Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-03


was much more serious than indicated by
the bulletins issued. These bulletins were
not signed by the physicians in attendance
but were issued, it was explained, by Mr..
Whitney's private secretary Thomas Re-
gan, as coming from the household.
Even as late as 1870 o'clock yesterday
afternoon this favorable bulletin was given
out:
Mr.. Whitney's condition shows slight i'm
provement."
The next bulletin. which was issued at
o'clock announced that Mr.. Whitney,
death had occurred an hour before.
1t was understood however, that Mr..
Whitney had gradually lapsed into uncon-
seriousness since morning, and that as
final effort to save his life second opera
ton was decided upon. That this second
operation had been performed and that Mr..
Whitney had died while under the influence
of an anaesthetic. admitted by several
of the household attendants.
Funeral From Grace Church.
The funeral services will be held at Grace
Church, where Mr.. Whitney was a pew
holder.
family plot where the remains Of Mrs.
Flora Payne Whitney, who was Mr.. Whit
ney's first wife; Olive Whitney, and
grandchild of Mr.. Whitney. Flora Payne
PaGet, buried.
The comparative suddenness of Mr. Whit
neys death was a great shock to his
friends, many of whom FASTENED to make
inquiries as to his condition when the news
of his illness first made public. 1t is
now understood that his condition was so
grave that among those familiar with the
case no hope was entertained for his recoV-
cry
old and although an excellent constitution
helped him to rally slightly after the opera
ton his age initiated against him, and
great physical depression all day Monday
hi cfi a W
the progress of the disease.
The case was complicated by peritOnitis,
which set in after the operation, and was
fully developed on Monday morning. Yes
terday morning, although according to re-
ports sent out he had passed favorable
night, with less fever and Inflammation,
those who knew had faint hopes of his re-
covery and these quickly disap peared be-
fore the ravagcs of the blood poisoning
Cleveland's Estimate of Whitney.
A dispatch from Princeton, N. j., last
night says: Mr.. Cleveland was deeply
moved when he learned of Mr.. Whitneys
death To the Associated Press he said:
Mr. Whitney had more calm, forceful
efficiency than any man l ever knew. In
work that interested him he actually SEEM
ed to court difficulties and to find pleasure
and exhlaration in overcoming them. His
conquest over the obstacles he encountered
in undertaking to build up our navy afford
ed him greater delight than the contempla-
ton or the great results lie dCiueNeu III Iii5
department of the government. His judg-
ment was quick, clear and astonishingly ac-
curate, and when it was called into action
his mental poise was so complete that
neither passion nor irritation could lead it
astray."
Senator Germans Tribute.
Senator German, who was closely asso-
ciated in political affairs with Mr.. Whitney,
last night said:
1.-The death of William c. Whitney is a
| great shock to me, il will be to the en-
| tire country 1t was my good fortune to
| know him well. Our acquaintance began in
| 1888. since which time l enjoyed as close
| and warm personal friendship as is pos
| sble to exist between men. MIR. Whitney
| was a most remarkab BILE man-warm-heart-
| ed generous and with the faculty of at
| tachng friends to him such as few possess.
| He was endowed with rare ability. and. in
| dealing with public affairs, had breadth
of vision, which made him the equal of
| any of his compeers, no matter how august.
| His death is great loss to his friends, his
| party and his country
Interest in Washington.
| Since the first Cleveland administration
| Mr.. Whitney's name and career have been
| especially interesting in Washington. AS
| Secretary of the Navy under Mr.. Cleveland
| he played an important part as the political
| adviser of the President, sharing with Sec
rotary Manning in the troublesome task of
| shaping tine policies of the democratic par
| ty on its return to power for the first time
since the war of the rebellion. 1t was I'M
| der Secretary Whitney that the policy of
| building the new navy received momentum
| Mr.. Whitney took up the problems con-
nected with armor plate, ship modelling and
| steel construction himself, not leaving the
details even in all cases to subordinates.
| He perfected the machinery for collecting
| data as to shipbuilding abroad and prac-
| tically founded the system of naval intelli-
| gence of the Navy Department. AS an
astute politician Mr.. Whitney rendered
| powerful aid to President Cleveland, both
| in New York politics and throughout the
| country at large
| He was especially influential with the
\ southern senator's, and through him Mr..
| Cleveland's ideas were not infrequently
| communicated to the democratic senator's.