Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-02-06
WILLIAM c. WHITNEY IS DEAD
voRMERLY SECRETARY OF THE
pavy UNDER CLEVELAND.

~, ,s,ock this afternoon at his home in
T.ttb avenue in his Gath year.
M died while under the influence of
..hor administered preparatory to
oscond operation for appendicitis. By
s;s bedside were his son, Harry Payne
whitney. and his daughter, Dorothy
Wb;tney'. as well as DIR. William T.
prll the chief surgeon in attendance.
M. Whitney was taken i'll Friday
NIGHT at the performance of "Rlgo-
latte" at the Metropolitan opera house
and had to leave before the oprea en-
ded.
Dr. Walter B. James, the family
musician, 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 we'll that it was fully believed
he would recover. Mr.. Whitney's
condition was very grave, however, on
Sunday and Monday, and at consul
tation held this afternoon, the conclu-
sion was reached that the only hope
for the bpatient lay in a second opera
ton. A bulletin issued in the morn
ing stated there had been a slight i'm
provement in the patients condition,
but shortly before o'clock alarming
symptoms were noticed, and hurried
inspirations 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 mott
fed. They fastened to the side of
their father and in 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
tent, but to no avail. 1t was 5 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-
loving an operation for appendicitis.
Mr. Whitney may be truly called
many sided man, and, above all, he is
through, says a recent issue of Har-
pr's Weekly. Everything that he has
taken hold of during his active and
usefuleareer he has bettered and i'm
proved. AS lawyer, cabinet min
lister, business man, and a 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 5, 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 1886, and settled at Wat
ertown, Mass. He has given to Amer
lea many distinguished warriors and
lawyers. Mr.. Whitney's mother was
hneal descendant of Governor Will
ham Bradford of Plymouth Colony.
Inc 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 a shrewd
practitioner. When only 81 years old
ne became a political leader, and has
Always been strong and staunch
uemocrat. He was active in the Til
zen campaign, and in 1875 entered his
Hfst political Office as corporation
council for the city of New York.
ne prepared the consolidation act,
winch lawyers consider today the best
instrument of its kind ever. framed in
nis country, and he was also leader
~ Iammany as we'll as a fighter
against that organization. In 1882 he
resigned from the corporation council
ana interested himself in business, ac-
guirlng franchises for street railways
IN New York city.
In 1885 politics once more claimed
alm' and this time he became score
rsry OF the nary in the cabinet of
resident Cleveland. During his term
VI once ne devoted his entire energies
% improving the navy and building
snlps' laying the foundation for the
siOrlous victories over Spain, and be-
shnlng the construction of the great
S 20 vessels which has mae the United
S'a.es world power. Mr.. Whitney,
HaVlng perfOrmedd great saruina In the