked to
have his shoes taken off. Mrs. Sawyer
went to assist him, when at that moment
he drew long breath and fell back ON
the bed. Mrs. Sawyer went on helping
hlm, thinking that he was asleep. Sud
denly she thought that perhaps Mr.. Saw
Yer was dead. She felt of his heart and
found that it's beating had stopped, and
she Immediately called the rest of the
family: Or: Russell, the family physi-
clan, was hurriedly summoned, and pro-
nounced Mr.. Sawyer dead. General de-
bility was the cause.
DR.. T. Russell said that the senator
had been in his usual health up to last
Saturday. On that day he felt little
IndIsposed and did not sleep well that
night. On Sunday he felt little better,
but passed bad night. On Monday he
was examined by the physician and the
doctor discovered that his heart was ir-
regular The trouble with his heart
steadily grew worse. His kidneys be-
came effected on Tuesday.
At the Bank Tuesday.
Senator Sawyer went down town to
the bank Tuesday morning. and in the
afternoon called on DR.. Russell. He
complained of feeling badly at that time
Nv 10
realize that Mr.. Sawyer's condition was
at all serious. He made an engagement
with DIR. w. A. Gardner of the state
hospital to hold a consultation this morn
ing at 10 o'clock. DR.. Gardner arrived
at the Sawyer residence just few mo-
ments after the senator had passed away.
Edgar Sawyer, son Of the senator, stat
ed to a reporter this morning that he
had no idea that death was so near and
the passing away of his father was a
great shock to him. He said that his
father acted as if he thought that the
end was near and that on Tuesday he
had talked over all his business affairs
with his son, saying that he wanted to
finish up the work before he was called.
Was Recently in Washington.
Mr.. Sawyer went to Washington about
three weeks ago with Postmaster Ole
Olson. He was in good health during
the first week that he was there, but
some stomach trouble developed, and he
came home feeling somewhat run down.
His daughter-in-law. Mrs. Edgar Saw
yer, and his granddaughter. Mrs. G. 9.
Case, and his daughter, Mrs. w. 0.
Goodman, are in Washington. They were
telegraphed for this morning, and will
come on to Oshkosh as soon as possible.
The arrangements for the funeral are
being made. The funeral will probably
take place Sunday afternoon, although
nothing definite will be decided until
the members of the family, now in
Washington, are heard from.
Within twenty minutes after the news
of the death of Mr.. Sawyer had been
given out all the flags in the city were at
half-mast. There is great grief ex-
pressed on all sides.
Was 81 Years Old.
On September % Mr.. Sawyer cele-
bfated his last birthday. He was 81
years old and received the congratuIa-
lions of his many friends and kilograms
and letters from all parts of the country
were received by him.
About three months ago he underwent
al operation in Chicago for liberation
of the neck He then recovered and
seemed to have obtained q new lease of
life
The remains will be placed in the fami-
iE vault at Riverside cemetery, erected
few years ago at a cost of $4,000.
Mr.. Sawyer was member of the Ma
ionic and Odd Fellows fraternities. He
was known as the "Grand Old Man" of
Oshkosh and was universally loved and
respected.
Mr. Sawyer's public requests were nu-
merous and generous, amounting annual |
ly to thousands of dollars. There was
scarcely a public or charitable movement |
in which he did not head the list of do
nOrs. 1t is expected that large requests |
will be provided by his will for charitable.
educational and phlanthropic purposes