Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-05
WILLIAM c. whitney IS DEAD
FORMERLY SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY UNDER CLEVELAND.

the navy, died few minutes after
O'Clock this afternoon at his home in
Fifth avenue in his Gath year.
He died while under the influence of
ether administered preparatory to a
second operation for appendicitis. By
his bedside were his son. Harry Payne
Whitney, and his daughter, Dorothy
Whitney, as well as DR.. William I.
Bull, the chief surgeon in attendance.
Mr.. Whitney was taken ill Friday
night at the performance of "Rlgo-
lette" at the Metropolitan opera house
and had to leave before the oprea en-
ded.
DIR. Walter B. James, the family
physician, was summoned and found
that the condition of the patient was
such that after consultation an opera
ton was decided upon and was per-
formed by DR.. Bull. The patient raj
lied SO well that it was fully believed
he would recover. Mr.. Whitney S
condition was very grave, however, on
Sunday and Monday, and at a consul
tation held this afternoon, the conclu-
sion was reached that the only hope
for the bpatient lay in second opera
ton. A bulletin issued in the morn
ing stated there had been slight i'm
provement in the patients condition,
but shortly before O'Clock alarming
symptoms were noticed, and hurried
preparations were made for second
operation. Mr.. Whitney was placed
under the influence of ether, but
whether the operation was proceeded
with or not is unknown.
When the physicians precieved that
the patient was in danger of death,
Harry Payne Whitney and Miss Doro-
thy Whitney were Immediately noti-
fed. They hastened to the side of
their father and in a few minutes he
had breathed his last. Oxygen was
used and all the skill of the physicians
and surgeons brought into play to
save the life of the distinguished pa
tient, but to no avail. 1t was 3 O'Clock
before the simple fact of his death
was made public. Later the follow
ing statement was issued:
"Mr. Whitney died at O'Clock of
peritonitis and blood poisoning, fol-
lowing an operation for appendicitis.
Mr. Whitney may be truly called
many sided man, and, above all, he is
thorough, says recent issue of Har-
per's Weekly. Everything that he has
taken hold Of during his active and
useful career he has bettered and inn
proved. As 4 lawyer, a cabinet min
lister, a business man, and q society
leader, he has risen far above his fell
lowmen, and as husband and father
he has set an example to all the
world.
William Collins Whitney was born
at Conway, Mass, July s, 1841. He
is the son of James Scollay and Lau-
rinda (Collins) Whitney. His father
was scion of an old New England
family, whose pioneer, John Whitney,
came from Westminster, London,
England, in 1885, and settled at Wat
ertown, Mass. He has given to Amer
lea many distinguished warriors and
lawyers. Mr.. Whitney's mother was
q lineal descendant of Governor Will
liam Bradford of Plymouth Colony.
The young man was educated at
the Willston academy, Easthampton,
Mass. and in 1859 he entered Yale,
graduating in 1868. Subsequently he
graduated from the Dane law school
of Harvard in 1865.
He first practiced in New York city,
and he soon proved himself shrewd
practitioner When only 81 years old
he became political leader, and has
always been strong and staunoh
democrat. He was active in the Til
den campaign, and in 1876 entered his
first political office as corporation
council for the city of New York.
He prepared the consolidation act,
which lawyers consider today the best
instrument of its kind ever framed in
this country, and he was also leader
in Tammany as well as fighter
against that organization. In 1889 he
resigned from the corporation council
and interested himself in business, ac-
curing franchises for street railways
in New York city.
In 1885 politics once more claimed
him, and this time he became secre-
tary of the nary in the cabinet of
President Cleveland. During his term
of office he devoted his entire energies
to improving the navy and building
ships, laying the foundation for the
glorious victories over spain, and be-
ginning the construction of the great
States world power. Mr.. Whitney,
having performed great service in the
nation, retired from office in 1889, and
he has since then refused all political
or diplomatic offices.
He returned to active business and