The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-03
", C. WHITNEY
PASSES AWAY
Under ETHER'S INFLUENCE
AVN ABOUT TO UNDERGO SECOND
OPERATION.

.,, Prominemt in New York Society
nd in the Financial World Sue
oumbs to PeritOnitis and Blood
poison, Brought on by Appendi-
Citis-One Operation PeNOrmed,
INT Did Not Result WelI-SecOnd
was Thought Necessary-Career of
MIR. whitney.
New York, Feb. 2.-William Collins
whitney, former Secretary of the
NAVY. died a few minutes after
,,rIock this afternoon at his home,
V1 Fifth avenue. He died while un-
aor the influence of ether administered
Dreparatory to a second operation for
arnendicitis. BY his bedside were his
son. Harry Payne Whitney, and his
daughter, Dorothy Whitney, as we'll
as DR.. William T. Bull, the chief sur
eeon in attendance.
Mr.. Whitney was in his sixty-fourth
year.
MIR. Whitney was taken ill Friday
night at the performance of "Riogo-
letto'' at the Metropolitan Opera
House, and had to leave before the
opera ended DR.. Walter B. James,
the Whitney family physician, was
summoned and found that the condi-
ton of the patient was such that, aft
er consultation, an operation was de-
cided upon and was performed by DR..
Bull. The patient rallied so well that
it was fully believed he would recover.
Mr. Whitneys condition was very
grave, however, on Sunday and Mon
day, and at a consultation held this
afternoon the conclusion was reached
that the only hope for the patient lay
in a 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 perceived 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 physi-
clans and surgeons brought into play
10 save the life of the distinguished
patient, but to no avail.
1t was o'clock before the simple
fact of his death was made public.
Later the following statement was
made:
Mr.. Whitney died at 4 o'clock of
peritonitis and blood poisoning, follow
ing an operation for appendicitis.
The interment will be at Wood
lawn. at a date to be hereafter fixed,
in the family pot, where are the re-
mains of Mrs. Flora Payne Whitney,
Olive Whitney and Mr.. Whitney s
grandchild, Flora Payne Paget.
The funeral services will be held
at Grace Church, where Mr. Whitney
was a pewholder."
Soon after the death visitors be-
gan to call at the house. Among them
We're Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt and
eX-Secretary of War Elihu Root.
Mr.. and Mrs. Payne Whitney were
in Thomasville when Mr. Whitney S
condition became critical but they
left for New York Immediately on a
special train. A cablegram was sent
Saturday to Mrs. Almeric Hugh
Paeiet Mr.. Whitney's daughter, in
London, and it is believed that she is
now on her way home.
The board of governors of the De-
mocratic Club, of which Mr. Whitney
was member, posponed an entertain
night.
William Collins Whitney was born al
Conway, Mass, July 5, 1841. He was a
descendant of one of the leaders of the
English Puritans who settled in Massa-
chusetts He was a son of Gen. James
;. Whitney. He graduated from Yale
college in 1853 and later from the Har-
ward Law School. He began the prac-
tlce OF law in New York city. His first
appearance in public affairs was in 1871
when he was one of the organizers OF
the Young Mems Democratic Club OF
New York. He at once became a leader
III the county democracy in it's fight
against the Tweed ring. He was made
corporation counsel in 1875 and served
until 1882. His administration Of the
once was distinguished by general re-
forms. In 1885 he was appointed Secre-
taIy OF the Navy by President Cleveland