The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-03
Widespread Sorrow at the Loss of
the Wealthy Railroad Magnate,
Statesman and Great Turfman.
Blood Poisoning Set In.

New York. Feb. 3.--William c. Whit
ney died at o'clock yesterday afternoon
at his residence. S71 Fifth avenue The
unofficial statement was made last even
ing that death came while Mr.. Whitney
was under the influence OF ether, admin
istered to enable the surgeons to make
an examination OF the incislon in the alb
domen. AZ the bedside at the last were
Harry Payne Whitney. the older son;
Miss Dorothy Whitney. the younger
daughter, and Mrs. Harry Payne Whit
ney.
b. Randolph. son OF Mr.. whitney's Sec
ond wife. and Miss Beatrice Bend. besides
Drs. Bull, James. Pool and Denton. Half
an hour later Mr.. and Mrs. Charles I.
Barney brother-in-la Jaw and sister OF Mr..
Whitney. and their daughter. Miss Helen
Barney arrived at the house. They were
followed soon after by Henry ID. Macedonia.
Henry IL Vreeland and Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry r. Dimock, the latter another sis
ter OF Mr.. Whitney.
The immediate cause OF death was
septicaemia. The toxin which produced
the peritonitis gradually spread through
the tissues Of the body until 1t reached
the brain cells, when there was paralysis
and death. After DIR. Bull arrived at the
house he concluded at once TO open the
superficial wound and examine the area
from which the pus was absorbed by the
drain inserted after the operation. it
was impossible to make this examination
without putting the patient under the
influence Of an anaesthetic on account OF
the great pain to which the examination
would subject him.
Therefore ether was administered. the
superficial wound was opened and the
lower part OF the wound was examined.
While this examination was going on
Drs. James, Pool and Denton kept the
closest watch OF the patients pulse and
heart beats. Before the examination was
concluded II was noticed that the pa
tient was sinking. The administrat ton
OF ether was Immediately stopped, but
before its effects could wear or Mr..
Whitney died.
HIS CAREER.
William Collins whitney was born at
Conway. Mass. July IS. 1s41, descend
ant, I'm the eighth generation OF John
Whitney. one OF the leaders OF the Eng
lish Puritans who settled in Watertown.
Mass, in 1885. Upon his mothers side
his ancestry gees back 20 William Brad
ford governor OF Plymouth colony.
Mr.. Whitney was educated at Williston
seminary at Essthampton, Mass, ut
Yale college, where he was graduated i'm
1893; and at the Harvard Law school.
which he left In 1854. Continuing the
study OF law under Abraham Il. Law
renee i'm New York city, he was duly
admitted to the bar, and began practice
in the metropolis. where ne was soon
recognized as a fearless lawyer whose
devotion TO his clients was indefatigable
SAVED MILLIONS.
Mr. whitney also took an active part
In the T1lden canvass. In 1875 he was
appointed corporation counsel for the
city OF New York. His administration
was distinguished. as II has been we'll
said. "by reforms and economies within
II. and by notable legal triumphs for the
city I'm the courts" lie was reappointed
I'm 1876 and I'm 1880. and Is credited with
having saved the city several millions
OF dollars by his opposition TO claims
against the city treasury on March
5. 1885 no was appointed secretary OF tho
navy by President Cleveland When he
became secretary he found that neither
armor. nor the forgings for hlgh-power
guns, nor the rapid-fre guns constitut-
ing the secondary battery OF n waEship,
could be produced on this side OF the
Atlantic. Resolutely declining 20 place
any contracts abroad. and stpulating
for American production In every In
stance. there necessarily was consider
able delay I'm beginning new chips; but
I'm 1857. by embracing In one contract all
the armor and gun steel authorized by
the two previous congresses, ne induced
the Bethlehem Iron works IN assume the
expenditure for new plant OF four or
Ave million dollars, and had the salts