The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-10-05
.U.S.POSTMASTER
GENERAL DEAD
After Seven Days Illness Henry
c. Payne Passes Away
HEART TROUBLE RESPONSIBLE.
Death Was Preceded by Six Hours Of I'm.
Consciousness, but End Was Peaceful.
Funeral Friday Morning.

washington. Oct. 5.-Henry C. Payne
postmaster general OF the United States
member OF the national Republican
committe, stalwart OF his party, with
the history OF which both In his home
state and nationally he has been identi:
Heo lot many years. died at his apart
ments at the Arlington hotel at e:lC
O'Clock last night. aged o. years.
The death and its cause were announced
In the following official bulletin issued by
the attending physicians:
- ne postmaster general died a 6:1O p.
IN: lie died peacefully, without a
struggle Cause OF death. disease of
mlLral valve and dilation OF the heart
| tsignedD ''P. NJ. RIXEY.
C. LLOYD MAGRUDER
&C. I. GRAYSON."
a. ML, Ia rayne me had been In poor health for
| covered only seven days. an attack OF
heart trouble last week precipitating the
e@Iid @ AT tlme when after a rest he seemed
vitality. impaired by years OF arduous Ia
DOT. Death yesterday afternoon came
atler nearly six hours OF Inconsistencies.
HEART GAVE OUT.
Ine death OF the postmaster general
came as the result really OF a succession
or sinking spells due 10 a weak heart
that enfeebled the sick man until finally
the heart literally gave out Stricken
with an attack Of heart trouble last We'd
nesday' his condition rapidly became
grave succession of sinking spells OF
increasing severity and depressing effect
followed. but the remarkable manner in
which Mr.. Payne rallied from these spells
ana the responses OF the heart action TO
treatment gave little temporary encour-
agement. His close relatives were sum
moned 10 Washington as early as last
Thursday night.
Never N
was unable TO Withstand the shock OF the
sinking spells, and last Friday, when he
had two sinking spells. IL was believed
That he was rapidly approaching the end
While moderate doses OF heart remedie,
suffced at first, IL became necessary by
sunday TO give much more powerful stim-
ulants. and the doses were given in great
er quantities than on any previous day
When the postmaster general had
oreathed his last Dr. Magrlider led Mrs.
Payne out OF the room. II was stated
that she had stood up bravely under the
heavy strain.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The last day had been one during
which practically all hope had been
abandoned for some hours The approach
or dissolution began during the noon
hour, when the sick man lost conscious
ness and no longer recognized those
whom he had attempted TO cheer during
his illness by saying 10 them that he was
all right.
When Mrs. Payne saw that the end was
near she summoned the Rev. DR. Dun
lap of ST. Johns Episcopal church, and
at her request he read at the bedside OF
the dying man Psalm $50. "Out OF the
Depths and then repeated the prayers
the Episcopal church provides shall be
read at the bed OF those about to pass
away.
Funeral services will be held at ST.
Johns Episcopal church. I'm this city
next Friday morning and at S:l5 that
afternoon the body will be taken to the
Railroad station and placed |
aboard the private car OF President A. j. |
Earling OF the Chicago. Milw waukee IL St |
Paul railroad, who rendered the use OF |
The car by telegraph.
The remains should arrive az Milwau-
See Saturday evening, and services will
be held next Sunday at the All Saints
Episcopal church there. a message has
been sent TO the Rt Rev. Isaac l.. Mich
,lson the bishop Of Milwaukee, now at
he convention in Boston. asking him IL
10 can ofticiate. Interment will be at the
Forest Home cemetery. Milwaukee. Mrs.
Payne has expressed q desire that the
ervices be as simple as possible Further
,lans for the funeral will be decided on
oday.
ROSE RAPIDLY
Henry c. Payne. since early i'm 1907
yhen Postmaster General Charles Emory
mith resigned, postmaster general Of the
Inlted states. was by his occupation OF
hat office fifth in succession 10 the presi-
ency under the fourth chapter OF tho
Avs passed by the Fifty-ninth congress,
rst session. lie was native OF Msssa-
husetts, having been born In ~shfeld, |
\ 1Si3 a son Of Orrin Z. and Eliza |
Ames) Payne and ended his school days
[ Shelburne academy. at Shelburne
'alls Mass
AT the age OF 20 he went west 10 ,
Iilwaukee. and was at first a clerk and
len the cashier in a dry goods store. In
few years he secured q good clerical
osition i'm the Milwaukee street railway
oncern and soon rose 10 be the leading !.
lember Of this.
He became an owner In the city's gas
nd telephone companies and In 1sS~"~as
ected president OF the Milwaukee Elec-
&c Railway and Electric Lighting COM
my. In 1890 the North American COM
my, n New Jersey Incorporation. took
'er the Milwaukee Electric Railway and
lght company and he became a director
the combination. He was also presi-
mt OF the Wisconsin Telephone COM
my and in 1898 was elected president
the American Street Railway associa-
)n >
Mr.. Payne never was a candidate for
elective once.
ZEAL WAS COMMENDED.
lie was I'm 1877 secretary and in 1879 :
airman OF the Wisconsin Republican D
ite central committee. I'm 1880 the wis
nsin member OF the Republican ma o
nal committee. and IN this last position b
remained an influence. and an In o
Easing powerful leader until HIS death
1876 President Grant appointed him q
stmaster OF Milwaukee and his sue o.
ssors renewed this honor until lssc. c
len President Cleveland displaced him. b.
When Mr.. Payne succeeded Mr.. Smith
Mr.. Roosevelts cabinet he was ro- m
rded as a spoils politician and no friend "
the civil service law. The postal y
uds' inquiry. which was ordered soon ~ y
er Mr.. Payne became postmaster gen ~
II. concluded with President Roose- VI
t's specific approval ~ the zeal dis .,
yed BY his cabinet officer In ferret :,
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