Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-06
DEATH OF POTTER PALMER
End Steals on the Chicago Capitalist Before
He or Family is Aware.
HEART DISEASE GIVEN AS THE CAUSE
Estate of Man Active In Financial
world Nearly Half n Century,
Placed at Twenty-Five
Millions.

nearly half a century one Of Chicago's
most prominent business men. died last
night at his home on Lake Shore drive. The
exact cause OF Mr.. Palmer's death has not
yet been determined. He had been suffer-
ing for several weeks from a nervous dis
order, but as he was able to be about the
house his condition was not thought to be
serious. When he retired Saturday night
he was feeling better than for several
days. During the night. however. he seemeI
to lose all his energy and this morning
was unable to leave lis room. He grad
uslly grew weaker during the day and AZ
$40 p. m. he suffered a sudden collapse,
from which he expired.
The physicians who we're attending Mr..
Palmer are at a loss as to the ultimate
cause OF his death, as apparently he had no
organic troubles.
Mrs. Palmer and their two sons. Honore
and Potter, jr., were with Mr.. Palmer when
he died. No arrangements have yet been
made for the funeral. but in all probability
he will be buried in Chicago, where he ac-
cumulated his fortune.
Death Not Expected.
Mr.. PaImer's condition had not been re-
garded as extremely serious. even by the
family physician, DR.. H. B.. Favill. Satur-
Jay Night ne tuueTbu lIOm a ltNOEs HE
| temperature rose then to 100 and by this
morning was 101, but DR.. Favlll, while I'M
able to account for the presence OF this
fever, did not feel that It indicated serious
results. This afternoon Mrs. Palmer noticed
symptoms of sinking in Mr.. Palmer and be-
came alarmed. DR.. Favill could not be
found and DR.. G. p. Marquis was called. He
| reached the Palmer residence at 4 o'clock
and after a brief examination Of the patient
advised Mrs. Palmer that he could hold out
no hope.
Mr.. Palmer had seemed to fall into q
sleep at 3 o'clock, although IL was fatal I'M
consciousness and so he remained until the
end. DR.. Marquis made a vain effort to hold
the wavering spark of life by administer
ing oxygen, but 1t was without avail. He
could only give the family the assurance
that Mr.. Palmer was passing away without
pain. There was silence in the room then
until $40 o'clock, when the physician raised
his hand and 1t was known that death had
come.
Due to Heart Disease.
Just after Mr.. Palmer's death DR.. Tavill
arrived at the residence. After a brief con-
ference with DIR. Marquis he announced thai
death was due to heart disease. He discov-
cred a slight disorder Of the lungs thai
gave some indication of incipient pneu.
monia, possibly brought on by an attack o
grip suffered several months ago. but mo-
suficient to have brought the speedy erl.
News Of the death spread rapidly oV.- thu
city and intimate friends OF the Palmer
family called at the home early. Old tim,
associates Of Mr.. Palmer. such as Judg,
Lambert Tree, Marshall Field. Levi z
Letter and Erskine Phelps were informed
| Rnharf n IInc0ln II II Kahlaaat and d
, w. Patterson called.
>. 1t was at nrst intended by the family Il
prepare an official statement as to Mr. Pal
mer's death which should incorporate tn
views Of the attending physicians, but thii
plan was changed and Mrs. B. L. Honor,
gave out such statements as we're desired
She said that nothing could have beer
more OF a surprise to the family and ina
she was positive that Mr.. Palmer himsel
I had never realized that death was near.
} Native of New York.
Potter Palmer was born In 1926 in Pot,
tiers Hollow, Albany county, N. Y. He re.
ceived a common school education and a
the age of is engaged as a clerk in a stor,
at Durham, N. Y. where he remained thre,
years. When he became Of age he opened
store Of his own at Oneida, N. Y, and con,
Quoted 1t for two years. He afterwar,
spent one year at Lockport. N. Y. and ther
removed to Chicago, where he established
a dry goods Arm. This firm afterward be
came Field, Palmer & Letter, of which tn
other members were Marshall Field AM
Levi 2. Letter, and which has been sue
ceeded by the firm Of Marshall Field & Co.
The sharp advance In the price Of good
after the beginning Of the civil war founI
the firm prepared with a large stock, and /
reaped immense gains from every advance
{ Mr.. Palmer retired from mercantile If
In 1868 and so liberal had been his polio,
in meeting public requirements during tn
war that the government was indebted l.
him to the extent Of $3.50, 900.
Victim of Big Fire.
, After disposing Of his dry goods interest
Mr.. Palmer invested In Chicago real estat
and began the erection OF business build
; ings. When the fire came In 1871 he owne
thirty-two structures on State street, ever
, one OF which was destroyed. His losse
were very heavy, but his faith in Chieag
was mistaken and he borrowed enougI
,