The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-10-05
Postmaster General Died at 6:10
p. M. Yesterday.
Was one Of the Most Beloved Men
In Washington Official
Life.
CoRTELYoU SUCCEEDS HIM

Washington, Oct. 5.-llenry c. Payne,
the postmaster general of the United
States, member of the national republi-
can committee, a stalwart member of his
party, with a history of which both in
his home state and nationally he has
been identified for many years, died at
his apartments at the Arlington at G:lO
o'clock last night, aged 60 years.
His death was announced in the fol-
lowing official bulletin:
1.-The postmaster general died at 6V
p. m. He died peacefully without y
struggle. Cause of death, disease of
mitral valve and dilatation of heart"
Mr. Payne had been in poor health for
at least two years, but his illness COW
cred only seven days.
His death came after nearly six hours
Of Inconsistencies. The last official
caller TO inquire as to his condition was
President Roosevelt, and he had been
gone only about ten minutes when the
stricken member of the cabinet expired.
Around Mr.. Payne's bedside at the
time of his death were his devoted wife,
Rev. DIR. Dunlap, pastor of st. Johns
Episcopal church, Major and Mrs. W.
NJ. Cameron. of jamestown, \. v. Mr..
and Mrs. Winfield Cameron, of Alilwau-
kee. Charles l.. Jones and Miss Louise
Jones, relatives. Private Secretary
Whitney, Miss Marie Barbiere, an old
companion Of Mrs Payne, Mr.. and Mrs.
w. L. Mason, of Washington, old-time
friends of Mr.. and Mrs. Payne, and the
faithful colored messenger at the de-
partment of the postmaster-general. .
The approach of dissolution begin
during the noon hour, when the sick
man lost, consciousness and no. longer
recognized those whom he had attempt
ed to cheer during his illness, by saying
to them that he was all right. When
Mrs. Payne saw the end was near, she
summoned Rev. DIR. Dunlap and at her
request he read at the bedside of the
dying man psalm 1870.
Never in recent years robust, Mr..
Payne was unable to withstand the
shock of the sinking spells and last
Friday, when he had two sinking spells,
it was believed he was rapidly approach,
ing the end.
Throughout official Washington and
in private circles in which Mr.. Payne
moved, deep solicitude was manifested.
President Roosevelt, whose friendship
for the general extends back
number of years, was daily caller at
the hotel and was kept constantly ad'
vised of his condition. Mrs. Roosevelt
too, was unremitting in her inquiries
and called sometimes twice a day, offer
ing comfort to Mrs. Payne. The cabinet
officers in Washington made anxious in
quiries daily as to the condition of their
Ntiitktu toiitoSh's anu many oihese''
of the post office department evinced
their personal sympathy.
Mr.. Payne, in the capacity of member
of the republican national committee,
had participated in six presidential
campaigns and during the last four of
which he was member of the executive
committee of the national committee
He was acting chairman of the national
committee during the interim between
the death of Senator Hanna and the
election of Secretary Cortelyou as its
head and the trying duties that then de-
volved upon him Slapped his vitality
and led to his final breakdown.