Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-04
W. c. WHITNEY DEAD.
FORMER SECRETARY OF THE MA
Wy sUccuMRs. TO SUDDEN
ILLNESS.

Had Been Operated Upon for Appen-
dicitis and Was Improving But
Could Not Survive When Put Under
Influence of Ether.
New York, Feb. 3-William G. Whit
ney, former secretary of the navy, died
late yesterday afternoon at his home
at S7l Fifth avenue, while under the
influence of ether administered pre-
paratory to a second operation for ap-
pendicitis. By his bedside were his
son, Harry Payne Whitney, and his
daughter, Dorothy Whitney, as we'll as
DR.. William T. Bull, the chief surgeon
in attendance
Mr.. Whitney was taken i'll Friday
night at the performance of "Rigolet-
to" at the Metropolitan opera house,
and had to leave before the opera end
ed. DR.. Walter B. James, the Whit
ney family physician, was summoned,
and found that the condition Of the
patient was such that after consulta-
ton an operation was considered nee
essary, and it was performed by DR..
Bull. The patient rallied so we'll that
1t was, fully believed he would recover.
Mr.. Whitney's condition was very
grave, however, on Sunday and Mon
day, and at consultation held yester-
day afternoon the conclusion was
reached that the only hope lay in a
second operation.
Family Hastily Called.
A bulletin issued in the morning
stated that there had been slight i'm,
provement in Mr.. Whitney's condition,
but shortly before 3 o'clock alarming
symptoms were noted and hurried
preparations were made for the sec
ond operation. Mr.. Whitney was
placed under the influence of ether,bu
whether or not, the operation was pro-
ceeded with the physicians will not
say.
/, When the doctors perceived that Mr..
Whitney was in danger of death Har-
ry Payne Whitney and Miss Dorothy
Whitney were Immediately notified.
They fastened to the side of their
father and in a few minutes later he
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 patient, but
to no avail, 49,
1t was S o'clock before the fact of
his death was made public. Later the
following statement was issued:
Mr.. Whitney died at A o'clock Of
peritonitis and blood poisoning follow
ing an operation for appendicitis.
The interment will be at WoodIawn
at a date to be hereafter fixed, in the
family plot, where are the remains of
Mrs. Flora Payne Whitney, Olive
Whitney, and Mr.. Whitneys grand.
child, Flora Payne Paget.
THE funeral services will be held
at Grace church."
Soon after the death visitors began
to call at the house. Among them
were Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt and
former Secretary of War Elihu Root
Mr.. and Mrs. Payne Whitney were in
Thomasville, Ca, when Mr.. Whitney's
condition became SO critical, but they
left for New York INN ediately on a
special train A cablegram was sent
Saturday to Mrs. Almerich Paget, Mr..
Whitney's daughter, in London, and 1t
is believed she is now on her way
home.
The board of governors of the demo.
cratic club, of which Mr. Whitney was
a member, postponed an entertain
ment the club was to have had to-
night.
Born in Massachusetts.
|
in Conway, Franklin county Massa-
from the best Puritan stock of New
England, being a descendant, in the
eighth generation of John Whitney,
who settled in Massachusetts in
1886. On his mothers side he was
descended from William Bradford, gov
ernorernor of Plymouth colony.
1t was once said of Mr.. Whitney that
ne was a republican BY nature and a
democrat by association. He was more
than democrat by association. He
was a democrat by inheritance. His
father was Brigadier General James
Whitney, one of the most prominent
democrats of Massachusetts in his
day.
William c. Whitney was his elder
son. After preparing for. college at
the Williston seminary at East Hamp
loll, NldcS., yOuii5 w ullllty eHleIeu
Yale in 1859, and was graduated with
honors in the class of '63. One of his
classmates was G. o: Payne, son OF
United States Senator Henry B. PAYNE
of Ohio. He was graduated from Har-
ward law school in 1865.
100000 Wedding Gift.
Oliver Payne and young Whitney ha6
been intimate friends in college and
Whitney had often spent parts of va
cations at the Payne house ir
Cleveland. 1t was there that he met
Flora B. Payne, a daughter of the
Standard Oil man, who was later q
United States senator from Ohio. Ir
1869 young Whitney felt that he ha6
secured such footing in New York as
| would enable him to take a wife ant
in that year he and Miss Payne were
married. The wedding was a bril-
liant one and it was said that Mr.
Paynes gift to his daughter was ST..
100000 in gilt edged securities.
Two years after his marriage, Mr.
| Whitney began to take an active in.
terest in politics. He arrayed himself
against the Tweed corruptionists anc
was the chief organizer of the Youns
! Mems Democratic club. In the Blaine
| Cleveland campaign of 1884 he worked
hard and with his characteristic skill
in organization for the election of MI
| Cleveland.
/ mt r, ~.